One of the UK’s beloved drinks hit a record high of sales last year as customers continue to enjoy the somewhat controversial tipple.
Buckfast sold more than £55 million in the last year, new figures have revealed, a spike of 12%.
The results come despite the drink being hit by a 44% duty increase imposed on fortified wines in the 2023 Budget.
The wine, made by monks at Buckfast Abbey in Devon, has consistently been linked to crime in parts of Scotland and the UK, but is still beloved by many.
Ask any Scotsman or resident of Northern Ireland – the drink is more than just a cheap way to have a good night, it’s a cultural icon.
The high caffeine content and alcohol combine to make an iconic drink, with 281mg of caffeine per 750ml bottle – the same as eight cans of coca cola.
Despite the ‘dangers’ that come with Buckfast, it’s still beloved in the UK and abroad.
It’s been referenced in popular culture as well, making an appearance on Northern Irish rap group Kneecap’s poster for their North American tour. A flaming bottle of the drink is sold on t-shirts on the group’s website.
Up in Scotland, where the drink is immensely popular, it’s nicknamed ‘wreck the hoose juice’.
There’s even a World Buckfast Day which was founded in 2015, held on the second Saturday of each May.
After hearing about the drink’s links to ‘violent’ behaviour, the abbey which creates the drink said it was ‘saddened that a small number of people in Scotland are not enjoying Buckfast in a responsible way.’
In 2015, the Scottish Prison Service reported that more than 43 per cent of inmates had consumed Buckfast before their last offence, despite it accounting for less than 1% of Scotland’s total alcohol sales.
Earlier this year Buckfast bosses tried to shed its divisive image by marketing the drink as the perfect ingredient for a sophisticated dinner party.
They teamed up with Martin Blunos, the double Michelin star-winning chef and broadcaster, who created dishes showing Buckfast’s potential as a cooking wine.
Whichever way you enjoy the wine, one thing is certain – it’s here to stay.
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