Arkansas Alcohol Sales Rise in 2024 Despite National Decline

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The value of sales of mixed drinks, liquor and beer in Arkansas continued to rise last year, the state’s collection of excise taxes on alcoholic beverages reveals.

Excise tax collections on mixed-drinks sales increased 2.73% in 2024 compared with the previous year, to a total of $21.4 million.

Excise tax collections on sales of liquor rose 4.73%, totaling $17.4 million.

And excise tax collections on beer sales grew 3.12%, reaching $5.4 million.

Some of the increase is likely due to inflation last year, which, though it moderated, was 2.9% for the year.

Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down restaurants, bars and other alcohol-dispensing businesses, Arkansas consumers are continuing to enjoy drinking their favorite alcoholic beverages.

Nationwide, however, the trend is somewhat different. The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States reported in February that total spirits revenue declined 1.1% in 2024 compared with 2023.

Beer sales also appear to be down. The Beer Institute said that shipments of beer in the United States declined 3.3% in 2024.

The tariffs instituted by President Donald Trump may also depress alcohol sales. The Distilled Spirits Council said Tuesday that a 25% tariff on distilled spirits imports from Mexico and Canada could lead to a loss of more than 31,000 U.S. jobs. It noted that the U.S. imported $5.2 billion worth of tequila and $93 million worth of mezcal from Mexico and $622 million worth of Canadian spirits.

And beer makers say that aluminum tariffs could hurt beer sales if they’re forced to raise prices because of higher aluminum costs.