Coronavirus lockdown: People are buying tons of alcohol
A general view of cocktails at the Lucali Brooklyn Takover at The Nice Guy on March 09, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Hwood Group)
(FOX NEWS) - Bottoms up, while we’re all locked down.
The global coronavirus pandemic is reportedly driving millions of Americans to bend an elbow amid a future of uncertainties through the COVID-19 outbreak. Sales of alcoholic beverages in the U.S. rose 55 percent in the week ending March 21, according to Nielsen data.
As for drinks of choice, spirits like tequila, gin and pre-mixed cocktails were the clear front-runners, with sales leaping 75 percent in comparison with the same period last year. Beer sales were up 42 percent, while wine sales rose 66 percent.
The market research firm also reported that online alcohol sales were up a whopping 243 percent, far outpacing in-store sales.
However, Nielsen vice president Danelle Kosmal suspects that the incredible spike in growth rates may prove to be a peak, as Americans stocked up their liquor cabinet before state stay-at-home orders took effect.
Data for the week ending on March 28 may prove to be a more accurate representation of demand moving forward, Kosmal said.
With that inspiration, here are five different ways to prepare a "quarantini," the quarantine-inspired cocktail of the moment.
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