Industry

Alcohol-adjacent beverages show strong growth potential with younger consumers, driven by functionality, but face availability and pricing barriers. (drinks-intel.com)

Heineken 0.0’s Tube campaign grabbed attention but failed due to accessibility issues, context mismatch, and mixed social messaging. (theconversation.com)

Hotels are expanding non-alcoholic cocktails and RTDs as experiential, alcohol-optional demand reshapes beverage programs. (bevnet.com)

Robb Report takes a minority stake in luxury gin brand Cygnet to support US expansion. (just-drinks.com)

Lyre’s sees RTD mocktails as a key growth lever, using focus, clarity, and on-trade strength to scale alcohol-free spirits. (beveragedaily.com)

Search data shows alcohol-free brands surging year-round, led by Athletic Brewing, Seedlip, and Leitz. (beveragedaily.com)

Carlsberg says low/no alcohol drinks drive R&D focus, led by India, Central Asia. (youtube.com)

Total Wine, BevMo, ABC, and Spec’s back hemp reform to regulate THC drinks like alcohol. (bevnet.com)

Scientists are using genetics and machine learning to create non-alcoholic beer that finally tastes like beer. (nationalgeographic.com)

Breweries can leverage 2026 World Cup fandom through partnerships, spaces, and programming to drive traffic. (beercrunchers.substack.com)

Hiyo is prioritizing brand refinement and focus over rapid expansion following a breakout growth year. (bevnet.com)

Dry January accelerates zero-proof innovation, making alcohol-free cocktails year-round essentials. (restaurantbusinessonline.com)

Consumers are drinking less alcohol due to health awareness, shifting social habits, and financial pressures. (beveragedaily.com)

Despite strong growth, alcohol-free drinks remain a small share and unlikely to meaningfully reduce global alcohol consumption. (alcohol-review.com)

THC beverage founder says a temporary hemp ban could enable regulation, credibility, and long-term category growth. (thedailypour.com)

Heaps Normal thrives as moderation rises, leveraging pub culture and tax-free pricing for strong alcohol-free beer margins. (linkedin.com)

Nowadays leads THC beverage sales and expanded distribution while strengthening regulatory leadership in early 2026. (instagram.com)

Devil’s Foot Brewing succeeds by keeping it simple, inclusive, and versatile across adult and zero-proof beverages. (citizen-times.com)

A weed skeptic founded hightail, a low-dose THC beverage helping moms relax without losing control. (thedailypour.com)

Gen Z is not rejecting alcohol as brands win by focusing on function, ritual, simplicity, and social relevance over tradition. (drinks-intel.com)

Podcasts

WSJ's Bold Names Podcast: Athletic Brewing’s founder discusses non-alcoholic beer’s rise, tariffs, and why global beer giants are following. (youtube.com)

Nombase CPG Podcast: JAS and Hella Cocktail Co share how velocity, demos, and strategy drive Whole Foods regional-to-national growth. (nombase.com)

Shopify Masters Podcast: De Soi’s CEO shares how sampling, subscriptions, and disciplined celebrity partnerships fueled rapid non-alcoholic brand growth. (youtube.com)

US of NA Podcast: Exploring how flavor, sugar, and ingredient choices shape successful no/low alcohol beverage formulation. (spotify.com)

Business of Drinks Podcast: Video: Exploring third spaces, zero-proof menus, smart caffeine, and sensory drinks shaping 2026. (youtube.com)

Business of Drinks Podcast: Breaking down how Uncle Arnie’s built a $25M THC beverage business through disciplined, sustainable growth. (youtube.com)

Health

Alcohol alternatives are booming, but experts warn about kratom, THC, weak regulation, mislabeling, and addiction risks. (today.com)

Study finds alcohol and tequila branding surged in The Kardashians, delivering hundreds of millions of unregulated viewer impressions. (academic.oup.com)

Culture

Consumers view non-alcoholic drinks as healthy but joyless, forcing brands to deliver emotional appeal to scale. (drinks-intel.com)

Reflecting on a year without alcohol, noting improved options but lingering emotional ties to drinking. (bloomberg.com)

Sober sommelier Abe Zarate argues integrating non-alcoholic wines elevates hospitality and deepens wine appreciation. (winespectator.com)

Mocktails reflect a long cultural shift from alcohol as identity toward flavor, experience, and inclusive social rituals. (sharpmagazine.com)

The Maze NYC and Avenues NYC partner to support recovery through alcohol-free community, connection, and reintegration. (linkedin.com)

Alcohol abstinence is rising in England, reshaping demand patterns and risk dynamics for the beverage industry. (bbc.com)

Sober Nation has become a thriving Live Nation community fostering honest conversations about sobriety in music. (linkedin.com)

Non-Non-Alc

A massive alcohol inventory overhang is crowding out smaller brands, forcing independents to stay lean and distribution-smart. (linkedin.com)

Once-viral food and drink trends are fading fast, signaling brands must prioritize lasting demand over short-term hype. (thedrinksbusiness.com)

Wine must ditch elitist gatekeeping and embrace accessibility, fun, and authenticity to win back younger drinkers. (linkedin.com)

Diageo is elevating retail media into core planning, using Tesco data to shape full-funnel marketing. (digiday.com)

BrewDog will shut its distilling arm, ending spirits production to refocus on beer and canned cocktails. (thespiritsbusiness.com)