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Hard liquor sales climb in Ohio
Ohioans set another liquor record last year, purchasing 11 million gallons of booze.
Call it a 13-year high. Since 1997, Ohioans have purchased more and more hard liquor each year.
The Division of Liquor Control said Tuesday that 2010 sales of spirituous liquor hit $753.7 million, which exceeded 2009 sales by $19 million, or 2.6 percent. Spirituous liquor contains more than 21 percent alcohol by volume.
Despite robust sales in the past decade averaging 10.5 million gallons a year, it doesn’t compare to the 1980s when Ohioans purchased roughly 11.7 million gallons of liquor per year. (The 1990s made Ohioans look practically like teetotalers when average annual sales were 8.44 million gallons.)
While premium brands dominate the top sales list nowadays, in the 1980s, the cheap stuff reigned, according to Matt Mullins, liquor control spokesman.
During the 2000s, gallons sold to wholesale outlets - restaurants and bars - held steady at about 3 million gallons but retail sales - for take-home consumption - climbed 44 percent between 2000 and 2010 to 7.9 million gallons.
Mullins said the division does not have data on what has been driving the trend or whether surrounding states have seen similar purchasing patterns.
The Division of Liquor Control oversees the purchase and distribution of liquor with 452 businesses, such as mom and pop stores or grocery chains, acting as sales agents for the state.
The top 10 selling brands by gallons sold for 2010 were:
- Kamchatka Vodka - 408,277 gallons
- Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey - 342,840 gallons
- Bacardi Superior Light Rum - 295,820 gallons
- Smirnoff Vodka - 283,332 gallons
- Captain Morgan Spiced Rum - 280,229 gallons
- Absolut Vodka - 271,495 gallons
- Crown Royal Canadian Whiskey - 267,140 gallons
- Jagermeister - 261,959 gallons
- Korski Vodka - 236,976 gallons
- Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey - 232,623 gallons
Liquor sales generate revenues for state government. Last fiscal year, $305.4 million in liquor revenues went to the state treasury, state general revenue fund and earmarked for law enforcement, alcohol treatment programs, and bond payments.
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January 26, 2011 7:18 PM | Link to this
This is a good,common sense article.Very helpful to one who is just finding the resouces about this part.It will certainly help educate me.
By Raymond Ackman
January 23, 2011 7:46 PM | Link to this
Wouldn’t you drink too if you lived in a shithole like Springfield, Ohio
By Mike R
January 20, 2011 12:25 PM | Link to this
KevinJ, I’m not a liquor drinker, but can’t vodka be used in more mixed drinks than whiskey??
By Raiel
January 19, 2011 3:40 PM | Link to this
@Street Preacher, you are pasting text from an inaccurate Bible translation. Original text says nothing about “men who have * with men.”
By Raiel
January 19, 2011 1:49 PM | Link to this
This helps explain how the new Governor got elected.
By KevinJ
January 19, 2011 1:30 PM | Link to this
Alocohol sales have generally always been recession/depression proof. People drink when they are happy and they drink when they are sad… A ratio of alcohol sales to population numbers would be nice to know. I’m sure Ohio has a declining population, so an increase in sales means that per capita we are consuming more per person. I also find it interesting that Vodka represents 4 of the 10 in sales. I didn’t know Vodka was so popular in the midwest? Especially surprised that Jack Daniels is not #1. I’m not a Jack fan, but you would think it’s name recognition and fairly prominent advertising would make it bigger than Kamchatka Vodka. As for me… I’ll take a good Kentucky Bourbon any day.
By N
January 19, 2011 11:34 AM | Link to this
I agree with “Drowning in my Sorrows.” Hard times call for hard liquor. “Street Preacher” needs to remember the Bible speaks about judging others…
By Squirrellygirl
January 19, 2011 10:41 AM | Link to this
I don’t see where the writer of this article tied this info to politics… We know that liquor sales tend to increase when times are hard. Times are going to continue to get harder until we can get the spenders out of office. We must live within our means, or we will perish. Our country is on a fast track to socialism if we don’t stop it now. We need to let our new reps do their jobs and cut the spending. If we could repeal hc, we would save almost 1 trillion dollars (not including the additional costs that haven’t been included intentionally in the hc bill, like hiring the army of people to man IRS to track our mandated requirements and penalize those who don’t purchase hc insurance, or the pages of lists of newly created govt agencies that will do everything including making life and death decisions because of lack of funding (death panels). There’s too much in the hc bill that is unconstitutional. I’m depending on our high court to throw this bill on its behind where it belongs.
By edborden123
January 19, 2011 7:55 AM | Link to this
It is very important to do our part to stimulate the economy. I am proud to do what I can.
By Jordon Doukas
January 19, 2011 7:34 AM | Link to this
I think this issue belongs in the political section because government in it’s social efforts now look at liquor consumption. We, as the consumer, responsible for our own recreation, wish for the social medicine and politically correct govt. to keep their nose out of our business regarding alcohol and smoking. I would add that society is where we should be with our various walks in life. We do not need for the socialist govt. to put us in a mixing bowl and stir us up!
By Street Preacher
January 18, 2011 11:10 PM | Link to this
Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor 6:9-10 Still Time to Repent and Trust Jesus.
By r
January 18, 2011 11:00 PM | Link to this
why is this in politics…..is it a right wing plot….
By Firewalker
January 18, 2011 9:09 PM | Link to this
I know I have done my part to stimulate the economy by purchasing booze. I have great friends with even better taste, so the cheap stuff just won’t do. Bourbon is in fact the nectar of the gods. It is good for the economy, your soul and it just taste so good! Go out and buy some Makers Mark pronto!
By Dave
January 18, 2011 7:28 PM | Link to this
Is there any particular reason this info about hard booze is in the POLITICS blog?
By null
January 18, 2011 7:20 PM | Link to this
Personally I think it has a lot to do with smoking band. It’s cheaper to buy your own liquor and smoke at home then pay by the glass and have to go outside and smoke.
By Sam Lutes
January 18, 2011 6:51 PM | Link to this
While I acknowledge the hard drink is hard on us, we have the right, without interference from govt. to drink as we wish! This is as bad as causing an industry to close because of fake greenhouse gas- Ha
By Bruce Kettelle
January 18, 2011 6:13 PM | Link to this
The amazing thing is we set this record in the face of declining population. I guess everyone is trying harder to do their part.
By Drowning my sorrows
January 18, 2011 4:23 PM | Link to this
With the unemployment rate, price of gas and food that is no wonder.