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Liquor sales in Ohio set record

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The Ohio Commerce Department on Wednesday, Aug. 19, reported that dollar sales for liquor — whiskey and other hard stuff — at the state’s 442 contract liquor agencies hit a record high $729.9 million in fiscal year 2009, which ended June 30. Cork & Vine Warehouse clerk Alex Moore stocked the shelves Wednesday.

Staff photo by Ty Greenlees The Ohio Commerce Department on Wednesday, Aug. 19, reported that dollar sales for liquor — whiskey and other hard stuff — at the state’s 442 contract liquor agencies hit a record high $729.9 million in fiscal year 2009, which ended June 30. Cork & Vine Warehouse clerk Alex Moore stocked the shelves Wednesday.

Retail customers account for the increase; restaurants and bars are losing out to home consumption

By Mark Fisher, Staff Writer Updated 1:29 AM Thursday, August 20, 2009

Ohioans are buying record amounts of liquor, and they’re increasingly likely to drink those spirits at home rather than in bars and restaurants.

The Ohio Commerce Department Division of Liquor Control on Wednesday, Aug. 19, reported that dollar sales for liquor — beverages containing more than 21 percent (42 proof) alcohol — at the states’ 442 contract liquor agencies reached a record high $729.9 million in fiscal year 2009, which ended June 30.

That’s an increase of $32.2 million — 4.61 percent — over the previous year, a press release said.

But a closer look at the figures show the sales increase came entirely from customers buying liquor in stores to take home rather than increased consumption in bars and restaurants. “Retail” sales of spirits to consumers rose 7.1 percent in fiscal year 2009 to $495 million, while “wholesale” sales to bars and restaurants dropped 0.3 percent to $235 million, according to liquor-control spokesman Matt Mullins,

“The economy is affecting how often people are going out to bars and restaurants,” Mullins said. Other factors affecting the flat wholesale sales include lingering impact of the statewide smoking ban in public places and increased sensitivity to the state’s drunken-driving laws, Mullins said.

Shawn Grow, co-owner and general manager of Cork & Vine Wine Market and Lounge at 3452 York Commons Blvd. in Butler Twp., said business has grown steadily at the retail liquor store portion of his business, which opened eight months ago.

“We’ve been running out of some products, especially vodkas,” Grow said. “Some of the flavored vodkas are just selling like crazy.”

Ohioans’ brand preferences have remained remarkably constant, with Kamchatka Vodka capturing the top spot in sales ahead of Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey and Bacardi Superior Light Rum in calendar year-to-date figures released by the division. There are four vodkas in the top 10 brands based on Ohio sales.

The fiscal year 2009 record sales resulted in a transfer of $163 million to the state’s general revenue fund. The Liquor Control Division’s net profit increased to $224.2 million, a gain of $11.2 million over the previous year, according to a division news release.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2258 or mfisher@DaytonDailyNews.com.

“We’ve been running out of some products, especially vodkas. Some of the flavored vodkas are just selling like crazy.”

Shawn Grow

Co-owner and general manager of  Cork & Vine Wine Market and Lounge

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