Des Moines, Iowa — State liquor sales revenues were up by nearly four percent in the fiscal year that ended in July in what was the lowest increase in five years.
Sales last year were up 13 percent, and Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division Chief Financial Officer, Leisa Bertram, says things appear to be leveling off following a pandemic sales surge.
The gallons of liquor sold dropped by 70,000.
Liquor sales brought in $431 million, and a record of just more than $150 million, from liquor sales was turned over to the state along with another $19 million in licensing and taxes. Another factor in the liquor sales was a continued increase in the number of convenience and smaller stores that obtained licenses. Bertram says those stores usually have a smaller inventory.
Bertram says the supply chain issues did create some issues for specific products.
She says people were able to kind of pivot and find a replacement their favorite drink, and that included in-state native distillery items that are available.
December is one of the top months for alcohol sales, and the sales this December will be part of the new fiscal year numbers. Bertram says early indications are the recent sales trend is continuing.
Bertram says the cost of some products has gone up, while the cost of others have gone down, so overall costs haven’t gone up that much for liquor despite inflation.
