Alcopops still flow despite tax rise

The Citigroup beverage trends analysis for October 2009 says that sales of RTDs or alcopops have returned to their pre-tax-hike double-digit growth trajectory.

Beer doesn’t appear to be losing out, suggesting overall alcoholic beverage market growth, the analysts added. Beer sales grew notably in the wake of the alcopops tax, but Citigroup says the rebound in the RTD category has had minimal impact on beer consumption to date.

Combined beer and RTD volume growth is currently trending 6 percent up on sales of 12 months ago.