DtC alcohol industry in the U.S. - statistics & facts

Wine

Currently, who can and can't ship directly to consumers is extremely one-sided. Forty-seven states allow DtC selling from wineries while only 12 permit the same for breweries and a meager nine for distilleries. The regional nature of wine growing makes DtC selling an appealing choice but it wasn't until the Granholm v. Heald decision in the Supreme Court that the DtC wine market really took off. The court found that the laws in New York and Michigan that permitted in-state DtC wine sales but restricted sales from out-of-state wineries were unconstitutional. While this opened the market for wineries, other alcohol producers were left behind.

Beer and spirits

Laws that permit wine DtC sales are specifically written for wine, so breweries and distilleries must lobby on their own behalf. The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented interest to e-commerce and the alcohol industry was no exception. Even after pandemic restrictions have been lifted consumers are still curious about DtC sales. A recent survey of spirits drinkers found more than three-quarters supported distillers being granted the same selling permissions as wineries. A survey of craft beer drinkers revealed that nearly all of those surveyed would purchase DtC beer once a month or more, while nearly a third were interested in weekly shipments.

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