The G&T Wins Over Tea As Britain’s Favourite Drink

A cup of tea has long been viewed as the quintessential British drink. Yet in a new survey, the majority of Britons said they’d opt for a gin and tonic over a cuppa when meeting up with friends.

G&T Voted Britain’s Favourite Cocktail

It was a close call, though, with 44 percent of people voting for a gin and tonic and 41 saying they’d prefer a warming brew. The other 15 percent, meanwhile, simply couldn’t pick one over the other.

Although the gin boom has subsided in parts of Europe, the spirit continues to dominate the British market. The UK is the world’s biggest market for gin, and last year sales were as high as £750,000,000.

Tea, on the other hand, has seen a slump in sales lately. Long-standing British brand Typhoo Tea is on the brink of administration, and sales of black tea are down – with Mintel predicting a further 8 percent fall by 2028.

The research was presented as part of the sixth annual Bacardi Cocktail Trends Report, in which the G&T was also named as the nation’s favourite cocktail, winning against drinks like the piña colada and the mojito. 

Davide Zanardo, of Bacardi UK & Ireland, said: ‘The G&T tops our poll for 2025 so perhaps it’s not surprising it’s now rivalling the cup of tea as the country’s national drink.’ However, he forecasts tequila will continue to soar in popularity in 2025. ‘Agave is what everyone in the industry is talking about and that’s reflected in the demand for ultra-premium tequilas like PATRÓN.’

‘Cocktail culture’ is also on the rise, according to the report, particularly with younger drinkers – with nearly half of Gen Zs (18 – 29) said they would prefer to mark a special moment with a cocktail than a glass of champagne.

According to Bacardi’s report, the top UK cocktails for 2025 are:

1. Gin & Tonic
2. Piña Colada
3. Mojito
4. Rum & Coke
5. Margarita
6. Passionfruit / Pornstar Martini
7. Vodka & Lemonade
8. Irish Coffee
9. Daiquiri
10. Gin & Lemonade