Industry

A Whole Foods-exclusive pineapple paloma helped Mingle Mocktails spike sales 6,256%, proving retailer collaborations can supercharge NA beverage growth.(inc.com)

José Andrés Group warns NA drinks and GLP-1 drugs threaten cocktails, pushing it to expand non-alcoholic offerings and experiment with mushroom-based beverages. (semafor.com)

NA Beverage Co. expands from farmers markets to 200 stores with fast DTC growth, and currently raising pre-seed funding with sights on national non-alc brand leadership. (linkedin.com)

Lewis Hamilton’s Almave shows how celebrity-backed, authentic NA spirits can capture premium margins and drive growth in the $30B wellness-driven market. (entrepreneur.com)

Aslin Beer Co.’s Wax shows how brewers leverage low-dose THC to extend taproom sales and consumer occasions. (beercrunchers.substack.com)

Picoso’s Duzi Studio identity positions spicy sodas as premium, alcohol-adjacent drinks, boosting hospitality adoption and broadening non-alc category appeal. (designweek.co.uk)

THC beverage sales topped $1B in 2024, but uneven state laws and hemp regulations threaten the category’s long-term stability. (thedailypour.com)

Better Rhodes is proving non-alcoholic brands succeed by rejecting alcohol’s playbook, instead leaning on e-commerce, partnerships, and non-traditional retail channels to grow. (linkedin.com)

Levia THC seltzer returns to original founders Kristin and Eric Rogers after Ayr Wellness’ $20M acquisition, signaling renewed founder-led growth. (mgmagazine.com)

Italy’s Coop Report shows no/low-alcohol drinks grew 14.8% since 2022, while traditional wine, beer, and spirits volumes continue steady declines. (winenews.it)

Natural History Brewing Collective crafts low-ABV and NA beers with foraged ingredients, challenging perceptions of flavorless light beer. (feastmagazine.com)

Devon’s Sandford Orchards’ Red Zero cider, launched less than a year ago, won Best Non-Alcoholic Cider at the World Cider Awards. (beerguild.co.uk)

U.S. wine consumption has dropped to Prohibition-era lows, forcing California growers to rip out vineyards as tariffs and oversupply drive prices higher. (ca.finance.yahoo.com)

Fever-Tree is expanding its non-alcoholic cocktails and adult soft drinks range to meet rising consumer demand. (thegrocer.co.uk)

California’s Tilden Cocktails scales rapidly with award-winning low-sugar NA drinks now in 300+ accounts. (thestoryexchange.org)

Blind Tiger has been accepted into the WBENC Industry Accelerator with Kroger, gaining mentorship, expert-led education, and the chance to pitch for $10,000 in funding. (linkedin.com)

York researchers launch NoLo guide with pubs to boost alcohol-free visibility and sales, supporting public health and inclusivity. (york.ac.uk)

Non-alcoholic cocktails are evolving into a serious category, with bartenders rethinking flavor, safety, and guest experience from the ground up. (vinepair.com)

The era of self-prohibition reshapes drinking habits. (finance.yahoo.com)

Stursi built demand pre-launch by openly sharing its startup journey, using transparency and community engagement as NA go-to-market drivers. (brewbound.com)

Stevens Point Brewery installs advanced BrewVo system, expanding into NA beer while offering contract capacity to brands lacking scale. (brewersassociation.org)

Point Brewery invests in new system to expand non-alcoholic beer market. (spmetrowire.com)

THC seltzers normalize cannabis in liquor stores, creating a bridge to dispensaries ready with approachable products and plain guidance. (mjbizdaily.com)

Millennials and Gen Z are transforming the CPG industry by demanding cleaner ingredients, personalized wellness, digital-first discovery, value-driven pricing, and globally inspired, sustainable innovations in the modern kitchen. (spins.com)

The 2 to 20 Podcast: Spotlighting De Soi’s CEO on startup lessons, team-building, and the non-alcoholic beverage boom shaping the CPG landscape. (youtube.com)

Alcohol-Free Radio: Chris Marshall’s Sans Bar inspires global sober communities, proving connection—not alcohol—creates healing, nightlife, and thriving alcohol-free businesses. (youtube.com)

Health

Study finds PFAS in 95% of U.S. beers, spotlighting water contamination risks and costly challenges for brewers and regulators. (sciencedaily.com)

Global study finds alcohol-linked lip and oral cancers nearly doubled since 1990, rising fastest in Southeast Asia and lower-middle sociodemographic regions. (oralhealthgroup.com)

Culture

American distance runners are hitting record speeds as alcohol fades from team culture, with sobriety joining training, tech and recovery strategies. (wsj.com)

MLB players are drinking less than ever, swapping postgame beers for recovery drinks, cannabis, and team-building “show dinners." (sports.yahoo.com)

Top Ten Liquors is planning a first-of-its-kind Minneapolis Dry January 2026 event spotlighting women, THC micro-dosing education, tastings, and a panel of female thought leaders. (linkedin.com)

Gen Z’s alcohol use remains a paradox, with data showing both decline and growth depending on methodology, lens, and narrative. (linkedin.com)

Tasting Table ranked six ready-to-drink kava brands, crowning Leilo the standout for masking earthiness while delivering a smooth, relaxing body feel. (tastingtable.com)

Half of UK first-year students now skip alcohol during orientation week, turning to societies, outdoor clubs, and sober events to build friendships. (theguardian.com)

Nashville bar’s weekly alcohol-free “Twisted Tuesdays” packs crowds, but NA lookalike drinks can trigger people in long-term recovery. (tennessean.com)

Gen Z Angelenos trade booze for mocktails, fueling sober bars and NA brands as wellness eclipses wasted. (lamag.com)

Hong Kong’s bar scene embraces zero-proof, with venues like Mostly Harmless and The Aubrey elevating mocktails to social must-haves. (lifestyleasia.com)

Hustling Sideways Podcast: Fiction writer Margaret Beeler shares how she grew from teen novelist to full-time author while expanding into cocktail and mocktail ventures. (youtube.com)

Non-Non-Alc

Spirits shift to “shrink for growth,” with divestments fueling consolidation and mid-tier competition. (linkedin.com)

BuzzBallz Biggies thrive on affordability, social media hype, and oversized appeal driving viral, high-ABV success. (vinepair.com)