Drop in Wine Sales Forecast: A wine...
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Drop in Wine Sales Forecast: A wine industry economist says sales of jug wines and wine coolers will be hit sharply as wine sales in general decline this year. The total U.S. wine market is expected to suffer a 6% decrease in sales in 1991, from an estimated 507 million gallons in 1990 to 478 million gallons this year, said economist Jon Fredrikson. Sales fell an estimated 3% in 1990 and 5% in 1989 and 1988. Concerns about the health effects of alcohol, drunken driving arrests, a faltering economy and higher federal-excise taxes are blamed for the forecast.