Alcohol away from home inflation, 1977–2026

Prices are 572.73% higher than in 1977, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Alcohol Away From Home Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Alcohol Away From Home, 1977-2026 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for alcoholic beverages away from home are 572.73% higher in 2026 versus 1977 (a $114.55 difference in value).

Between 1977 and 2026, Alcohol away from home experienced an average inflation rate of 3.97% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, alcohol away from home costing $20 in the year 1977 would cost $134.55 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.53% during this same period, inflation for alcohol away from home was higher.

Price Inflation for Alcoholic beverages away from home since 1977

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1981 (8.76%), 1991 (8.65%), and 1979 (8.39%).

The official rate is based on an average household's spending, so your own inflation rate is probably different. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.

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Buying power of $20.00 since 1977

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Alcohol away from home, over time, for $20 beginning in 1977. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1977$20.00-
1978$21.055.24%
1979$22.818.39%
1980$24.487.29%
1981$26.628.76%
1982$28.115.58%
1983$29.474.85%
1984$31.055.36%
1985$32.835.74%
1986$35.006.58%
1987$36.454.15%
1988$38.585.84%
1989$40.595.22%
1990$42.675.12%
1991$46.368.65%
1992$47.993.53%
1993$49.463.05%
1994$50.682.48%
1995$52.142.87%
1996$53.973.52%
1997$55.963.67%
1998$57.622.97%
1999$59.363.03%
2000$61.183.05%
2001$63.563.90%
2002$65.733.41%
2003$67.542.75%
2004$69.893.48%
2005$72.243.35%
2006$75.234.14%
2007$78.574.45%
2008$81.954.30%
2009$84.362.94%
2010$86.232.22%
2011$88.893.08%
2012$91.743.21%
2013$93.922.37%
2014$95.661.86%
2015$97.642.07%
2016$99.431.84%
2017$101.472.04%
2018$103.672.18%
2019$104.921.21%
2020$107.262.23%
2021$110.302.83%
2022$116.595.70%
2023$123.596.01%
2024$126.752.56%
2025$130.803.19%
2026$134.552.87%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.

Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Alcoholic beverages away from home:

Year19771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
CPI67.70071.25077.22582.85890.11795.14299.758105.108111.142118.458123.375130.583137.400144.433156.925162.458167.417171.567176.492182.700189.408195.042200.950207.083215.167222.508228.633236.583244.517254.642265.969277.394285.550291.892300.886310.539317.910323.813330.513336.583343.459350.931355.164363.080373.354394.646418.358429.065442.742455.439

Adjust alcohol away from home prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 1977* 1977 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Alcoholic beverages away from home was 67.700 in the year 1977 and 455.439 in 2026:

455.439 / 67.700* $20 = $134.55

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1977 has the same "purchasing power" as $134.55 in 2026 (in the CPI category of Alcoholic beverages away from home).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Alcoholic beverages away from home in 1977. In addition to alcohol away from home, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.