Are beer bottles and tobacco packs getting smaller? Beer, spirits and tobacco shrinkflation

Tobacco. 9 cases, all from Germany; median cut −9.1%. In the 9 measured in grams, the median pack lost 15 g; the biggest cuts: Glo Neo Green Click 140 g → 120 g (Germany, 2023); West Red Tabak 85 g → 75 g (Germany, 2023); Winston Volume Tabak Red 140 g → 125 g (Germany, 2024).

Beer. 4 cases, median cut −9.5%: La Trappe tripel 1800 ml → 1320 ml (Netherlands, 2024); Beck's can (Italy) 50 cl → 44 cl (Italy, 2024); Corona Extra bier (6-pack, per item) 355 ml → 330 ml (Netherlands, 2024); Peroni Nastro Azzurro bottle 66 cl → 62 cl (Italy, 2024).

Spirits and other alcoholic drinks. 2 cases: Baileys Strawberries & Cream 700 ml → 500 ml (Germany, 2024); Captain Morgan Mojito 330 ml → 250 ml (Germany, 2023).

Other. 1 case filed under tobacco & alcohol in the case library that is neither tobacco nor a drink: Merl Verpoortoccino Dessert 125 g → 85 g (Germany, 2022). Shown here so the page covers the whole category.

How these cases are counted

Sources. 12 from vzhh.de; 2 from consumentenbond.nl; 2 from altroconsumo.it. Each case page quotes or links its source; we list a cut only when the source gives both the old and the new size, and we do not estimate.

How the groups are split. Cases measured in millilitres, centilitres or litres, or named as beer, wine or spirits, are drinks; the remaining weight-measured cases are tobacco, except Merl Verpoortoccino Dessert, which is listed as other. Grams are only compared with grams; each percentage compares a pack with its own earlier size.

One category. All 16 cases are in the case library’s “Tobacco & Alcohol” category; we have not moved any case to another category.

How to compare tobacco, beer and spirits

1. Price per 100 g or per litre. Tobacco packs, bottles and cans come in many sizes, so the price per pack says little.
2. Check the grams on tobacco pouches. Glo Neo Green Click 140 g → 120 g (2023); West Red Tabak 85 g → 75 g (2023); Winston Volume Tabak Red 140 g → 125 g (2024).
3. Beer bottles and cans: La Trappe tripel 1800 ml → 1320 ml (Netherlands, 2024); Beck's can (Italy) 50 cl → 44 cl (Italy, 2024); Corona Extra bier (6-pack, per item) 355 ml → 330 ml (Netherlands, 2024).
4. Look it up: search a brand, or use the barcode lookup.

More: all tobacco & alcohol cases · drinks shrinkflation · Germany list · Netherlands · Italy · best-known examples.

FAQ

Are beer bottles and tobacco packs getting smaller?

Yes. Tobacco packs, beer bottles and spirits keep shrinking. ShrinkRadar has 16 documented cases of tobacco, beer and spirits sold in smaller packs or with fewer items, in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, from 2020 to 2025. The median cut is 10.4%, which is an 11.6% higher price per unit if the pack price stayed the same. The most recent: Break Blue Volume Tobacco 100 g → 90 g (2025).

Which beer or tobacco pack shrank the most?

Baileys Strawberries & Cream: 700 ml → 500 ml (−28.6%, 2024, source: vzhh.de). Others with big cuts: La Trappe tripel 1800 ml → 1320 ml; Captain Morgan Mojito 330 ml → 250 ml; Glo Neo Green Click 140 g → 120 g.

Has West shrunk its packs?

Yes. 2 documented cuts, newest first: West Red Tabak 140 g → 137 g (2024); West Red Tabak 85 g → 75 g (2023).

Has Winston shrunk its packs?

Yes. 2 documented cuts, newest first: Winston Volume Tabak Red 140 g → 125 g (2024); Winston Volume Tabak Red 185 g → 170 g (2020).

Did the price per unit go up?

Where the source recorded the price before and after (14 cases), 14 cost more per unit afterwards.

Are tobacco packs getting smaller?

Yes. 9 documented tobacco cases, all from Germany; in the 9 measured in grams the median pack lost 15 g. The biggest cuts: Glo Neo Green Click 140 g → 120 g (2023); West Red Tabak 85 g → 75 g (2023); Winston Volume Tabak Red 140 g → 125 g (2024); Break Blue Volume Tobacco 100 g → 90 g (2025).

Are beer bottles and cans getting smaller?

Yes. 4 documented beer cases: La Trappe tripel 1800 ml → 1320 ml (Netherlands, 2024); Beck's can (Italy) 50 cl → 44 cl (Italy, 2024); Corona Extra bier (6-pack, per item) 355 ml → 330 ml (Netherlands, 2024); Peroni Nastro Azzurro bottle 66 cl → 62 cl (Italy, 2024).

Are spirits bottles getting smaller?

2 documented cases: Baileys Strawberries & Cream 700 ml → 500 ml (Germany, 2024); Captain Morgan Mojito 330 ml → 250 ml (Germany, 2023).

Where does this data come from?

From vzhh.de, consumentenbond.nl, altroconsumo.it. Each case page quotes or links its source, and we list a cut only when the source gives both the old and the new size or count. We do not estimate.