• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Saturday, March 25, 2023
The Iowa Torch
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
The Iowa Torch
The Iowa Torch
No Result
View All Result
Home State Government

Iowans Set Liquor Sales Record in Fiscal Year 2021

The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division reported that liquor sales in fiscal year 2021 reached a record $415.8 million, a 13.2 percent increase from 2020.

Mary StrokabyMary Stroka
December 16, 2021
in State Government
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Iowans Set Liquor Sales Record in Fiscal Year 2021

Photo by Clam Lo from Pexels.

(The Center Square) – The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division reported Tuesday that liquor sales in fiscal year 2021 reached a record $415.8 million. The 13.2 percent increase over fiscal year 2020 represents a significant jump.

RELATED POSTS

Reynolds signs two bills addressing transgender children

School restroom bill heads to Reynolds’ desk

Iowa House sends government reorganization bill to Reynolds’ desk

The sales of alcohol products in fiscal year 2020 were approximately $367 million.

Income from liquor profits, beer barrel and wine gallonage taxes as well as revenue from licensing and regulatory efforts provided $168 million for Iowa’s General Fund, $29 million of which will go to substance abuse and prevention education programs through the Iowa Department of Public Health.

The outcomes within this year’s annual report reflect good government planning and execution,” ABD Administrator Stephen Larson said in the news release.

Larson said the increases are “a direct result” of ABD’s 2019 strategic plan. The plan’s goals were maximizing revenue to the General Fund and reducing distribution operating costs, improving regulatory compliance and maintaining a competitive, transparent environment for Iowa businesses.

Iowa Department of Public Health spokesperson Sarah Ekstrand told The Center Square in an emailed statement Wednesday that the funding supports statewide assessment prevention and treatment initiatives. Those include training, program evaluations and prevention of substance-related disorders and problem gambling. It also helps fund the 24-hour Your Life Iowa helpline (call 855.581.8111, text 855.895.8398) and website of resources and referrals for regarding alcohol, drugs, gambling, mental health, or suicidal thoughts.

“The funds mean that we can continue to provide the programming,” Ekstrand said.

Fiscal year 2022 liquor sales have increased 5.7% through the end of November, the release said.

Liquor sales were highest in Polk County, followed by Linn County and Scott County, the report said. The division sold more than 6.5 million gallons of liquor in fiscal year 2021, and the number of bottles shipped rose by 2.6 million from 28.2 million to 30.8 million. Whiskey, vodka and rum sales were highest in terms of both dollars and gallons sold, adjusted from total liquor revenue. Cordials dropped from third to fourth most popular since the previous fiscal year.

Black Velvet held the top spot as the most popular brand in fiscal year 2021, a spot it has kept since at least fiscal year 2012, when the reporting began. Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Captain Morgan Spiced Rum were second and third highest, respectively. Blue Ox Vodka was the most popular Iowa brand for the third year in a row.

“Although COVID-19 has created additional challenges in the marketplace, this report reflects ABD’s continued success in achieving the mission of serving Iowans through responsible and efficient licensing, regulation, and distribution of alcohol,” ABD Executive Officer II Jake Holmes said in the release.

ADVERTISEMENT

Iowa Wholesale Beer Distributors Association Executive Director David Adelman told The Center Square in a phone interview Tuesday that, at a first glance, he didn’t find the statistics surprising. He said increases could be due to more beer, wine and spirits choices for consumers. Distributors have told him there were only 12 different beer choices about 20 years ago, and they now cover more than 500 brands and product labels.

Adelman said he expects options will increase since entrepreneurs continue to want to experiment in what they can supply consumers. At the same time, distributors want to ensure consumers are drinking responsibly, he said.

The Iowa Department of Public Health’s health tracking portal reported there were 836 deaths in 2020 that involved alcohol. Per 100,000 people, 17 “females” and 36.5 “males” died. Per capita, the rural and urban death rates were about equal (26.5 vs 26.9 respectively).

According to the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute’s 2021 County Health Rankings, 26% of Iowans reported binge or heavy drinking in 2018. From 2015 to 2019, 27% of driving deaths involved the use of alcohol. Iowa Law Enforcement announced it will increase checking for impaired drivers between this Friday Dec. 17, through New Year’s Day.

Tags: ake HolmesDavid AdelmanIowa Alcoholic Beverages DivisionIowa Department of Public HealthIowa Wholesale Beer Distributors AssociationSarah EkstrandStephen Larson
ShareTweetShare
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Buena Vista County Becomes Iowa’s 29th Second Amendment Sanctuary County

Next Post

Deyoe Announces Re-Election Campaign in Iowa House District 51

Mary Stroka

Mary Stroka

Mary Stoka is a freelance writer, editor, journalist, and public relations professional who lives in Chicago, Ill.

Related Posts

Iowa Dept. of Health & Human Services fill two leadership roles
State Government

Iowa Dept. of Health & Human Services fill two leadership roles

July 19, 2022
Reynolds, officials warn Iowans of danger of Fentanyl, fake pills
State Government

Reynolds, officials warn Iowans of danger of Fentanyl, fake pills

July 13, 2022
Larson Confirmed to Fourth Term as Top State Alcohol Regulator
State Government

Larson Confirmed to Fourth Term as Top State Alcohol Regulator

April 20, 2022
Alcohol-related deaths in Iowa increased by 27 percent in 2020
News

Alcohol-related deaths in Iowa increased by 27 percent in 2020

April 1, 2022
Iowa Dept. of Public Health Says Schools Should Treat COVID-19 Like Other Childhood Diseases
State Government

Iowa Depts. of Human Services and Public Health takes step closer to merger

March 30, 2022
Reynolds orders IABD to remove Russian-produced alcohol from purchase list
State Government

Reynolds orders IABD to remove Russian-produced alcohol from purchase list

February 28, 2022
Next Post
Deyoe Announces Re-Election Campaign in Iowa House District 51

Deyoe Announces Re-Election Campaign in Iowa House District 51

Reynolds Defends Relaxing COVID-19 Mitigation Measures

After Severe Weather, Reynolds Issues Disaster Proclamation for 49 Counties

Sign-Up For Our Daily Updates

Get The Iowa Torch right in your inbox!

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Recommended Articles

Iowa’s New Unemployment Rate Holds Steady, Overall Rates Rise

Employers in Iowa Add 7,000 Jobs in September

October 27, 2021
Former Congressman Bobby Schilling Dies After Battle With Cancer

Former Congressman Bobby Schilling Dies After Battle With Cancer

April 6, 2021
Ernst: ‘We can, and we should, safely reopen our schools’

Ernst: ‘We can, and we should, safely reopen our schools’

February 25, 2021

Popular Stories

  • elderly couple walking on a flower field

    Sherman: Iowa can fight back against the Biden Administration’s attack on retirees and families

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • School restroom bill heads to Reynolds’ desk

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Ernst: Biden’s WOTUS whiplash.

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Horn: It’s time for employers get serious about Iowa’s untapped workforce

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reynolds signs two bills addressing transgender children

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

The Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans

Categories

  • Education
  • Federal Government
  • Iowa History
  • Local Government
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • State Government
  • Uncategorized
  • Uncategorized

Newsletter

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.