Alcoholic drinks in 2024: The big picture
The market for alcoholic drinks in Costa Rica remained flat in volume terms in 2024. This was despite positive macroeconomic indicators such as falling inflation and a declining unemployment rate. Industry sources described the year as particularly challenging, with players investing considerable resources even to maintain sales levels.
2024 key trends
Beer remains the largest category in Costa Rica’s alcoholic drinks market, largely due to the country’s tropical climate, which means that beer is often consumed as a refreshing beverage. It is also viewed as one of the most cost-effective drink options, frequently supported by price promotions that offer extra savings to consumers. Additionally, high tourism levels contribute significantly to beer sales, as visitors commonly enjoy beer while on holiday.
Competitive landscape
Florida Bebidas S.A. was the leading alcoholic drinks company in 2024, primarily known for its popular Imperial beer, a pale lager that dominates the Costa Rican market. The company also offers variations like Imperial Light and Imperial Silver, as well as Pilsen, a traditional Pilsener-style lager.
Retail developments
Supermarkets remained the primary distribution channel for alcoholic drinks in Costa Rica, offering a wide variety of products, including new launches and frequent price promotions. Consumers also trust this channel to provide legally sourced, non-illicit products, as major supermarket chains purchase exclusively from authorised distributors.
On-trade vs off-trade split
On-trade sales of alcoholic drinks remained static in 2024, despite the opening of several new restaurants and bars. Besides ongoing economic challenges, this stagnation is partly due to limited financial support from manufacturers and distributors for on-trade marketing campaigns. As a result, growth relies mainly on organic demand. To stay competitive, on-trade establishments are becoming creative with cocktail offerings and frequently running promotions, but these efforts have not yet translated into significant sales growth.
What next for alcoholic drinks?
The Costa Rican alcoholic drinks industry is expected to see a return to positive volume growth over the forecast period. After facing challenges such as the COVID-19 crisis, container shortages, international conflicts, rising raw material prices, a port disruptions, and economic instability from high interest rates and exchange volatility, industry players are expected to bounce back with greater innovation.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Alcoholic Drinks industry in Costa Rica with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to the following key categories, where applicable:
- Beer
- Wine
- Spirits
- Cider and Perry
- RTDs
If you're in the Alcoholic Drinks industry in Costa Rica, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty
The Alcoholic Drinks in Costa Rica report includes:
- Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
- Detailed segmentation of international and local products
- Historic volume and value sizes, company and brand market shares
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Alcoholic Drinks in Costa Rica?
- Where is consumer demand for Alcoholic Drinks focussed?
- Which is being consumed more; beer, wine or spirits?
- Where is demand growing? Stagnating?
- How is the operating environment for alcoholic drinks changing?
- Which are the leading brands in Costa Rica?
- How are products distributed in Costa Rica?
- What are the key trends in new product development?
- Do consumers want value for money or added value?
- How will macroeconomic context and shifting cultural values shape future growth?
- How will COVID-19 and recession impact the alcoholic drinks industry?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
Alcoholic Drinks in Costa Rica
Alcoholic drinks in 2024: The big picture
2024 key trends
Competitive landscape
Retail developments
On-trade vs off-trade split
What next for alcoholic drinks?
Legislation
Legal purchasing age and legal drinking age
Drink driving
Advertising
Smoking ban
Opening hours
On-trade establishments
TAXATION AND DUTY LEVIES
Contraband/parallel trade
Duty free
Cross-border/private imports
Outlook
DISCLAIMER
Beer in Costa Rica
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Beer sales are impacted by illicit trade and adverse weather
Florida Bebidas SA retains its dominance
Beer continues to be staple purchase in traditional retail channels.
Affordability of beer will boost sales
Artisanal beer, while still niche, will continue growing
Consumer´s growing interest in health and wellness will boost sales of low-calorie and zero alcoholic beer
Lager price band methodology
Cider/Perry in Costa Rica
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Niche presence for cider, while perry is still hard to find
Few players have entered cider/perry market
Lack of clarity surrounding cider amongst retailers and consumers
Cider is expected to remain a niche product
Growth will be hampered by lack of local brands
Holiday season will remain key driver of sales, with limited to no innovation expected
Rtds in Costa Rica
KEY DATA FINDINGS
RTD continue to grow in popularity, driven by launch of new varieties
Diageo continues as leading company
Supermarkets is preferred channel for RTDs, thanks to wide product selection
Growth in tourism will continue to boost sales
Larger 1-litre presentations will offer savings for consumers
Growing interest in wellness will drive growth of hard seltzers
Spirits in Costa Rica
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Spirits market sees modest growth amid expanded imports and rising demand for local guaro
State-owned company Fanal continues as leading player
Consumers place trust in well-known supermarket chains
Price promotions will continue to drive sales
