Which beverage dominated out-of-home consumption in October 2025?

Claire Brunaud
3 days ago
3 min read

MarketPulse analysis — France, United Kingdom and the Netherlands

In October 2025, European consumers showed very different behaviours from one country to another when it comes to out-of-home beverage consumption. Thanks to a detailed analysis conducted on a representative panel of establishments in France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, several strong trends emerge. One thing is certain: some categories clearly stand out in consumption habits.

Beer, the big winner in out-of-home beverages

Across all three countries studied, beer is the most consumed out-of-home beverage. Whether it’s for after-work drinks, a friendly moment with friends, or a simple stop at a bar or café, beer dominates all categories: hot beverages, soft drinks, wine and spirits.

This leading position can be explained by:

its central role in social occasions,
its generally affordable price,
a varied offer (craft, lager, IPA, etc.),
its strong presence across out-of-home establishments.

France: beer in the lead, coffee as support, wine as accompaniment

In France, out-of-home beverages form a trio that reflects the local lifestyle. Beer comes clearly in first place, followed by coffee, which is very present throughout the day. Wine, still essential during meals, completes this podium.

These three beverages reflect three typical consumption moments:

beer, a symbol of relaxation and social gatherings;
coffee, omnipresent from breakfast to afternoon breaks;
wine, associated with gastronomy or more leisurely moments.

A daily rhythm deeply rooted in French habits.

United Kingdom: dominant beer, growing coffee, spirits in third place

In the United Kingdom, the hierarchy of out-of-home beverages is very clear:

Beer dominates unsurprisingly, driven by pub culture.
Coffee takes second place and continues to gain importance.
Spirits maintain a significant position, especially in the evening.

This configuration reflects a market where beer is the ultimate social reference, but where daytime consumption habits (coffee) are also evolving. Spirits remain associated with specific occasions, often festive or nighttime.

Netherlands: a unique balance between beer, soft drinks and wine

The Netherlands stand out with a more balanced podium:

Beer remains number one, confirming its European popularity.
Soft drinks take second place, driven by daily usage and a strong presence in fast-casual and quick-service establishments.
Wine holds third place, often consumed during more occasional moments.

This blend of tradition (beer), practicality (soft drinks) and more occasional consumption (wine) reflects a varied market and a wide diversity of consumption moments.

Key takeaways for out-of-home beverage consumption

Three major insights emerge from this analysis:

✔️ 1. Alcoholic beverages remain dominant

Beer, wine and spirits continue to hold a major share of out-of-home sales, particularly in France and the United Kingdom.

✔️ 2. Coffee remains essential

It ranks second in both France and the UK. Its presence throughout the day makes it a structuring beverage for out-of-home establishments.

✔️ 3. Soft drinks are growing strongly

Especially in the Netherlands, where they even rank above wine. This is a clear sign of new consumption habits and a growing demand for accessible, versatile non-alcoholic drinks.

Why are these insights essential for out-of-home operators?

Understanding which out-of-home beverages dominate in each country allows brands and distributors to better:

adapt their assortments,
target the right consumption moments,
customise their offers by market,
anticipate emerging trends (rise of soft drinks, growth of coffee, resilience of beer).

In a constantly evolving market, relying on precise and up-to-date data has become essential.

Want to go further in understanding out-of-home consumption?

If these trends shed light on consumer habits in France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, they are only a glimpse of what real-time data can reveal.

With MarketPulse, you gain access to an ultra-granular view of the performance of your categories, products and brands: market share evolution, local dynamics, consumption moments, benchmarks…

Everything you need to steer your decisions with precision and anticipate market shifts.

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