If you’ve ever been to an Eagles or Phillies tailgate, you know that Philly loves to drink. But how do we compare to the rest of the state?
At the end of February, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board released its annual report for the 2023-2024 fiscal year and gave some insight into our state’s drinking habits.
Philadelphia ranked second when it came to total county sales, racking in 11.1% of the share. Who beat us out? Allegheny County – home to the second largest city in the state, Pittsburgh – ranked number one and contributed 13.6% of the total sales in the state.
The Keystone State seems to really like Fireball, as it sold nearly 3.6 million units of Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey mini bottles – more than any other spirit. While whiskey in all of its forms was the top choice across all 67 Pennsylvania counties, the second most popular alcohol varied – most went with vodka, but tequila was Philly’s second favorite drink.
As for our neighbors in Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery counties, they preferred red wine. While there are plenty of wineries in the suburbs to pick a bottle from, Pennsylvania’s favorite wine is Italy’s La Marca Prosecco.
Philly really likes its brandy and cognac, as we outpace the rest of the state with over $35 million in sales. No other county comes close.
The sixth most popular Fine Wine & Good Spirits store in the state is at 180 W. Girard Ave, generating $16,414,326! With all of the restaurants in Northern Liberties and Fishtown that are BYOB, it’s no wonder that they’re busy with sales.
High sales don’t mean high consumption, though, since more expensive products could influence the rankings. While the Girard Avenue store’s average transaction was $41.95, a store in Bucks County’s Feasterville was ranked number three with an average of $1,406.82. What are you guys buying over in Feasterville?!
What about beer? The report doesn’t go in too much detail but there’s no shortage of Philly beers to try out. If alcohol isn’t for you or you want to try something different, local businesses are stepping up with zero-proof options on their menus.
