Drink sales in bars and restaurants are projected to grow modestly in 2015, according to Technomic’s expectations for the on-premise alcohol industry. Conditions at major chain restaurants that serve alcohol are slowly improving, and greater consumer confidence will lead to a more positive trend than seen in 2014. Technomic’s forecasts, released via its BarTAB Report and its Adult Beverage Insights Group, call for consumer expenditures on alcohol away from home to rise 2.7 percent in the new year, a slightly greater increase than is expected for alcohol expenditures at retail. “Conditions are improving, and with lower gas prices and better consumer confidence, we’re continuing to see positive movement in consumer spending away from home,” states David Henkes, Vice President at Technomic and director of the firm’s adult beverage practice.