Sustainability to become a growing concern for consumers and manufacturers
Whisky innovation to accelerate, following launch of Johnnie Walker Blonde
Vodka, gin, other blended Scotch whisky, dark rum and white rum price band methodology
Wine in Costa Rica
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Wine culture evolves in Costa Rica amid growing interest in new varieties
Chilean wines dominate imports as consumers embrace variety
Wine sales thrive in supermarkets as consumers embrace variety
Costa Rican consumers show growing interest in wine origins
Continued expansion of different wine varieties
Growing health awareness could slow category growth
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Alcoholic Drinks
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- Ale
- Sorghum
- Weissbier/Weizen/Wheat Beer
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- Flavoured/Mixed Lager
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- Domestic Premium Lager
- Imported Premium Lager
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- Domestic Mid-Priced Lager
- Imported Mid-Priced Lager
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- Domestic Economy Lager
- Imported Economy Lager
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- Domestic Premium Lager
- Domestic Mid-Priced Lager
- Domestic Economy Lager
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- Imported Premium Lager
- Imported Mid-Priced Lager
- Imported Economy Lager
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- Low Alcohol Beer
- Non Alcoholic Beer
- Stout
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- Regular Cider/Perry
- Non Alcoholic Cider/Perry
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- Malt-based RTDs
- Spirit-based RTDs
- Wine-based RTDs
- Other RTDs
- Non Alcoholic RTDs
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- Brandy
- Cognac
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- Bitters
- Cream-based Liqueurs
- Other Liqueurs
- Non Alcoholic Spirits
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- Prestige Dark Rum
- Ultra Premium Dark Rum
- Super Premium Dark Rum
- Premium Dark Rum
- Standard Dark Rum
- Economy Dark Rum
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- Prestige White Rum
- Ultra Premium White Rum
- Super Premium White Rum
- Premium White Rum
- Standard White Rum
- Economy White Rum
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- Tequila (and Mezcal)
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- Bourbon/Other US Whiskey
- Canadian Whisky
- Irish Whiskey
- Japanese Whisky
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- Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
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- Prestige Other Blended Scotch Whisky
- Ultra Premium Other Blended Scotch Whisky
- Super Premium Other Blended Scotch Whisky
- Premium Other Blended Scotch Whisky
- Standard Other Blended Scotch Whisky
- Economy Other Blended Scotch Whisky
- Single Grain Scotch Whisky
- Single Malt Scotch Whisky
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- Other Whiskies
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- Prestige English Gin
- Ultra Premium English Gin
- Super Premium English Gin
- Premium English Gin
- Standard English Gin
- Economy English Gin
- Dutch Gin
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- Prestige Vodka
- Ultra Premium Vodka
- Super Premium Vodka
- Premium Vodka
- Standard Vodka
- Economy Vodka
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- Absinthe
- Ad-Mix Brandy
- Ad-Mix Gin
- Ad-Mix Rum
- Ad-Mix Vodka
- Ad-Mix Whisky
- Aguardente/Aguardiente
- Aguardiente De Caña
- Akvavit/Aquavit
- Aniseed-Flavoured Spirits
- Borovicka
- Boukha
- Brandy Type Distilled Spirits
- Cachaça
- Calvados
- Cane
- Chacha
- Charanda
- Chinese Herbal Spirits
- Chinese Spirits
- Cut Brandy
- Destilados De Agave
- Distilled Fruit Spirits
- Domestic Brandy
- Domestic Rum
- Doppelkorn
- Economy Chinese Spirits
- Flavoured Spirits
- Flavoured Vodka-based Drinks
- Fynbos gin/Local Gin
- Gin-flavoured spirits
- Goldbrand/Goldkrone
- Grappa
- Grappamiel
- Guaro
- Kirsch
- Komovica
- Korn
- Lambanog
- Limoncello
- Local White Spirits
- Lower Mid-Range Chinese Spirits
- Lozovaca
- Maesilju
- Mahia Rabi Amrane
- Mead
- Mixed Spirits
- Nalivka/Nalewka
- Nastoyka
- National Specialities
- Obstbrände
- Ouzo
- Pacharán
- Palinca/Pálinka
- Pear and Apple Distillates
- Pisco
- Premium Chinese Spirits
- Prune
- Punsch
- Rachiu/Rakija
- Rum-Flavoured Spirits
- Samane
- Sambuca
- Samsu
- Schnapps
- Shochu/Soju
- Singani
- Sljivovica/Slivovice
- Steinhäeger
- Strong African Spirits
- Super Premium Chinese Spirits
- Sura Khao
- Tequila Flavoured Spirits
- Travarica
- Tsipouro
- Upper Mid-Range Chinese Spirits
- Vieux
- Viina
- Vodka Type Distilled Spirits
- Other Distilled Beverages
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- Port
- Sherry
- Vermouth
- Other Fortified Wine
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- Apple Wine
- Bokbunjaju
- Cheongju
- Chinese Wine
- Economy Rice Wine
- Fortified Fruit Wine
- Fruit and Berry Wine
- Fruit and Herbal Wine
- Fruit and Honey based Wine
- Fruit Wine
- Lower Mid-Range Rice Wine
- Non-Grape Dessert Wine
- Premium Rice Wine
- Sake
- Takju
- Upper Mid-Range Rice Wine
- Yakju
- Yellow Wine
- Other Non-Grape Wine
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- Champagne
- Other Sparkling Wine
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- Still Red Wine
- Still Rosé Wine
- Still White Wine
- Non Alcoholic Wine
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Alcoholic Drinks
Alcoholic drinks is the aggregation of beer, wine, spirits, cider/perry and RTDs.
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This report originates from Passport, our Alcoholic Drinks research and analysis database.
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