A category of growing opportunities

Consumer preferences, drinking occasions and product expectations are evolving. Together, they are creating new opportunities across the RTD alcoholic beverage category.

Zoom in of an orange with fact 9.8bn

9.8 litres projected by 2029

Consumed volumes are expected to grow from 9 billion litres in 2025 to 9.8 billion litres by 2029, with annual consumption growth projected at 2% (CAGR 2026–2029).¹

Zoom in on trees with fact 40%

40% of consumers choose low-alcohol alternatives

Growing interest in moderation and changing drinking habits are increasing demand for low-alcohol versions of alcoholic beverages, with 17% of consumers also choosing no-alcohol alternatives.²

RTD alcoholic beverage in carton placed in a pocket with the number 80%

82% rank easy-to-handle packaging as a purchase driver

Convenience remains an important factor in purchase decisions, highlighting the role packaging plays in supporting consumer preferences and consumption occasions.²

Let's create new tastes

Consumer preferences are reshaping the alcoholic beverages landscape. New occasions, changing lifestyles and growing demand for convenience are driving the rise of RTD alcoholic beverages and creating new opportunities for producers and brands.

 

From festivals and sporting events to beach gatherings, picnics and outdoor celebrations, carton packaging helps unlock consumption occasions beyond traditional venues.

Let's create new tastes

Consumer preferences are reshaping the alcoholic beverages landscape. New occasions, changing lifestyles and growing demand for convenience are driving the rise of RTD alcoholic beverages and creating new opportunities for producers and brands.

 

From festivals and sporting events to beach gatherings, picnics and outdoor celebrations, carton packaging helps unlock consumption occasions beyond traditional venues.

Explore different types of RTD alcoholic beverages

From cocktails and coolers to hybrid and alcohol-free concepts, ready-to-drink beverages offer new ways to meet changing consumer preferences and occasions. Whether expanding from wine, spirits, juice, still drinks or malt-based beverages, producers can draw on formulation guidance and category expertise to expand into the category.

People playing table football while an RTD alcoholic beverage in carton stands on the table

Pre-mixed cocktails and long drinks

Pre-mixed cocktails and long drinks

From mojitos and margaritas to gin lemon, this category brings well-known mixed drinks into ready-to-drink products mainly based on spirits.

Woman holding a RTD alcoholic beverage in carton in her hands

Wine-based mixes and coolers

Wine-based mixes and coolers

Blending wine with fruit flavours and complementary ingredients, this category delivers lighter and more moderate drinking experiences.

Women sitting by pool with RTD alcoholic beverages in carton

Alcoholic soft drinks

Alcoholic soft drinks

From iced tea and coffee to citrus-flavoured concepts, this category blends familiar beverage traditions with alcohol to create distinctive flavour experiences.

Mockail RTD beverage in carton on table

Non-alcoholic blends

Non-alcoholic blends

Offering the flavour and experience of ready-to-drink mixed beverages, producers can expand their portfolios with alcohol-free alternatives (0.0-0.5% ABV) across a range of concepts.

TETRA PRISMA® ASEPTIC

Explore packaging made for convenience and versatility

Easy to carry, open and reclose. Its distinctive octagonal shape helps brands stand out on-the-go. Available in a range of sizes and openings, it offers versatility and is easy to shake and drink from.

 

Package

Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 

Volume range

250 ml, 300 ml, 330 ml and 500 ml

Available shapes

Edge, Square

RTD alcoholic beverages in carton on grey background
RTD alcoholic beverage in carton in hands

Protection and quality 

Designed to protect against oxygen, light, moisture and bacteria, aseptic carton packaging helps preserve beverage quality for up to 12 months without refrigeration or preservatives³ while supporting flexible distribution and storage.

RTD alcoholic beverage in carton in hands

Convenience

With a 96:4 product-to-packaging ratio, cartons are designed to deliver more product with less packaging material. Lightweight, resealable and perceived as safe to use², they also make products convenient to bring along and consume on-the-go.

Folded carton in hands

Keeping materials in circulation

Cartons can be recycled where collection, sorting and recycling infrastructures exist, at scale. The more that used cartons can be collected and sorted, the more valuable materials can be recovered for reuse.

TETRA STELO® ASEPTIC

Explore packaging ideal for shared occasions

Combining distinctive design with premium appeal, this package delivers smooth pouring and a distinctive shelf presence. Its rounded shape and wraparound surface provide an ideal canvas for creative branding.


Package
Tetra Stelo® Aseptic
Volume range
1000 ml
Available shapes
Edge

Mocktail RTD beverage in carton on grey background and a drink glass

Get expert guidance on expanding into RTD alcoholic beverages in carton

Expanding into RTD alcoholic beverages involves more than product development. We help navigate formulation, alcohol handling, regulatory requirements and production pathways while connecting you with the right expertise and partners.

Three colleagues reviewing notes during a  meeting

Opportunity to test before scaling

Turn ideas into reality before committing to full-scale production. Our 6 Customer Innovation Centres and 12 Product Development Centres provide access to category expertise, co-creation of concepts and value propositions, recipe and formulation guidance, pilot testing and concept validation. This helps producers explore new opportunities, refine concepts and make informed decisions before investing in commercial production.

Cartons moving through an automated beverage packaging line

Fast-forward your RTD alcoholic beverage with co-packers

Enter the RTD alcoholic beverages category quickly without the financial commitment of investing in new equipment. By connecting you with experienced co-packers, we can help provide the production capacity and processing and packaging expertise needed to take concepts from idea to shelf faster.

PRODUCTION

All the pieces for production success

Every beverage starts with a different production reality. From mixing and blending to dosing, pasteurization and alcohol handling, we bring together the technologies needed to create the solution that fits your business.

 

*ATEX (from French: ATmosphères EXplosibles) refers to EU directives describing the minimum safety requirements for workplaces and equipment used in potentially explosive atmospheres.

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1 Source: IWSR, 2026.
2 Source: Lexis Quantitative Consumer Research, 2025. Based on 12,122 online interviews across 12 countries.
3 Source: Institute of Food Technologists / Aseptic packaging standards.
4 Source: ACE – Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment / beverage carton material efficiency data.