Industry

Premium restaurants are increasingly embracing low-ABV wines as demand for mindful, high-quality drinking grows among younger diners. (thedrinksbusiness.com)

Liquid Death’s media chief prioritizes upper-funnel brand awareness to drive long-term growth through viral, buzz-worthy campaigns. (adage.com)

Vivino founder launching Dry Boots, a global guide to no/low-alcohol drinks with personalized tasting boxes and reviews. (linkedin.com)

Caleño Drinks uses AI to track trends, guide product development, and streamline customer service and supply chain operations. (thegrocer.co.uk)

Athletic Brewing climbs from #27 to #8 on the Top 50 Craft Beer list—now the only 100% non-alc brand ranked. (linkedin.com)

Influencers like Alex Cooper and Alix Earle are taking ownership stakes in beverage brands, reshaping drink marketing. (adage.com)

Millennials and Gen Z are all in on functional beverages with gut-boosting fiber, adaptogens, and electrolytes as healthier, alcohol-free options for wellness, recovery, and daily performance. (forbes.com)

Cali Sober Market hit $10K in 5 weeks—without ads or foot traffic—proving strong demand for hemp THC outside Big Alcohol's distribution model. (linkedin.com)

Europe’s alc-free beer market thrives due to decades of innovation, cultural acceptance, and strategic moves like draught placement and natural product messaging. (beveragedaily.com)

US hotels are embracing “dry tripping” with alcohol-free menus and wellness perks as travelers seek healthier vacation options. (hotelmanagement-network.com)

Distributors in non-alc face scrutiny for high margins with limited support, but when actively engaged, they remain a valuable retail growth partner. according to Better Rhodes CEO. (linkedin.com)

Monarch Emulsions is launching Monarch Beverage, featuring a full HD9 portfolio of THC-infused drinks rolling out throughout 2025. (linkedin.com)

TikTok Shop seeks the next viral Food and Beverage brand—calling all $3M+ DTC businesses ready to dominate social commerce in 2025. (linkedin.com)

Online alcohol sales in the UK soften after years of growth, but premium and non-alc segments show resilience. (thedrinksbusiness.com)

RationAle Brewing teases a big announcement coming in May. (linkedin.com)

Brand turnarounds take 5+ years, requiring cross-functional execution and a clear, customer-rooted positioning to regain cultural relevance and drive lasting growth. (embeddedbrandstrategy.substack.com)

Tech advancements like electrodialysis, WineScan, and flexitanks are making bulk wine transport higher quality, safer, and more cost-efficient for global brands. (just-drinks.com)

Taste Radio Podcast: Ignite20, a $7M VC fund and accelerator, backs 60 early-stage CPG brands with capital, mentorship, and growth-focused support over three years. (tasteradio.com)

Health

Californians are drinking less beer and wine but more canned cocktails, raising overall ethanol intake. (sfchronicle.com)

Women who drink beer face higher heart failure risk, despite benefits of moderate alcohol for others. (thecardiologyadvisor.com)

Culture

THC-infused non-alcoholic beers to celebrate 4/20. (forbes.com)

A woman is reconsidering future outings after a non-drinking guest insisted on splitting the bill unevenly, skipped tipping, and pushed for dessert. (people.com)

Detroit’s bar scene evolves as Gen Z drives demand for alc-free social experiences. (detroitisit.com)

THC beverages are redefining social drinking with a mindful, hangover-free buzz—but require caution due to delayed effects and regulation gaps.(emilyheintz.substack.com)

Non-Non-Alc

Walmart prepping private label beer lineup. (x.com)

Craft beer production fell 4% in 2024—its steepest non-pandemic drop. (axios.com)

Molson Coors CEO Gavin Hattersley to retire at the end of 2025. (ft.com)

More diners now prioritize design and branding over food quality, as restaurants lean into bold aesthetics to stand out. (nytimes.com)

Data Shot 🥃