People aren’t buying alcohol the way they used to.
Ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages, and affordable spirits are flying off virtual shelves, with more shoppers buying online than ever.
Stores that stick to old habits risk falling behind. Paying attention to e-commerce trends helps liquor store owners stock the right products, attract new customers, and retain loyal shoppers.
In this blog, we’ll break down the top alcohol e-commerce trends for 2025, including real data, examples, and practical tips for stores ready to adapt.
The U.S. alcohol market is huge, estimated at $543B in 2024 and projected to reach $806B by 2033. But that growth isn’t simply coming from higher consumption — it’s from smart stocking and liquor e-commerce.
Online alcohol sales are on track to hit $36B by 2028, fueled by direct-to-consumer brands, subscriptions, and delivery apps. Nearly 60% of adults have ordered alcohol delivery in the past six months, often spending more than in-store shoppers.
Younger buyers are a major driver of this growth, showing particular interest in RTDs, tequila, mezcal, and non-alcoholic options.
Small liquor stores might feel like they’re getting left behind, but they can compete by offering curated selections, personalized service, and local expertise that big chains can’t match — with the right tools, you can turn those advantages into stronger sales.
Here are five tips for using point of sale (POS) data, delivery integrations, and updated product strategies to do just that.
(Image source: Blogilates)
Moderation is becoming mainstream, with no/low-alcohol products forecasted to contribute $4B+ globally by 2028. Non-alcoholic beer leads the way, but NA RTDs and spirits are also gaining significant traction.
Younger consumers are driving these e-commerce trends — over half of Gen Z and Millennial buyers actively seek non-alcoholic options, and nearly 40% of adults want these products available in stores or online.
Functional beverages, or “alcohol adjacents,” are among the fastest-growing NA segments. These drinks often include mood enhancers or nutritional supplements, such as CBD, nootropics, or adaptogens, and typically feature flavors with coffee, floral, or spicy notes.
Sales of functional beverages rose 54% from 2020 to 2024, reaching $9.2 billion in 2023 alone — outpacing the broader NA market and representing roughly 10% of total U.S. NA beverage sales.
Pro tip: Use data from an industry-specific POS system to track which NA products perform well and which customer groups buy them. That way, you have real numbers to use when adjusting inventory, creating deals, and determining which items to highlight in store and online.
(Image source: Union)
Ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages continue to gain ground, with spirits-based RTDs alone growing 27% in 2023 and projected to keep rising through 2028.
Consumers are increasingly choosing these products for casual, at-home gatherings and informal social occasions, not just formal events.
Tequila and mezcal are also outpacing other spirits categories in the U.S., driven by younger consumers who value convenience, portion control, and bold flavors.
Your POS system can help track which items are your best and worst performers, and which customer segments are buying them, so you can make better stocking decisions and offer curated bundles — like pool party RTD mixes or margarita kits with tequila and lime.
If your store isn’t offering alcohol delivery in 2025, you’re skipping over a sizable portion of your market.
42% of U.S. consumers are ordering alcohol for delivery more often than in 2024 — with wine, beer, and RTDs comprising the top options.
Delivery apps make things more convenient for shoppers, but can be a source of frustration for smaller retailers. Managing orders across multiple platforms, keeping inventory accurate, and figuring out which products sell online can eat up valuable time and lead to mistakes.
That’s why an industry-specific POS system, like Bottle POS, integrates with popular delivery apps to make offering delivery and pickup more straightforward.
Related Read: Selling Liquor Online: The What, Why, and How
Here’s how Bottle POS’ integration with DoorDash can help with alcohol delivery:
To get the most from delivery, start small — feature a few high-demand items online, monitor which products and bundles perform best, and adjust your offerings based on actual sales data.
Over time, you can use POS reporting to identify patterns in customer preferences, plan promotions around top sellers, and keep your online selection aligned with what drives both repeat visits and larger orders.
Loyalty programs have been around for a while, but they’re continuing to gain momentum as another major alcohol e-commerce trend. More price-conscious and convenience-focused shoppers are turning online to seek out rewards, perks, and personalized offers.
Retail stores of all sizes are hopping on this trend, with more than 90% of companies now running loyalty programs. Consumers in these programs have been shown to spend more, buy more often, and engage with their favorite brands online.
Related Read: 7 Alcohol Loyalty Programs Examples To Inspire You
Independent liquor stores can take this further by tailoring loyalty rewards to actual customer behavior. A POS-connected loyalty program makes it possible to:
When implementing these initiatives, start small — create a loyalty program that makes sense for your store and customers’ needs, test different perks or offers, and use sales data to refine your offerings over time.
Inflation and cautious buyers are shifting focus to “affordable premium” options, typically $20-$50. These mid-tier products are outperforming luxury tiers, with premium beer and cider growing faster than high-end spirits.
Stores can use POS data to see which mid-range SKUs sell fastest and which customers repeatedly buy them. For example, stores could feature bundles like a $25 cocktail night kit or a $40 agave sampler without undercutting your pricing.
Including reviews and transparent pricing also helps build trust with online shoppers and increase basket size.
Pro tip: Start by curating a selection of mid-tier bundles online and in store, track sales through your POS, and adjust offerings based on what’s driving repeat purchases and engagement.
Small liquor stores don’t have to compete on size to beat big-box retailers — they can compete on relevance.
By focusing on relevant alcohol e-commerce trends and using POS data, independent stores can meet shoppers where they are and understand why certain products drive repeat sales.
A POS system that was designed for alcohol retail, like Bottle POS, makes this entire process simple by integrating in-store and online sales, syncing with delivery apps like DoorDash, and helping to create bundles and loyalty offers based on real purchasing behavior.
Schedule a demo of Bottle POS today to see how your store can act on these trends and compete more effectively.