Americans prefer beer over wine.....& nearly 5 months later (Dec 2007), Beer > Spirits

[Xstatic1]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories...ebmd/main3118344.shtml
(WebMD) About two-thirds of U.S. adults drink alcohol ? and most usually drink beer, according to a new Gallup poll on alcohol consumption.

About 1,000 U.S. adults aged 18 and older participated in the poll, which was conducted by phone earlier this month. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 3 percent.

Participants answered questions about their drinking habits. A total of 64 percent indicated that they drink alcohol. The remaining 36 percent called themselves "total abstainers" from alcohol. Participants who reported drinking alcohol were asked whether they usually drink beer, wine, or alcohol.

The majority ? 40 percent ? indicated that they usually drink beer. About 34 percent favored wine and 22 percent preferred liquor. The remaining 4 percent liked beer, wine, and liquor equally.

Men and younger drinkers were more likely to favor beer. Women and older drinkers tended to favor wine.

Most drinkers ? 65 percent ? noted that they'd had a drink within the past week.

Less than a quarter of the drinkers ? 22 percent ? reported sometimes drinking more than they think they should. Among all participants ? drinkers and teetotalers alike ? 35 percent indicated that drinking had ever been a cause of trouble in their family.

The poll also included this question: "Do you, personally, think drinking in moderation ? that is, one or two drinks a day ? is good for your health, makes no difference, or is bad for your health?" All of the participants were asked that question, whether or not they drank alcohol.

Nearly half of the group ? 49 percent ? chose "makes no difference" as their answer. Another 22 percent voiced the belief that moderate drinking is good for health; 25 percent said drinking was "bad" for health, and 4 percent had no opinion on the topic.

December 28, 2007:

NEW YORK - Go ahead ? forgo the mixed drinks and bubbly and ring in the new year with a foamy cold one.

After years of losing people to mixed drinks, industry experts say the beer industry regained some of its lost luster in 2007, helped by surging interest in craft beers, a slowing economy and the desire of more drinkers to imbibe at home.

Final year-end data has not yet been released, but Eric Shepard, executive editor of trade magazine Beverage Marketers Insight, said growth in the number of spirits sent to sellers slowed in 2007 while beer shipments remained about the same.

"It looks like the gap between the growth rates has clearly narrowed," Shepard said.

According to preliminary numbers ? which use estimates for December ? spirits shipments grew between 2 percent and 2.5 percent during the year. That compares to growth of 4 percent a year ago.

Meanwhile, beer shipments have climbed between 1 percent and 2 percent in 2007, compared to a rise of about 2 percent in 2006.

According to ACNielsen monthly retail sales data, beer also outperformed spirits in September, October and November.

Brown-Forman Corp., which makes Jack Daniels whiskey and Southern Comfort, partly blamed the spirits industry slowdown for its lackluster U.S. performance in the fiscal second quarter.

In a conference call with investors at the end of November, Brown-Forman Chief Executive Paul Varga said wine and beer companies have benefited from slower growth in spirits, particularly in a weaker economy.

"We speculate that the typically higher out of pocket cost for the standard sizes purchase hurts spirits relative to beer and wine in an environment where many consumers are feeling short on cash," he said.

Drinking at home
Consumers, faced with fewer discretionary dollars to spend ? as food and gas costs surge and home values decline ? are also drinking more at home, Varga said.

Heightened interest in craft beers may also account for some of the slowdown, Beverage Marketers' Shepard said.

Crafts are now one of the fastest growing beer categories. Even domestic brewers have been trying to horn in on the success by developing brands like Blue Moon ? made by Molson Coors Brewing Co. ? and by buying smaller craft brewers.

But not everyone agrees that the popularity of spirits is waning.

John McDonnell, chief operating officer at tequila-maker Patron Spirits Co., noted sales seem to have picked up in the past week ? a sign that the numbers may be higher than the industry expected.

"The lines were out the doors," he said.

McDonnell added that he believes growth will continue in 2008, particularly as more new drinkers enter the market with less money to spend on larger luxury items.

"The cocktail culture is getting stronger," he said, adding that liquor represents "an affordable luxury."

Final year-end shipment and sales data is expected to be released January 11.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22421018/

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Definitely a beer guy...

With an occasional Crown & Coke to shake things up a bit...

 

[Mikey]

I'm definitely a beer guy, but it makes you fat so I've begun drinking a lot more wine lately, considering I'm a fitness freak. It aint easy keeping the six-pack when all you do is drink a six-pack.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: Mikey
I'm definitely a beer guy, but it makes you fat so I've begun drinking a lot more wine lately, considering I'm a fitness freak. It aint easy keeping the six-pack when all you do is drink a six-pack.

You think you get fewer calaries and carbs from wine?

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Beer with meals and to just chill. Liquor for the partying =P

 

[kedlav]

good beer>*

 

[Xyclone]

Originally posted by: AznAnarchy99
Beer with meals and to just chill. Liquor for the partying =P

QFT. Getting drunk of beer or wine leaves a nasty aftertaste and it will make you fat pretty quickly.

 

[PhoenixOrion]

I like them all equally.

Although I go through seasons: summer months - nothing beats cold beer; cold months - hard liquor; you get the picture, etc.

