The 2025 Retail Drinks Industry Summit, which is taking place on Tuesday, 11 November 2025 at Doltone House Hyde Park in Sydney, will address current challenges and opportunities in Australia’s off-premise drinks sector.
Retail Drinks Australia CEO Michael Waters, will open the Summit with an outline of the association’s latest advocacy work and current priorities across federal, state and territory governments. This will set the tone for a day centred on compliance, regulation and industry performance.
Waters told National Liquor News: “To continue to succeed in business, we need the latest information, trends, and ideas to help make business decisions.
“The annual Retail Drinks Industry Summit is a forum that brings all parts of our industry together to learn, network, and celebrate. No other forum provides the opportunity to connect with people from every facet of the retail liquor industry, including independent, chain and online liquor retailers, retail banner groups, wholesalers, manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers from across Australia.”
The Summit will hear from Rob Sherwin, Director of Policy at the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD), who will offer insight into the outcomes of the recent United Nations High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases and its implications for global alcohol policy.
This will lead into a discussion titled Global Issues; Local Challenges, led by Retail Drinks’ General Manager of Policy and Strategy Kary Petersen who, with Sherwin, will explore how international regulatory trends are influencing the domestic policy environment and shaping retail trading conditions.
The association’s FY25 Annual General Meeting will be held at midday, followed by a networking lunch providing delegates the opportunity to connect with peers, suppliers and partners.
The afternoon will feature two key data-driven presentations. Circana’s Director of Health and Lifestyle, Jarna McLean, will examine liquor retail performance amid cost-of-living pressures, the rise of moderation and abstention trends, and evolving consumer behaviours driving shifts across categories and channels.
Then, Craig Woolford, Senior Consumer Analyst at MST Marquee, will deliver an economic outlook for Australian households heading into 2026, outlining how disposable income, inflation and on-premise recovery are likely to impact off-premise liquor sales.
Water said: “Attending will give you a greater understanding and appreciation of what challenges and opportunities we as an industry face now and in the future, as well as useful information and insights to help you do business better across all aspects of liquor retailing.”
The day will conclude with networking drinks and afternoon tea, providing further opportunity for engagement between retailers, suppliers and industry stakeholders.
With the industry navigating cost pressures, regulatory complexity and changing consumer behaviour, the 2025 Retail Drinks Summit will give attendees the tools needed support strategic decision-making in the year ahead.
Full details on the Summit program and how to register to attend are on the 2025 Retail Drinks Summit website.