Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) — Market Size & Saturation
There are 42,680 drinking places (alcoholic beverages) establishments in the United States — that's 12.9 businesses per 100,000 people.
Is Drinking Places Oversaturated?
With 12.9 businesses per 100,000 people, the drinking places (alcoholic beverages) market has moderate competition. There are 42,680 establishments nationally — enough to indicate proven demand, but not so many that the market feels crowded.
This level of saturation often represents a sweet spot: the market is validated (customers exist and are spending), but there's still room for new entrants with differentiated offerings. Geographic pockets may be underserved.
Competition Dynamics
Entry and exit rates reveal how actively the competitive landscape is changing.
More businesses are opening (10.2%) than closing (9.7%) — the market is expanding and attracting new entrants. Competition is intensifying.
Should You Enter This Market?
Here's a summary of the competitive picture for drinking places (alcoholic beverages):
Market Size
42,680 establishments
Density
12.9 per 100K people
Avg Revenue/Business
$641K/year
Competition Level
Moderate Competition
There's room in this market for well-positioned newcomers. Focus on identifying underserved geographic areas or customer segments.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many drinking places (alcoholic beverages) businesses are in the US?
- There are 42,680 drinking places (alcoholic beverages) establishments in the United States (35,517 unique firms). This translates to approximately 12.9 businesses per 100,000 people nationwide.
- Is the drinking places (alcoholic beverages) market oversaturated?
- With 12.9 businesses per 100K people, the drinking places (alcoholic beverages) market has moderate competition — not oversaturated, but not wide open either.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW (2023), U.S. Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics. Population: 331,449,281 (2020 Census).