The top 10 selling brands of spirituous liquor (by gallons sold) for 2010 were:
Kamchatka Vodka - 408,277 gallons.
Jack Daniel’s 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 Whisky
- 267,140 gallons.
Jagermeister - 261,959 gallons.
Korski Vodka - 236,976 gallons.
Black Velvet Canadian Whisky
- 232,623 gallons.
SOURCE: Ohio Division of Liquor Control
HAMILTON — Despite a down economy and with people tightening their budgets, people still found money to purchase alcohol.
Spirituous liquor sales reached a record $742.7 million in 2010, or a 1.75 percent increase over the previous year, according to a report release by the Ohio Division of Liquor Control. The division’s total net profit has steadily increased, reaching a record $228.8 million — a $4.6 million increase from the previous year.
The report cites efficient inventory control, product selections and location of sales outlets, but store manager Jason Parsons of Noonan’s in Hamilton attributes the rise in sales to more people purchasing alcohol from stores rather than going to a bar.
“It’s about bang for the buck,” Parsons said. “Less people are frequenting bars and restaurants, and they’re just picking it up themselves, particularly in the winter months.”
Liquor sales at Noonan’s are fluctuating, but Parsons does see a decrease in certain marquee brands such as Jack Daniel’s whisky, and instead customers are purchasing cheaper alternatives. They might buy more of it and subsequently spend the same or more amount of money, but they’re after volume, he said.
Customers continue adjusting what they buy in the wine aisle. If a customer typically purchases a $20 bottle of wine, he said, they are now buying two $10 bottles.
As for beer sales, the opposite is happening. Parsons said more people are purchasing microbrews instead of mass-produced products, such as Bud Light, Miller Lite and Coors Light.
“People are enjoying stuff more at home,” Parsons said. “In the past, Joe Blow used to go buy a 12-pack of Bud Light on Thursday night, he probably now is buying a six-pack of Sam Adams or something.”
That is a result of people going for enjoyment, rather than the drunk.
“They know that the money is not there, so why not enjoy what you’re buying,” he said. “It’s the only thing that makes sense — it’s a trend right now, but they’re still spending the same amount of money.”
Randy Combs, who owns Liquor Quick on Edgewood Drive in Trenton, said consumers are choosing to purchase liquor and drinking it at home, instead of in bars or restaurants, which he blames on higher beer prices, the soft economy and the state smoking ban.
Record sales have resulted in more contributions to state agencies from the Division of Liquor Control. The division contributed more than $300 million in earmarked funds to help state services and the retirement of state bonds.
Approximately half of the $300 million went to the state’s General Revenue Fund, while $35.9 million went to economic development bonds and $14.9 million to Clean Ohio revitalization bonds
Staff writer Rick McCrabb contributed to this report
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