15−18 September 2026
Moscow, Crocus Expo, Pavillion 3
Alcoholic beverages: trends and market statistics
Published on: Jan 22, 2026
Reading Time: 5 min
Sales, Production and Market Structure
According to the Federal Service for Control of Alcohol Tobacco Markets, from January to November 2025, retail sales of alcohol in Russia (excluding beer, beer products, cider, poire and mead) decreased by 9.8% to 182 million decaliters.
The largest drop was recorded in the following categories:
// Low-alcohol beverages: -87.6% (from 15.8 million decaliters in 2023 to 1.5 million decaliters in 2025)
// Fruit alcoholic beverages: –74% (from 11 million decaliters in 2023 to 2.3 million decaliters in 2025)
At the same time, the strong alcohol segment shows more stable dynamics: retail sales of beverages with a strength of more than 9% increased from 103.7 million decaliters to 107.4 million decaliters over 2 years, although product sales decreased by 1% over the year. Significant growth within the segment was shown by alcoholic beverages, sales of which increased by 13.4% to 16.7 million decaliters compared to the same period in 2023.
At the same time, the total volume of alcohol production in the country in January-November 2025 (except for beer drinks, beer, cider, poire and mead) decreased by 6.7% y/y and amounted to 158.5 million decaliters.
Despite the decline in volumes, the market continues to grow in value terms. According to the forecast of the INFOLine agency, retail sales of alcohol in 2025 may reach 3.3 trillion rubles (+13.1% by 2024). In the future, until 2029, the retail market for alcoholic beverages will continue to grow by an average of 11% per year to 4.9 trillion rubles.
Speaking about the import and export of alcoholic beverages in 2025, the following can be noted:
// Imports continue to be restructured towards supplies from friendly countries. In the future, parallel imports will remain in the premium segment, but will not be dominant.
// Export is becoming one of the directions for the development of the industry. The Indian market showed especially high rates: the supply of strong alcohol for 9 months of 2025 increased by 4 times compared to 2024. Also, against the backdrop of rising domestic prices and excise policy, the markets of the CIS, Asia and the Middle East are becoming more attractive.
Trends and prospects for market development in 2026
The transformation of the alcohol market in 2025 is largely due not so much to regulation and prices, but to changes in consumption patterns. The buyer becomes more selective, and the differences between age and income groups become more pronounced. This directly affects the structure of demand, assortment strategies of retail and product solutions of manufacturers.
The market is increasingly segmented by generations
A young audience — primarily buyers under the age of 35 — is moving away from regular consumption of strong alcohol. Taste and format of use are important for her. The focus is on cocktails, wine, gin, rum, tinctures and drinks with a bright flavor profile. Alcohol is increasingly perceived as an element of social experience or gastronomic context, rather than as an independent product. That is why there is a growing demand for categories that are easily integrated into cocktail culture and home consumption. The audience of an older age category remains more conservative in its choice. Classic strong drinks are still in demand here - vodka, cognac, brandy. However, there is a noticeable change of emphasis in this segment as well: consumers are more likely to choose proven brands and higher quality.
The role of premium and medium premium categories is growing
Sales of premium alcohol are growing against the backdrop of a general decline in consumption. According to SimpleWine, sales of premium spirits increased by 51% in liters between October 2024 and September 2025 compared to the same period a year earlier. The principle of "less but more" is noticeable here. The consumer reduces the frequency of purchases, but at the same time chooses more expensive drinks.
The market is shifting from "pure" strength to taste and format
The growth in the production and sales of tinctures, liqueurs and flavored spirits reflects a fundamental shift in the perception of alcohol. Nielsen analysts note that traditionally popular vodka and brandy are being replaced by such growing categories as whiskey, rum and gin. The buyer is increasingly choosing drinks with a pronounced taste profile, a clear history and visual appeal. The trend for "alcohol as gastronomy" is intensified by the development of cocktail culture and interest in craft drinks.
Interest in craft, local and branded products is growing
The consumer is increasingly paying attention to the origin, history of the brand and limited editions. Russian whiskey, craft gin, rum and author's tinctures are gradually going beyond niche demand. For retail and HoReCa, this means an increase in the importance of tasting formats and a properly built shelf, and for manufacturers, the need to constantly update the product line.
The market is becoming more rational and conscious
Rising prices, excise duty and regional restrictions are pushing consumers to make more informed choices. The economy segment is shrinking, part of the demand is being redistributed between categories, and the middle and premium segments are showing the greatest stability.
Alcoholic beverages at WorldFood Moscow 2026
In the context of the restructuring of the market, the WorldFood Moscow 2026 International Exhibition is becoming a key business platform for manufacturers, distributors and retail. It is here that manufacturers and suppliers of alcoholic beverages can present products to buyers of federal and regional chains, find partners for distribution and export, and strengthen the position of the brand.
As part of the alcoholic beverages section, participants can present:
// Wine
// Beer and cider
// Strong alcoholic beverages, liqueurs
// Low-alcohol drinks, cocktails
// Other alcoholic beverages
In 2025, WorldFood Moscow was visited by more than 26.3 thousand specialists, of which 20% were interested in the products of this section.