on-trade noun1 •(UK, Ireland) The sale of alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises.Lora Jones (27 March 2018), “Pubs in danger: Six charts on how the British drink”, in BBC News, BBC The volume of beer sold in supermarkets and off-licences (off-trade) in the UK topped the volume sold in pubs, clubs and restaurants (on-trade) for the first time in 2014.