#non-alcoholic-trends

#non-alcoholic-trends

Craft Gin Club has warned lenders that it cannot continue without a financial restructuring that will strip bondholders of promised free gin deliveries. The company is seeking a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) to extinguish £4.2 million of debt in exchange for 18.3% of equity.

Adam Kost, founder of Dirty Shirley, will discuss the brand's journey from near-failure to acquisition by Sazerac, emphasizing the importance of emotional connections with consumers.

Giving up alcohol feels like progress. But if you're reaching for cannabis instead, you haven't changed the pattern-just the packaging.

Owners across the country report that fewer guests are ordering cocktails, and that missing bar revenue is squeezing margins that were already razor thin. The slowdown is hitting neighborhood joints and big casual-dining chains alike. Chefs and operators from New York to Los Angeles say alcohol sales, long the highest-margin part of the check, have slipped enough to force changes in hours, menus and staffing.

With fewer folks relying on alcohol as a social lubricant, a healthier way to interact with others has gained traction. Enter "daylife," a term coined by the fitness social app Sweatpals. "Daylife" refers to daytime social outings involving alcohol-free fitness as a way to meet new people with similar interests. "It's just the concept of using wellness, using movement as a way to meet, as a way to get entertainment and to socialize, versus relying on alcohol,' Sweatpals co-founder Salar Shahini told HuffPost.

Gen Z and younger millennials are generally drinking less than older generations and, when they do drink, are doing so more intentionally, prioritizing quality, flavor, and social context over quantity. That change is pushing bars and alcohol brands to design products for daytime moments, and reshaping how the industry defines a "drinking occasion."

One trend I'd happily see fade away in 2026 is the obsession with overly complicated, garnish-heavy cocktails that prioritize spectacle over balance. There's nothing wrong with a drink that looks beautiful, but when the garnish becomes the entire point of the drink, it often means the cocktail itself is an afterthought.

Lipton Hard Iced Tea Zero Sugar strengthens our portfolio and position in the better-for-you hard tea space. With over 130 years of tea expertise, this new extension delivers zero sugar, lower calorie refreshment with the smooth, delicious Lipton flavor consumers expect and trust.

Vodka has long been associated with late nights and crowded clubs, but Absolut is betting its next growth moment will happen earlier in the day. The spirits giant recently partnered with Tabasco to launch a spicy vodka designed with brunch cocktails in mind - a move that reflects a broader shift in how and when Americans are drinking. Absolut's Tabasco-infused vodka leans hard into meeting that moment for early drinkers.