The Australian Bureau of Statistics has found that alcohol retailers across the nation turned over a record $15.6 billion in sales in 2020, up 26.7 per cent since 2019.

Wagga Cellars owner Nathan Hale said his Lake Albert shop had seen a jump in sales that was at least as high as the country-wide figure.

"Since March, since COVID hit, we were probably 25 or 30 per cent up so pretty much in line with those figures," he said.

"It's not so much spending on luxurious or special [alcohol], it's probably people realising that's it's a lot cheaper to drink at home than it is at the pubs these days.

"Like anything you get used to it, you get used to having people around and having a few drinks and it's easier than getting a cab into town, going out, drinking and getting a cab back."

Wagga Community Drug Action Team chairman Phillip Pye said he had also seen an increase in take-home alcohol sales across the city and the group had launched a campaign to fight the potential ill effects.

"There was an increase in takeaway liquor sales because of the lockdowns and restrictions and so-forth, naturally less people were going out so they were buying takeaways and drinking at home," he said.

"There was certainly an increase in sales, hence the 'No Excuse' [anti-domestic violence] program that we put together.

"There was a lot more alcohol consumption in the home, hence some of the issues that would end up at the pub were going home."

Mr Pye said people had "for sure" been drinking more at home as it removed the need to keep an eye on their intake as they did not have to drive back from a venue.

National alcohol sales growth between 2018 and 2019 was just 6 per cent.

With pubs and clubs spending many months of last year closed or heavily restricted, the bulk of the spending has gone to packaged alcohol sellers, with the industry turning over $3 billion across Australia in December alone.

Mr Hale said he saw "a big increase" in spirits and pre-mixed drinks sales while beer stayed pretty much the same.

Alcohol Beverages Australia chief executive Andrew Wilsmore said people "trying to suggest Australians have been drinking to excess during COVID lockdowns have got it wrong".

Mr Wilsmore said "total alcohol consumed is predicted to be less than other years" due to venue closures and higher spending on premium and zero-alcohol brands.