A strong uptick in the sales of booze last year is painting one of the surest signs yet of a return to the pre-recession boom days, according to new data.
US shipments of scotch, vodka, rum and other spirits in 2011 increased 2.7 percent over the previous year -- the strongest increase in five years, according to industry data.
"We are back to pre-recession growth levels," said David Ozgo, an economist with the Distilled Spirits Council of the US, referring to the industry's sales by volume....