With government directives to stay at home resulting in on-premise closures across more than 29 states, beverage alcohol sales boomed. Shifts in retail, such as online ordering and delivery for short-term stockpiling and “comfort buying,” showed alcohol purchases increased at a “much higher pace” than last year, underscoring the scale of the current consumer panic. In comparison to IRI’s weekly data for March 2020, IWSR, which tracks total annualized beverage alcohol consumption, showed preliminary 2019 full-year trends up 0.3% in volume and 2.5% in value. Volume brands including Tito’s Handmade Vodka, White Claw and Barefoot showed accelerated growth rates in March’s early weeks, as well as the Budweiser family of brands, which reversed a 52-week volume decline. Figures for the week ending March 22 show total beverage alcohol USD sales increased 40% over the same period last year, and volume sales increased 33% versus last year. Key trends across packaging showed a jump in large-format wine and spirits sales. Across spirits, whiskey brands like Wild Turkey, Crown Royal, Jack Daniel’s, Bulleit and Maker’s Mark are all seeing increased purchase at retail. Mixable-friendly vodka also seems to be a bright spot. Corona brands have seen a spike, with sales volumes up 28.8%.