Gin market in the UK - statistics & facts

The popularity of gin may be in decline. The spirit had been enjoying a recent resurgence of interest after decades of being considered unfashionable in comparison to spirits like vodka which had cultivated a youthful image. The renewed curiosity surrounding cocktails surely helped gin's rise, as it is key to many traditional drinks like the martini, Tom Collins, and gin and tonic. This coupled with a relatively low barrier to entry for distillers, compared to aged spirits like whiskey, led to an explosion in new gin distilleries. All of these new producers, most of which were craft, put their own spin on the flavors infused into the beverage, making gin something collectable, akin to whiskey. With the disruption and inflation caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, producers are feeling the hit as consumers returning to the on-trade may now be more hesitant to explore the plethora of gin brands currently on offer.

Market overview

The United Kingdom more than any other country is associated with the gin industry. The alcoholic beverage has been enjoyed for hundreds of years, going back to the "gin craze" of the 18th century. Today, the UK remains the biggest market for gin in the world. After years of renewed popularity that seemed to have no end in sight, the closing of on-trade establishments had a significant impact on gin sales, which declined by 22 percent in 2020. They have not since recovered to their pre-pandemic highs. The picture for the export market is rosier where the value of exports from the UK has continued to climb, reaching over 900 million USD (730 GBP) in 2022. The United States is, by far, the biggest recipient of gin exports from the UK.

Consumption

Per capita consumption has declined since a peak in 2019, tracking with the decline in sales. Gen X and older Millennials seem to be particularly disenchanted as they account for over 40 percent of consumers drinking less gin than the year prior. In terms of frequency, most consumers who drink gin do so less than once a month. It remains to be seen if gin can weather the changes in consumer alcohol consumption while the UK, like much of the world, deals with a historic rate of inflation.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Jan Conway, Dec 20, 2023

Key insights

Sales value of gin manufactured in the UK
742m GBP
Gin sales volume in the UK
80m bottles
Leading gin brand in off-trade sales
Gordon's
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