Alcoholic beverages as a category — e.g., beer, sake, wine; a term often used in legal, labeling, and distribution contexts.
スーパーでは酒類は20歳以上でなければ購入できない。
At supermarkets, alcoholic beverages cannot be purchased unless you are 20 or older.
飲料棚には酒類とソフトドリンクが並んでいる。
The drink shelves have alcoholic beverages and soft drinks lined up.
酒類の輸入量が年々増加している。
The import volume of alcoholic beverages has been increasing year by year.