Americans just aren’t knocking back cold ones like they used to.
USA Today reports that between 2007 and 2012, beer sales fell by 2.3%, or more than 4.8 million barrels. Beer has been losing market share to wine and spirits, which have done a better job of appealing to the market by adding flavored brands like mango Moscato and maple whiskey.
While regular ole beer is on the decline, flavored beers and craft beers—along with beers with creative labels and higher alcohol content—are performing extremely well. By raising alcohol content and adding flavor, breweries are appealing to a segment that is attracted to wine and liquor.
Bud Platinum, which has higher alcohol content than major beer brands (6% ABV), sold 1.8 million cases when it was introduced in 2012, becoming the 19th best-selling mainstream beer in the country last year.
Meanwhile, American sales of nine major brands, including the once top-selling Budweiser, declined by more than 25% over the past five years. 24/7 Wall St identified the nine beers Americans have stopped drinking.
9. Labatt Blue
Sales loss (2007-2012): 28.3%
8. Budweiser
Sales loss (2007-2012): 28.8%
7. Heineken Premium Light
Sales loss (2007-2012): 36.7%
6. Milwaukee’s Best Light
Sales loss (2007-2012): 39.7%
5. Old Milwaukee
Sales loss (2007-2012): 54.0%
4. Miller Genuine Draft
Sales loss (2007-2012): 56.4%
3. Milwaukee’s Best Premium
Sales loss (2007-2012): 58.5%
2. Budweiser Select
Sales loss (2007-2012): 61.5%
1. Michelob Light
Sales loss (2007-2012): 69.6%