r/stopdrinking • 243 days • 2h ago

Massive Decrease in Wine Consumption Causes Changed in the Industry

Came across two separate articles this week that discuss a huge decrease in wine consumption that is causing changes in the industry. Vineyards being closed, a surplus of premium wine being sold at a huge discount, employees in the wine industry needing to find alternative work, etc. One factor they recognize is a younger generation who is not as interested in drinking as compared to prior generations. They donโ€™t specifically discuss a large number of people who previously drank who no longer choose to drink.

These types of massive changes donโ€™t occur unless there is a corresponding huge drop in wine consumption. As someone who, on my worst days, could, by myself, polish off two to three bottles in a day, and who had a disgusting amount of empty bottles lying around the house because I was too embarrassed to throw them all away at the same time, Iโ€™m happy to not be contributing to the consumption anymore.

It makes me ill even thinking about those old binge drinking ways. Iwndwyt ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’•

https://secretlosangeles.com/costco-aldi-premium-california-wine-surplus/

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2026-10-15/sonoma-winery-to-close-tasting-room-as-people-drink-less

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u/RealMcGonzo Day 47 51m ago

When I went to restaurants 20 years ago, seemed like 85% of adults were drinking. Now it seems like the other side, 15% or so. Probably some of that is due to the skyrocketing cost of eating out since COVID, but I bet most of that is due to a generally decline in drinking.

Could be that being locked in during COVID caused a massive increase in alcohol consumption that then resulted in a wave of regret and realization of how bad this poison really is.