Strong Demand Persists for Direct-to-Consumer Shipping of Craft Spirits

Newest Sovos Direct-to-Consumer Spirits Shipping Report points to a pressing need for expanded shipping laws to match demand and drive spirits sales

ATLANTA, SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 – The 2025 Direct-to-Consumer Spirits Shipping Report, released today, reveals that demand remains strong for direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipped craft spirits. The report, commissioned by Sovos ShipCompliant and the American Craft Spirits Association and conducted by The Harris Poll, explores the purchasing habits and intentions of U.S. adults ages 21+ who regularly consume craft spirits.¹ This year’s data found that the vast majority of regular craft spirits drinkers (84%) want the ability to legally purchase their favorite craft spirits through DtC channels, while 82% want to see laws change to expand DtC spirits shipping.

“The current constraints on DtC shipping for craft spirits not only limit consumer choice but significantly impact the bottom line for distilleries, who are unable to access the broader interested market,” said Alex Koral, regulatory general counsel, Sovos ShipCompliant. “To foster change and expand DtC spirits shipping, consumers and distillers alike must work with legislators and express their desires for the right to DtC shipments of spirits.”

Key trends and highlights from the report include:

• Outdated Spirit Shipping Laws Fail to Meet Demand: Only nine states, plus Washington, D.C., permit interstate DtC spirits shipping. Yet over two thirds of legal drinking age Americans (67%) and the majority of regular craft spirits drinkers (82%) want to see changes in current U.S. spirits shipping laws to allow for DtC spirits to be shipped in more states than it is currently legal in.
• DtC is a Win-Win for the Entire Distribution Chain: The expansion of DtC shipping laws could bolster physical retail sales, along with retail store brand loyalty as consumers seek out brands initially encountered via DtC shipping. Among regular craft spirits drinkers inclined to purchase via DtC, 92% report they would be likely to seek out a brand they enjoyed at retail after first purchasing it through DtC shipping. Historical data from nearly 20 years of legal DtC wine shipping in the U.S. demonstrates a strong correlation between DtC success and subsequent performance in wholesale distribution and retail.
• Turning Purchase Intent into Revenue Gains: Current DtC shipping restrictions are causing distilleries to leave significant revenue on the table from out-of-state enthusiasts. More than three quarters of regular craft spirits drinkers (77%) have tried a craft spirit while traveling that they wish they could purchase, but is not available near their home. More than three quarters of regular craft spirits drinkers (77%) say they would be more likely to try new craft spirit brands if they were able to purchase the spirits via DtC shipping to their home.

“The vast majority of craft distillers are small businesses and their products are not meant for wide distribution. Most wholesalers and retailers cannot practically carry all products made by all distilleries throughout the United States, meaning the majority of consumers are being deprived of new and innovative distilled spirits products,” said Margie A.S. Lehrman, CEO of the American Craft Spirits Association. “The 2025 report once again demonstrates that craft consumers in all regions across the country overwhelmingly support direct shipping of spirits. Expanding access represents a win for distillers, a win for consumers and a win for local economies. Now is the time for policymakers to modernize the distilled spirits marketplace and help craft distillers.”

To download the full 2025 Direct-to-Consumer Spirits Shipping Report, visit DtCSpiritsReport.com. Additionally, visit the Sovos ShipCompliant website for the most up-to-date information on the rules and regulations governing DtC spirits shipping.

Footnotes

¹Defined as those who consume craft spirits once a month or more often.

Consumer Survey Methodology

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Sovos ShipCompliant from August 7-11, 2025 among 2,004 U.S. adults ages 21 and older, among whom 752 drink craft spirits/liquor at least once per month. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.6 percentage points using a 95% confidence level for adults ages 21+, and within +/- 4.3 percentage points using a 95% confidence level for those who drink craft spirits/liquor at least once per month. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact helloship@sovos.com.

About Sovos

Sovos provides businesses with the confidence needed to navigate an increasingly regulated world. Offering a modern, IT driven response to compliance, Sovos’ solutions are scalable, reliable and secure and provide a great user experience. Sovos has more than 100,000 customers, including half the Fortune 500, as well as businesses of every size operating in more than 70 countries. The company’s cloud-based solutions integrate with a wide variety of business applications and government compliance processes. Sovos has employees throughout the Americas and Europe and is owned by Hg and TA Associates. For more information visit sovos.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Sovos ShipCompliant has been the leader in automated alcohol beverage compliance tools for more than 15 years, providing a full suite of cloud-based solutions to wineries, breweries, distilleries, importers, distributors and retailers to ensure they meet all federal and state regulations for direct-to-consumer and three-tier distribution. ShipCompliant’s solutions reduce risk, lessen the burden of compliance, accelerate bringing products to market and enable revenue growth. With 60+ partner integrations, Sovos ShipCompliant leads a robust ecosystem of technology partnerships, enabling powerful complementary solutions. For more information, visit sovos.com/shipcompliant and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About American Craft Spirits Association

The American Craft Spirits Association is the only registered national nonprofit trade group representing the U.S. craft spirits industry. Members vote for the 15 democratically elected representatives who make up the Board of Directors, and this Board collectively works to govern the ACSA in a transparent, responsive manner and in accordance with ACSA bylaws. ACSA’s mission is to elevate and advocate for the community of craft spirits producers. For more information, visit AmericanCraftSpirits.org.