Weekly Beverage Alcohol Recap | May 29, 2026

**Key Themes This Week:**

- US beverage alcohol market broadly declining across all categories; consumer sentiment near historic lows

- Spirit-based RTDs are the sole clear growth engine within spirits

- Non-alcoholic beer continues rapid ascent, led by Athletic Brewing and Go Brewing

- Wine faces a six-year structural contraction; DTC shipments resume decline after brief March recovery

- Craft beer regional breweries see 55%+ in decline; consolidation accelerating

**Major Company & Brand Moves:**

- **Uncle Nearest:** Receivership expanded; federal investigation disclosed; court values brand at $50–125M vs. $208M in total debts; sale hearing June 11

- **Constellation Brands:** Sequential beer volume improvement ahead of Q1 earnings; TD Cowen trims near-term EPS to $3.30, maintains Buy

- **AB InBev:** Outperforms broader beer market; Busch franchise growing +7.5%; Bud Light volumes still declining double digits

- **Diageo:** Continued US spirits weakness; Casamigos -13.4%, Don Julio -21.7%; vodka volumes -8.6%

- **RNDC:** 320+ additional layoffs in Washington and South Dakota; multi-state unwind continues at accelerating pace

- **Boisset Collection:** Aligns nationally with Southern Glazer's across 26 markets

- **Tilman Fertitta:** $17.6 billion acquisition of Caesars Entertainment signals confidence in on-premise entertainment

**Category Highlights:**

- **Spirits:** NABCA Control States volumes -1.2% in April; RTD brands Sun Cruiser, Surfside, Cutwater, BuzzBallz all surging

- **Beer:** Total volumes -7.0% in L4W; craft beer production -5.1%; Rogue Ales files Chapter 7; New Belgium surpasses Molson Coors as largest non-BA craft family

- **Wine:** DTC shipment value -2% in April; volume -13%; average bottle price hits record $65.55; Burgundy dominates US fine wine auctions at 56% of value

- **Hard Cider:** +3.6% dollar growth; Angry Orchard holds 35.8% share; bottom 200 vendors collectively declining

- **Energy Drinks:** Category +4.7%; Celsius/Alani Nu outperform; Red Bull market share eroding

- **Non-Alc Beer:** +14% growth; Athletic Brewing +20.4% dollars; Go Brewing +116% production volume

**Regulatory & Trade Watch:**

- Illinois proposed tax rule could classify spirit-based RTDs at $8.55/gallon spirits rate; echoes previously unconstitutional approach; comment period closes June 8

- California AB 1585 passes Assembly 67-0; would require "American" wine to use 100% American-grown grapes

- American whiskey exports -19% in 2025; Canada -57%, EU -35%, Japan -28%

- SNAP soda restrictions expanding; CSD volumes -4.0% in restricted states vs. -1.7% elsewhere

**Retail & Distribution:**

- BJ's Wholesale Q1 sales +9.9% to $5.53B; 12 new clubs planned for 2026

- Trader Joe's adding 25 planned new stores; visit growth nearly 3x grocery average

- Sotheby's American whiskey auction raises $2.5M; Old Rip Van Winkle 20-Year sets record at $162,500