Alcoholic beverage preferences in the U.S. 2018, by gender

For almost half of male adults in the United States, beer was the favorite alcoholic beverage in 2018. Female adults in the country much preferred beverages, such as mixed drinks, cocktails, and wine.

Cocktail consumption in the U.S.

In 2018, pre-mixed cocktail beverages (with liquor) were consumed most commonly by younger people aged 18 to 29. When asked if they had consumed cocktails within the last three months, just over 20 percent of the group responded positively. Less than ten percent of people aged 50 to 64 had drunk such beverages. Over the entire course of that year, prepared cocktails were consumed the most during the summer months and in December, i.e., during the holidays.

Happy hour

In the United States, prices for alcoholic mixed drinks tend to differ depending on what time of day one is attempting to order them. In 2018, one could expect to pay up to ten U.S. dollars for one cocktail at on-premise venues in the evening or at night. When ordering in the afternoon, or during the potentially overlapping happy hour, one would pay about eight U.S. dollars on average.