Whether it is Mexican tequila, Brazilian cachaça, or Patagonian wine, Latin American alcoholic beverages have become internationally renowned for their quality and taste. Within the region, these kinds of drinks are widely consumed. Brazil and Mexico rank among the
in the world. When it comes to per capita values, however, the country with the
Beer popularity
The most popular alcoholic drink in Latin America is, by far, beer. Corona (Mexico),
Skol (Brazil), and Águila (Colombia) are the
most valuable beer brands in the region, and craft beer is becoming increasingly popular. The
market value of Latin American beer exceeded 100 billion U.S. dollars in 2024 and is expected to keep growing.
South American wines
Wine is another alcoholic beverage widely consumed in South America. Chile and Argentina are the
biggest producers and have become recognized as worldwide powerhouses.
Argentinian wine is mainly produced in the province of Mendoza, especially the
red varietal “Malbec”, which is globally known as Argentina’s signature wine. In Chile, some of the
most grown red varietals include Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Chilean white wines are also worldly acclaimed, with Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay being some of the favorites among wine connoisseurs.
Local treasures
Despite the popularity of beer and wine, and given the cultural diversity of the region, what particularly shapes the alcoholic beverages market in Latin America is its variety of local liqueurs and spirits. Some of the best-known typically Latin American alcoholic drinks include
cachaça,
pisco,
rum,
tequila, and mezcal. These beverages are produced based on a variety of local ingredients such as
sugar cane (cachaça and rum),
agave (mezcal and tequila), anise (Colombian aguardiente), and grape (pisco). While most are native to specific Latin American countries such as Brazil (cachaça), Colombia (aguardiente), Mexico (mezcal and tequila), Chile, and Peru (Pisco), others are distinctive of the region on account of their global popularity. Rum, for instance, though produced in different areas in Latin America and the Caribbean, is mainly known as a typically Cuban distillate. Another beverage widely consumed in South America is fernet, a bitter herbal liqueur native to Italy. Particularly in Argentina and Uruguay, it is usually prepared as a cocktail mixed with
Coca-Cola.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no
liability for the information given being complete or correct.
Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date
data than referenced in the text.
