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RECORD LIQUOR SALES IN 2000

(Columbus) -- Rae Ann Estep, Superintendent of the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Liquor Control, announced that sales of spirituous liquor (intoxicating liquor containing more than 21 percent alcohol by volume) in calendar year 2000 reached record levels.

Dollar sales totalled $471.0 million in 2000. This exceeded the previous calendar year record of $436.78 million set in 1999, by $34.22 million, or 7.8 percent. Gallonage sales for 2000 totalled 8.54 million gallons. This was an increase of .25 million gallons, or 3.0 percent greater than 1999 gallonage sales.

"The main reason for the increase in dollar sales is due to product cost increases by the suppliers and a trend toward the purchase of more premium-priced products," Estep stated. "While we've seen slight increases in consumption of spirituous liquor over the past five years, we're pleased to report that Ohio's consumption is still nearly ten percent less than it was a decade ago when gallonage sales totalled 9.45 million gallons in 1990," Estep continued.

Estep also noted that Ohio ranked 48th in the nation in per capita consumption of distilled spirits in 1998 according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, Inc.

The top ten selling brands of spirituous liquor in Ohio for 2000 were:

1. Kamchatka 80 proof Vodka

2. Jack Daniels #7 Black Label Tennesee Whiskey

3. Bacardi Light-Dry Rum

4. Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey

5. Absolut 80 proof Vodka

6. Jim Beam Straight Bourbon

7. Korski Vodka

8. Seagrams 7 Crown Blended Whiskey

9. Windsor Supreme Canadian Whiskey

10. Smirnoff No. 21 80 proof Vodka

These same brands have been the top ten sellers in Ohio since 1996. The only change in ranking order from 1999 was the switch between Jack Daniels and Bacardi Light in the second and third positions.

(Over)

Liquor Sales - Page 2

Spirituous liquor sales and tax revenues benefit all Ohioans through the variety of state services they help fund. In Fiscal Year 2000, $95 million in spirituous liquor sales revenue was transferred to the state's General Revenue Fund, which is used to fund all state services. An additional $28.4 million in liquor sales revenue was earmarked for other state services such as liquor law enforcement, and alcoholism treatment, education and prevention, while $46.4 million in state sales and gallonage taxes on spirituous liquor was deposited in the state treasury

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The Division of Liquor Control is responsible for controlling the manufacture, distribution and sale of all alcoholic beverages in the state. The division sells spirituous liquor through nearly 400 private, contract liquor agencies in the state. Liquor sales and tax revenues are returned to the state's General Revenue Fund, and are also earmarked for a number of other state services including the retirement of economic development bonds and state liquor enforcement. Regulatory functions handled by the division include the issuance of permits to the state's approximately 24,000 privately owned and operated manufacturers, distributors and retailers of alcoholic beverages, and industry compliance of the laws relating to the manufacture, importation and distribution of beer, wine and mixed beverages containing less than 21 percent alcohol by volume in Ohio.

As one of the state's chief regulatory agencies, the Department of Commerce is responsible for numerous regulatory functions carried out by its other divisions of Financial Institutions, Securities, Real Estate, Unclaimed Funds, Labor and Worker Safety, Industrial Compliance, and State Fire Marshal. The department's internet address is www.com.state.oh.us

 

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