Auto Review Driven for drink - Vehicles for alcoholic beverages

In this Auto Review publication we look at some of the vehicles involved in the alcoholic drinks industry. Transport is needed at all stages, from growing and harvesting the raw materials to production, bottling and distribution. Road vehicles have also been used to promote drinks, often in novelty shapes of bottles or barrels. 

This publication is arranged by types of alcoholic drink, with some notes which might help to identify the owner or operator of a vehicle seen in a photograph, or on the road. These categories include fermented drinks (beer, ale and all their many variations, plus cider and perry), and distilled spirits (whisky, whiskey, brandy, gin, rum, tequila and vodka). The last categories covered are wine and aperitifs/digestifs.

Consolidations in the drinks industry meant that hundreds of brews and brands which were still available in Britain in the 1950s and early 1960s had disappeared by the end of the 20th century. Local tastes and preferences, developed over generations, were wiped out, replaced by standardised national or international brands. 

In a reaction against this trend, promoted by CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) a plethora of small craft breweries sprang up in the late 20th century and the 21st century. A wider interest in smaller-scale production of craft products led to similar growth among small manufacturers of wine, gin and other alcoholic drinks. 

Most producers and distributors of alcoholic drinks see their road vehicles as a convenient way to advertise their wares. This tradition began in horse-drawn days, with smartly turned out and attractively decorated brewery drays delivering to licensed premises. Some breweries retained horse teams in the 21st century for local deliveries, as well as for promotional purposes, but motor vehicles had mostly replaced horses by the mid-20th century. In the 21st century local deliveries were switching away fom internal combustion engined vehicles to battery electric propulsion. Coverage in these pages is mostly UK-oriented, but with an international context as well.