Effervescent, refreshing and with a lower ABV than, say, a martini or even a daiquiri, the spritz has long been the drink of choice for many brunch-goers and summer vacationers. In recent months, however, the wine- and apertif-based cocktail has been on the rise as an all-hours, all-seasons drink.
Spritz sales have skyrocketed threefold in restaurants and bars, according to a recent study by hospitality research firm CGA. The On Premise User Survey compared check averages from 15,000 bars and restaurants across the United States between the falls of 2022 and 2023. The spritz jumped eight spots to become the seventh-most popular cocktail of choice, beating out heavy hitters like the espresso martini and the bellini.
The massive boost in spritz consumption is likely due to a rise in the demand for lower-alcohol drinks, which has been linked to the so-called sober curious movement. “We’re seeing more adoption and accessibility of the low-alcohol and non-alcohol market,” says Ben Tilton, associate client solutions manager at CGA. “It’s definitely a trend. People still want to go out, but they want to have different options for different occasions.”
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Younger adults seem to be driving this uptick. Demographic data from the survey found that cocktail consumption is highest among 21- to 34-year-olds, 37% of whom now order mixed drinks—up from 31% last year. This age range is widely known to drink less than previous generations. An often-cited report
This Article was originally published on Wine Enthusiast
