Most alcoholic beverage segments including beer & cider, wine, and spirits, have shown limited growth since 2020. By contrast, flavored alcoholic beverages (FABs*) have thrived globally, posting value and volume compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) of 9% and 5%, respectively, from 2020 to 2025. This growth momentum is forecast to continue through 2029, as FABs are projected to outpace other sectors. Pre-mixed spirits (an FAB subcategory) is forecast to be one of the top performers, with projected volume and value CAGRs of 5.2% and 7.7% from 2025–29, outpaced only by non-alcoholic spirits, according to GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.
Asahi has recently announced the rollout of its ready-to-drink (RTD) canned vodka cocktails, Zeitaku Shibori (Shibori), in the US. The launch spotlights the growth available beyond beer, particularly in FABs, and strengthens Asahi’s beer-adjacent portfolio.
Eve Forshaw, Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Major players in pre-mixed spirits, including Jack Daniel’s and Coca-Cola, Jim Beam Highball, and -196° Strong Zero, offer simple RTD beverages that replicate bar-quality experiences. The surge in pre-mixed spirits has been driven by six themes shaping alcoholic beverage consumption: convenience, experimentation, premiumization, health, moderation, and sustainability.”
Strong demand for alcoholic drinks that offer convenience
GlobalData’s 2025 Q4† global consumer survey found that 82% of buyers rate convenience as essential or nice to have when making product purchases. RTD spirit mixes meet this need by delivering cocktail-style flavors in grab-and-go formats.
Innovation is key and attracts younger consumers
GlobalData’s 2025 Q4 survey underscores the importance of innovation, with 59% of consumers saying uniqueness or novelty is either essential or nice to have when purchasing a product. Experimentation is particularly appealing to younger consumers: GlobalData’s 2024 Q1† survey found that 59% of 16–17-year-olds and 53% of 18–24-year-olds—along with 49% of 25–34-year-olds—prefer unusual or trendy alcohol flavors.
Sazerac-owned BuzzBallz appealed to experimental, novelty seeking consumers with its 2025 festive launch inspired by the film Elf: a vodka-based maple syrup sundae flavor in seasonal packaging. Each type of BuzzBallz 13.5% ABV cocktail comes in brightly-colored, spherical plastic packaging designed for a playful, social, on-the-go experience—appealing to younger consumers.
Some flavors stand out as favorites
GlobalData’s 2024 Q1 survey found that the most popular spirit flavors include berries, sweets (e.g., caramel, chocolate), other fruits, and citruses—each appealing to approximately 25% of respondents. Funkin Cocktails (owned by AG Barr) has leveraged these profiles with offerings including strawberry, sour apple, limoncello, passionfruit, chocolate espresso, and black forest gateau RTD cocktails. BuzzBallz also offers a range of flavor choices, including strawberry, mango and chili, lime, and chocolate.
Sustainable packaging poses scope for innovation
GlobalData’s 2025 Q4 survey found that 74% of consumers view “sustainable/environmentally-friendly” as essential or nice to have when making a product purchase. While metal cans dominate pre-mixed spirits packaging due to their convenience, portability, and recyclability, GlobalData’s 2025 Q3† survey found that over a third (37%) of consumers say that the use of metal packaging for alcohol is not sustainable, and 42% accept metal only where no alternatives exist. While alternatives are being developed, such as the Frugal Bottle—the world’s first paper wine and spirits bottle made from 94% recycled paperboard—brands that can develop or adopt new, sustainable packaging solutions in partnership with their suppliers could gain an advantage with these consumers.
Forshaw concludes: “Pre-mixed spirits present significant opportunities for growth and innovation, and Asahi’s US launch of Zeitaku Shibori canned vodka cocktails is the latest example of how brewers are expanding their portfolios beyond beer. Brands have an opportunity to drive further RTD spirits innovation by pairing bold, on-trend flavors with distinctive, sustainable packaging.”
*FABs include alcoholic soft drinks (including hard seltzers), pre-mixed spirits, and wine coolers. The category excludes any beer & cider products.
†GlobalData 2024 Q1, and 2025 Q3/Q4 global consumer surveys were conducted with 21,000 respondents across 42 countries.