 

[Coquito]

Originally posted by: Xyclone

Originally posted by: AznAnarchy99
Beer with meals and to just chill. Liquor for the partying =P

QFT. Getting drunk of beer or wine leaves a nasty aftertaste and it will make you fat pretty quickly.

A couple shots of 80 proof is about equal to a beer in terms of calories.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

I definitely prefer liquor. Myt prefered drink is now the limoncello that I make.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Originally posted by: Coquito

Originally posted by: Xyclone

Originally posted by: AznAnarchy99
Beer with meals and to just chill. Liquor for the partying =P

QFT. Getting drunk of beer or wine leaves a nasty aftertaste and it will make you fat pretty quickly.

A couple shots of 80 proof is about equal to a beer in terms of calories.

Yup, I have no idea why people think otherwise. Volume perhaps?

 

[maziwanka]

not that this was suggested in the thread, but having a really great beer is really a great pleasure in life (and i enjoy it over drinking a really great wine)

 

[tfinch2]

Liquor FTW

 

[Bateluer]

Shiner bock is damn good, but Chivas Regal is great too. Catch is, I can buy a lot of Shiner Bock for the price of one bottle of Chivas.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269

Originally posted by: Coquito

Originally posted by: Xyclone

Originally posted by: AznAnarchy99
Beer with meals and to just chill. Liquor for the partying =P

QFT. Getting drunk of beer or wine leaves a nasty aftertaste and it will make you fat pretty quickly.

A couple shots of 80 proof is about equal to a beer in terms of calories.

Yup, I have no idea why people think otherwise. Volume perhaps?

Why would you stop there with your argument? Why not say that eight 1 1/2 ounce shots of 80 proof has WAY more calories than a 12 ounce beer, therefore the shots are more fattening?

What most people would (correctly) point out is that in general, people make the comparison on a basis on the amount of alcohol consumed in a serving. So, the comparison is made between a 1 1/2 ounce shot, a 5oz glass of wine, or a 12oz beer. A much better comparison would be between ONE shot and one 12 ounce beer. Beer has more calories on this basis, about 50% more. Light beer and wine only slightly more per serving. calorie comparison

 

[HombrePequeno]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269

Originally posted by: Coquito

Originally posted by: Xyclone

Originally posted by: AznAnarchy99
Beer with meals and to just chill. Liquor for the partying =P

QFT. Getting drunk of beer or wine leaves a nasty aftertaste and it will make you fat pretty quickly.

A couple shots of 80 proof is about equal to a beer in terms of calories.

Yup, I have no idea why people think otherwise. Volume perhaps?

Why would you stop there with your argument? Why not say that eight 1 1/2 ounce shots of 80 proof has WAY more calories than a 12 ounce beer, therefore the shots are more fattening?

What most people would (correctly) point out is that in general, people make the comparison on a basis on the amount of alcohol consumed in a serving. So, the comparison is made between a 1 1/2 ounce shot, a 5oz glass of wine, or a 12oz beer. A much better comparison would be between ONE shot and one 12 ounce beer. Beer has more calories on this basis, about 50% more. Light beer and wine only slightly more per serving. calorie comparison

The problem is that people tend to mix liquor with something so it doesn't taste like sh!t (if you're not drinking whiskey or gin). Unless you're using diet soda, that's going to push the calorie content up quite a bit.

 

[GenHoth]

Hard Alcohol FTW

 

[DrPizza]

Oh, and about preference: It depends on where/why I'm having a beer. There are a lot of meals that a good glass of wine goes with better than most beers. And, there are other meals that a good beer goes along with better. A glass of wine isn't refreshing after cleaning out stalls in a barn on a hot day - an ice cold bottle of beer is.

 

[jman19]

Originally posted by: Coquito

Originally posted by: Xyclone

Originally posted by: AznAnarchy99
Beer with meals and to just chill. Liquor for the partying =P

QFT. Getting drunk of beer or wine leaves a nasty aftertaste and it will make you fat pretty quickly.

A couple shots of 80 proof is about equal to a beer in terms of calories.

Um, a couple of shots of 80 proof has more alcohol than a beer... I believe Xyclone was referring to the amount of calories you consume on the way to getting drunk..

 

[djheater]

I brew my own beer and cider, so I end up drinking quite a bit of that.

If I'm too busy to brew, I always have vodka in the freezer (and triple sec in the pantry) and about 60% of the time, Gin and vermouth or a sinlgle malt scotch in the pantry.

I also usually have 20-40 bottles of wine for dinners, parties, and random guests.

I like to drink

I drink daily, but once or twice a month I give my liver a 48 hour break... my poor, poor liver. It takes a beating. That's why I'm for stem cell research.. I will definately be wearing out these organs and will be looking for replacements.

:beer: :wine:

 

[Andyb23]

liquor makes it quicker

 

[Tiamat]

I drink Beer and Liquor equally, wine occasionally.

 

[vi edit]

I'm an equal opportunity consumer. All alcohol drinks regardless of color, style, or country of origin will be considered.

 

[waggy]

a good beer is great. i enjoy 1 or two every other day or so.

 

[broon]

Beer is a more complex and more sophisticated beverage than wine.