The Impact of Increased Availability of Wine in Grocery Stores on Consumption: four case histories

Summary Regression analyses were performed on per capita wine consumption in four states of the U.S.A. where the availability of wines was increased. In three of four states, wine consumption was found to be significantly greater in the years of the changes than one would expect, based on the regression trends of the previous eight to thirteen years. Differences in findings were probably a reflection of differences in the nature and extent of the increased availability among the four stales. Consumption of beer and spirits was also analysed for the years in question, and substitution from beer or spirits to wine was not found. Finally, alternative explanations for the patterns of increases were examined and considered unlikely.