Number of establishments in the bars, taverns and nightclubs industry U.S. 2003-2017
A profitable industry
The bar, taverns and nightclub industry is a lucrative sector in the United States. Besides these three types of establishments it also includes other drinking places primarily engaged in preparing and serving alcoholic beverages for immediate consumption. In 2017, the sales of U.S. drinking places amounted to approximately 24.01 billion U.S. dollars. Overall, the total employment in the industry was estimated to be at 345 thousand in 2017.
Alcoholic beverage preferences in the U.S.
There are many types of alcohol that can be purchased at bars, taverns, nightclubs or other drinking places. A 2018 survey found that 36.41 percent of respondents aged 18 to 29 years stated that they bought liquor at a bar or nightclub in the last 3 months. Nonetheless, beer had the highest sales market share in the U.S. with 45.5 percent in 2017. The market share of spirits or liquors only amounted to around 37 percent.