Alcohol is almost ubiquitous in society today. Surveys have shown that about 86% of adults have tried either beer, wine or liquor at least once in their lives, and it’s estimated that more than 70% of millennials and about 65% of people 55 and older are at least occasional drinkers of alcohol. That’s a huge market, which is why there are a number of new business models that are popping up to serve the drinking population. Just as the model evolved from bars and liquor stores to restaurants and grocery stores, it is evolving again and giving people many options for buying their booze.
Just as it has provided options in other industries, the internet has provided a new outlet for alcohol manufacturers and distributors to sell their products all over. Buying wine online is especially popular, and wine deals online are easy to find. Whether you are buying cheap wine online or looking for more expensive brands, it’s important to keep some things in mind. Not all states allow online wine sales or sales of other alcohol. And even in the states that do, not all will allow you to have it delivered to your home. Your wine deals online that you buy may have to be picked up at a wine store or some other central location.
If online wine sellers or other online alcohol retailers aren’t really your thing, another popular way to buy alcohol these days is straight from a winery or craft brewery. There are nearly 8,000 wineries across the U.S., and thousands of new craft breweries have popped up in the past few years. Though distilleries are not as popular, there are plenty of them scattered around the country. At nearly all of these locations, you can buy alcohol by the drink as well as in larger quantities. For example, wineries sell wine by the bottle and craft breweries sell growlers and kegs, and some may sell cans or bottles of your favorite brew. Buying wine or beer through one of these establishments lets you try new concoctions while also supporting small local businesses.
New ways to buy alcohol means you don’t have to go to the liquor store. You can buy from the comfort of your own home or frequent a new local wine or beer maker.
