Alcoholic beverages Spending

How much American households spend on alcoholic beverages — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey

Annual average (2024)
$643
Share of total spending
0.8%
Change vs 2023
+0.9%
Change vs 2020
+34.5%

Spending Insight: Alcoholic beverages

American households spent an average of $643 on alcoholic beverages in 2024, representing 0.8% of total consumer expenditures. Year-over-year change was +0.9% (from $637 in 2023), roughly in line with broader consumer spending trends.

Since 2020, alcoholic beverages spending has risen by 34.5% (from $478 to $643), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden.

Income is the strongest predictor of alcoholic beverages spending: the top income quintile spends $1,395/year versus $244 for the lowest quintile — a 5.7x gap. Regionally, the Northeast spends the most ($858/year) while the South spends the least ($488/year). Use the cross-cuts below — by income, region, age, household size, and housing tenure — to see which demographic factors drive this category hardest for your situation.

Spending Trend (2020–2024)

Year Annual Amount
2024 $643
2023 $637
2022 $583
2021 $554
2020 $478

By Income Level (2024)

How alcoholic beverages spending varies across income quintiles

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $244
Second 20% $342
Middle 20% $504
Fourth 20% $726
Highest 20% $1,395

See full income breakdown →

By Region (2024)

Geographic variation in alcoholic beverages spending

Midwest
$660
0.9%
Northeast
$858
1.0%
South
$488
0.7%
West
$731
0.8%

See full regional breakdown →

By Age Group (2024)

How alcoholic beverages spending changes across the lifecycle

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $600
35–44 $727
45–54 $838
55–64 $657
65–74 $610
75 and older $422
Under 25 $382

See full age breakdown →

By Household Size (2024)

Size Annual
1 Person $456
2 People $723
3 People $842
4 People $637
5 or More $699

By Housing Tenure (2024)

Tenure Annual
Homeowner (with mortgage) $747
Homeowner (no mortgage) $824
Renter $630

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the average household spend on alcoholic beverages? ▼
The average American household spent $643 on alcoholic beverages in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 0.8% of total household spending.
Is alcoholic beverages spending increasing? ▼
Alcoholic beverages spending increased by 0.9% from 2023 to 2024 ($637 to $643). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +34.5%.
How does income affect alcoholic beverages spending? ▼
The lowest income quintile spends $244/year on alcoholic beverages, while the highest quintile spends $1,395/year — a 5.7x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on alcoholic beverages? ▼
The Northeast region spends the most at $858/year, while the South region spends the least at $488/year on alcoholic beverages.
Which age group spends the most on alcoholic beverages? ▼
Households headed by someone in the 45–54 age group spend the most on alcoholic beverages at $838/year.
Does household size affect alcoholic beverages spending? ▼
Yes. 1 Person households spend $456/year on alcoholic beverages, while 3 People households spend $842/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.

Spending Guides

Average Household Budget
How the typical American household allocates spending
Housing Costs by Income
How shelter spending varies across income quintiles
Food Spending Breakdown
Groceries vs dining out and who spends what
Healthcare Spending by Age
How medical costs rise across the lifecycle
Transportation Costs
Vehicle ownership, fuel, and transit spending

Related Spending Categories

Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Category
Food
$10,169/yr avg
Category
Housing
$26,266/yr avg
Category
Apparel and services
$2,001/yr avg
Category
Transportation
$13,318/yr avg
Category
Healthcare
$6,197/yr avg

Related Economic Data

Cost of Living by Metro → Fair Market Rents → Salary Data by Occupation → ZIP Code Demographics →
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey (BLS CEX). BLS CEX homepage. Data represents average annual expenditures per consumer unit. 2024 data released 2025. See our methodology for processing details.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.