dtc-wine-report-2021

2022 Direct-to-Consumer Spirits Shipping Report

The first annual Direct-to-Consumer (DtC) Spirits Shipping Report, presented by Sovos ShipCompliant and the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA), finds that consumers want their favorite spirits shipped to their front doors, and would order on a regular basis if it were more widely available. The report offers an in-depth analysis of a consumer poll and ACSA’s take on the opportunities for the direct-to-consumer spirits sales market.

The Sovos ShipCompliant/Harris Poll consumer survey finds that 80% of regular craft spirits drinkers would purchase spirits DtC monthly if permitted in their state—yet spirits DtC interstate shipping is only currently available in eight states and Washington, D.C. The potential of this mostly untapped market is huge. (Regular craft spirits drinkers are defined as those who drink craft spirits at least once per month.) 

Get the report now:

Direct-to-Consumer Spirits Shipping in 2022

Craft spirits producers can capitalize on consumer wishes

The survey revealed the following key takeaways:

  • A limited but (slowly) growing marketplace. Even with broad interest for DtC liquor shipping of spirits, state legislators are hesitant to make changes to enable these types of sales. Some states continue to limit spirits shipping, while others are moving forward. For example, Maine failed to enact legislation to move DtC liquor shipping forward but Vermont liberalized the rules for selling spirits-based ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages.  
  • We want spirits, yes, we do. Nearly half (46%) of regular craft spirits drinkers want craft spirits shipped directly to them via a third-party carrier, which is almost on par with the 49% that would like beer shipped direct to their home or someone else’s. 
  • An opportunity lost. With only nine U.S. locales—eight states and Washington, D.C.—allowing interstate DtC spirits shipping, there is clearly an underserved market for direct-to-consumer alcohol sales. Just under half of regular craft spirits drinkers who are likely to purchase craft spirits DtC say they would spend, on average, $108 a month. 

The Direct-to-Consumer Spirits Shipping Report also profiles DtC craft spirits drinker demographics. Download your complimentary copy of the report today for an in-depth look at the consumer and producer sides of this emerging market. 

*These surveys were conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Sovos ShipCompliant between October 20-25, 2022 among 1,958 adults ages 21+, among whom 618 drink craft spirits/liquor at least once per month, and October 27-31, 2022 among 1,942 adults ages 21+, among whom 588 drink craft spirits/liquor at least once per month. For complete survey methodologies, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact helloship@sovos.com.