Wine sales slump to record low as cost of a bottle soars and youngsters drink less
WINE drinking is at its lowest in 60 years — and it could be down to the younger generations.
Worldwide sales fell by 3.3 per cent last year to 21.4billion litres.
Trade body the International Organisation of Vine and Wine reported that last year’s consumption was the lowest since 1961.
Production also slipped by 4.8 per cent to 22.5billion litres — the lowest in six decades.
The trade group’s statistician Giorgio Delgrosso said consumers were feeling the pinch and more people, particularly the young, were cutting out alcohol.
Its report also blamed the production decline — especially in America where output fell by 17.2 per cent — on extreme weather.
Mr Delgrosso said US tariffs slapped by Donald Trump were “another bomb” for the industry — as bottle prices are already 30 per cent more compared with 2020.
In Europe, sales dropped 2.8 per cent, with French production the lowest since 1957.
French wine chain Nicolas blamed a generational shift.
He said: “Younger people drink less than their parents.”
But Britain may be bucking the trend.
WineGB said UK non-sparkling wine sales rose 117 per cent from 2018 to 2023 — to 2.6million bottles.