Lithuania: Alcohol consumption in 2024 the lowest in the past decade as beer share drops

The consumption of legally purchased alcoholic beverages in Lithuania last year was the lowest in the past decade, according to the State Data Agency, Made in Vilnius reported on May 29.

Deputy Head of the Agency, Inga Masiulaitytė-Šukevič, said that 15 litres of absolute alcohol was consumed per resident aged 10,2 and over - 0,8 litres less than in 2023.

"The amount of legal alcohol consumed is the lowest in the last decade," said I. Masiulaitytė-Šukevič at a data presentation.

The structure of legal absolute alcohol consumption changed slightly over the year: the share of beer decreased by 0,7 percentage points to 39,6 percent, while the share of wine, fermented beverages and cocktails increased by 0,5 points to 17,7 percent of all alcoholic beverages consumed. The share of spirits increased by 0,2 points to 42,7 percent.

Last year, 2,9 million decaliters of spirits were sold in Lithuanian retail and catering companies – 5,3 percent less than in 2023. 4,3 million decaliters of wine, fermented beverages and cocktails were sold, or 2,1 percent more.

As every year, beer was the most sold product - 19,2 million decaliters, or 7,5 percent less than in 2023, according to the State Data Agency.

The prices of alcoholic beverages increased by 4,5 percent over the year. The most expensive items were whiskey (6,3 percent), fruit wine (5,7 percent), Lithuanian beer (5,2 percent), vermouth (5 percent), liqueur (4,9 percent), non-alcoholic grape wine (4,7 percent), imported vodka (4,6 percent), sparkling grape wine (3,7 percent), brandy (3,6 percent), Lithuanian vodka (3,2 percent), and bitters (3,1 percent).

The increase in the prices of alcoholic beverages was due to the increase in excise duty from January 2024.

Last year, the production of almost all alcoholic beverages increased - 10,9 percent more was produced - 1 million decaliters of spirits, converted into absolute (100 percent) alcohol.

The production of grape wine and vermouth grew by 1,2 percent, and fermented beverages by 6,4 percent. Of the latter, less was produced of sparkling (29,2 percent), fruit and berry wine (10,9 percent), but the production of cider (88,9 percent) and still beverages (40,9 percent) grew.

The largest amount of beer was produced – 29,5 million decaliters, its production increased by 3,2 percent over the year.

Last year, 3,15 million decaliters of absolute alcohol were supplied to the Lithuanian domestic market – 6,5 percent less than in 2023.