Industry

Kentucky Hop Water discussed category education, THC expansion, and Kentucky-focused storytelling as growth strategies. (beercrunchers.substack.com)

Former Athletic Brewing CMO Andrew Katz said brands have become overly risk-averse and reluctant to stand out creatively. (thedrum.com)

Diageo filed a trademark for alcohol-free Johnnie Walker products, pointing to a potential expansion into non-alcoholic whisky. (thegrocer.co.uk)

BRĒZ discloses past cash flow challenges while highlighting retail expansion, revenue growth, and an active capital raise. (linkedin.com)

U.S. beer sales slowed through mid-April, while Athletic Brewing and Sierra Nevada outperformed declining major brewers. (brewbound.com)

Beverage purchasing behavior is increasingly shaped by occasion and context rather than demographics alone. (proofpoints.substack.com)

Industry executives described non-alc drinkers as highly valuable consumers due to cross-category purchasing and premium spending habits. (beernet.com)

Crazy Mountain is pursuing luxury-focused NA beer distribution through Discovery Land Company’s private club network. (linkedin.com)

The Wine Group acquired Phony Negroni’s non-alcoholic portfolio after the brand scaled to nearly 3 million bottles annually without outside investment. (thefoodstack.substack.com)

Boulder’s Pattern Break Brewing opened with low-ABV and NA beers using proprietary hop concentrate technology. (denverpost.com)

Poppi’s founders detailed the financial risks, rapid growth, and lifestyle changes following PepsiCo’s $2 billion acquisition. (fastcompany.com)

Research on dealcoholized red wine found mouthfeel and balance drive consumer acceptance more than alcohol replication. (dryatlas.com)

The global alcohol industry is being squeezed from every direction at once: younger consumers drinking less, GLP-1 drugs suppressing alcohol demand, tariffs disrupting imports, and premiumization losing effectiveness without transparency and authenticity. (thevaluationframework.substack.com)

Health

A new study found cancer-focused alcohol warning labels increased consumers’ motivation to reduce drinking. (wunc.org)

Low/no alcohol beverages are facing scrutiny over processing methods, additives, and sugar content behind their health positioning. (drinksretailingnews.co.uk)

Culture

British pubs closed at a rate of nearly two per day during the first quarter of 2026. (bbc.com)

A wine industry critique argued Gen Z values authenticity, quality, and cultural depth over simplified wine marketing. (everydaydrinking.com)

Gen Z’s declining alcohol consumption coincides with rising screen addiction, loneliness, and digital socialization. (profgmedia.com)

Non-Non-Alc

Bartenders highlighted cities like New Orleans, Denver, Miami, and San Francisco for evolving cocktail, wine, and hospitality scenes. (vinepair.com)

Protein soda is becoming functional beverage’s next land grab: combining soda familiarity with protein utility in a format designed to replace both soft drinks and chalky shakes. (beveragedaily.com)

Postpartum beverage professionals are forcing an industry built around late nights, tasting culture, and physical endurance to confront motherhood, infrastructure, and retention head-on. (www.wineenthusiast.com)

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