Convenience stores sell nearly one-third of all beer purchased in the United States Total U.S. beer volume in 2006 was 6.47 billion gallons, of which convenience stores sold 2.08 billion gallons, or 32.1 percent, according to the Beer Institute.

(Unless otherwise indicated, all statistics are from the NACS 2007 State of the Industry report).

Store averages:

• Convenience stores, on average, had $139,313 per store in beer sales in 2006.
  
• Nationwide, only 76 percent of convenience stores sold beer in 2006. Thus, per-store sales, considering only stores that sell beer, are actually $175,143 per store. This calculation moves beer sales from the number three in-store sales item to number two -- passing non-alcohol packaged beverages -- when considering only stores that sell beer. 

Industry sales figures:

• Beer sales in convenience stores were $19.9 billion in 2006. Beer sales account for 12.2 percent of all in-store sales dollars, making it the third-most popular in-store purchase.
  
• Beer as a category was also fourth in terms of contribution to gross margin. Overall, beer sales contributed $4.1 billion in gross margin dollars for the convenience store industry in 2006.
  
• Beer consumers have the highest average check ($9.72) of all in-store categories, and are second to to cigarettes in trip frequency (Source: NPD Group).
  
• The premium category accounts for 52 percent of all beer sales in convenience stores.
  
• Some convenience stores, depending on the state regulations, also sell wine and liquor. Overall, 43 percent of convenience stores sell wine (with industry sales in 2006 totalling $589 million) and 26 percent of stores sell liquor (accounting for $572 million in industry sales in 2006).