New data from CGA by NIQ shows vodka is the clear leader when it comes to spirit sales in the on premise in Australia.

Vodka has attracted around a third of spirits sales in Australia’s on premise the past year. CGA’s On Premise User Survey shows it has the widest consumer base too. Meanwhile Victoria over-indexed for vodka consumption compared to other big states like NSW and Queensland.

Behind vodka in the on premise spirit sales rankings comes whiskey, gin and rum. Alongside vodka, these four big categories account for more than 80% of on-premise sales. Rum takes a significantly larger share of sales in Queensland, where it has been the fastest-growing category by volume this year.

Below these top four, tequila continues to be a category to watch, with NSW over-indexing other states for sales by volume.

Across Australia, cognac and brandy currently have the highest prices per 30ml serve. CGA by NIQ said this highlights the opportunities for premium and super-premium brands in these categories.

At the other end of the pricing ladder, gin has had the lowest level of average price increases in the on premise in 2023. CGA by NIQ said many consumers remain sensitive to price in this part of the market.

But it wasn’t all good news, with spirit sales volumes across 2023 falling by 6.8% in the Australian on premise as prices per 30ml increased 10.2%.

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