The way the US has responded to the Coronavirus has certainly not been uniform, as nearly every state or region has its own strategy and timeline for dealing with it. As a result, sales trends have not followed a linear trajectory, rather they have ebbed and flowed as states change their strategy.
In Nielsen’s most recent report for the week ending July 18, alcohol sales in the off-premise channel are up once again (+19%) as states renew some restrictions in the on-premise. Despite the typical ebbs and flows, Nielsen notes that the acceleration of spirits sales has stayed closer to its original growth rates from the early pandemic period, compared to wine and beer.
Source: Nielsen Weekly Off-Premise Update (7/18), July 2020