As many as 14 percent of Slovaks are problem drinkers, which means that they consume alcohol daily or several times a week. (source: Unsplash)
The Dry February initiative is an opportunity to take a break from alcohol. However, in Slovakia it was not reflected in the online sale of alcohol this year as monitored by Heureka.sk, the price-comparison website.
“After year-on-year declines in 2021 and 2022, interest rose by over 21 percent in the previous year and this year we have recorded only a symbolic year-on-year decline of 1.4 percent,” says Michal Buzek, head of analytics at the Heureka Group.
The sale of alcoholic beverages on the internet are balanced throughout the year, except in December when they rise by up to 50 percent compared to the annual average, Buzek noted.
“In neither year under review was February the driest month,” said Buzek. “Unfortunately, we have to conclude that, with internet sales of alcohol, we are not experiencing a dry February.”
The situation is very similar in the Czech Republic, where the same initiative is underway. The interest in alcohol on the internet in February of this year even grew by 7.5 percent year-on-year.
More than one fifth of Slovaks do not consume alcohol at all
As many as 14 percent of Slovaks are problem drinkers, which means that they consume alcohol daily or several times a week. Only 23 percent do not consume alcohol at all and 37 percent say they drink only occasionally, based on data of the Pilulka medical group and the Behavio pollster.
What alcohol is sold on the internet?
The best-selling category of alcohol on the internet is rums. Their share is over 30 percent and in the last three years interest has increased by over 50 percent. Whiskies have half the share and the same increase.
The surprise is wines, which were in third place in the past, but have now been overtaken by liqueurs. Wines are also experiencing the biggest drop in interest, which shows that Slovaks are seeking them out more in specialist brick-and-mortar stores. However, sparkling wine is growing in popularity, which has increased by 313 percent in the last three years.
Vermouths have seen the biggest increase of up to 668 percent, but their share of online alcohol sales is very low.
“Internet sales of alcoholic beverages are specific and mainly includes more special or expensive types of alcohol, which people often buy as gifts,” said Buzek.
