Industry

Heineken exceeds financial expectations with its 0.0% brand showing significant growth in the "high teens" across many markets. (thedrinksbusiness.com)

In 2023, the craft beer industry experienced its worst production decline ever, marking the second consecutive year of negative growth for small, independent brewers. (axios.com)

Umbrella Dry Bar, Raleigh’s first non-alc bar, to close after four months in business and pursue a pop-up concept. (wral.com)

For Gen Z, variety packs dominate retail preferences. (foodinstitute.com)

France becomes the first EU country to permit dealcoholization of IGP wines down to 6% ABV. (harpers.co.uk)

Sports arenas are increasingly offering non-alc beverages like Coors Edge and Budweiser Zero, responding to rising demand from fans adopting "dry" or "damp" lifestyles. (axios.com)

Coachella partners with The New Bar and American Express to enhance festival experience with non-alc drink options and sober-friendly spaces. (wwd.com)

Gen Z in Las Vegas is drinking less alcohol and increasingly using cannabis, impacting consumption lounges and indicating a cultural shift in recreational preferences. (hightimes.com)

Cannabis pioneers are pushing THC-infused drinks like seltzers and margaritas as the future of the industry, with Texas leading through innovative, mainstream products. (houstonchronicle.com)

Alcohol Change UK must pay legal costs to Big Drop after failing to extend its "Dry January'' trademark to include low-alcohol products, as ruled by the UK Intellectual Property Office. (civilsociety.co.uk)

"Sessionability' emerges as a new trend in beer marketing. (thedrinksbusiness.com)

Laura Willoughby of Club Soda highlights the growing consumer trend towards light, low-alcohol, and alcohol-free drinks, forecasting a 10% annual UK sales growth from 2022-2026. (drinksretailingnews.co.uk)

Carlsberg has launched a new production center for non-alc beverages in Kazakhstan, aiming to boost capacity by 30% and expand distribution to neighboring countries. (just-drinks.com)

AB InBev has centralized its vast first-party data from over 100 million customer records into a single platform, enhancing customer insight, campaign personalization, and compliance management. (adexchanger.com)

Poppi dominated Coachella with its new Lemon Lime flavor and influencer partnership, resulting in a 200% sales spike and widespread engagement. (linkedin.com)

New soda brands are introducing unique, health-oriented flavors to challenge the dominance of traditional cola companies, appealing especially to Gen Z and Alpha with their novel, Instagram-friendly designs. (axios.com)

The Adult Beverage Alliance in Massachusetts aims to advocate for structured state regulations on CBD and THC beverages to ensure consumer safety and industry growth. (food-safety.com)

Brands can stay relevant in the non-alc market by creating lifestyle-aligned, experiential branding, and innovating in taste and packaging to appeal to health-conscious consumers. (bakedcreative.co)

Spirits of Virtue raising an investment round via equity crowdfunding. (h/t Dry Atlas seedrs.com)

Blind Tiger Spirit-Free Cocktails plans to launch an equity crowdfunding campaign in the next month. (linkedin.com)

Portland's Heck Beer, focusing on non-alc craft beer, is tapping into the local market with unique flavors and innovative brewing methods. (portlandmercury.com)

THC-infused beverages are gaining traction in mainstream venues, with pioneers like Bayou City Hemp leading the market by introducing popular products in restaurants, signaling a promising future for the industry. (houstonchronicle.com)

Skyfarm by Abstrax Hops launches a line of natural, botanically-derived, fruit-forward flavors for innovative beer and beverage flavoring. (prweb.com)

Cannabis investment has significantly declined from its peak five years ago. (crunchbase.com)

Expanding THC beverage sales in liquor stores could significantly boost market visibility and state revenues. (herbal.beehiiv.com)

Price is the primary factor influencing wine choices for American consumers, according to a YouGov study. (thedrinksbusiness.com)

New Orleans-based THC/CBD seltzer brand Louie Louie partners with Port Orleans Brewing Co. to start local production, expanding flavor options and distribution. (neworleanscitybusiness.com)

Why this founder left Amazon to start a non-alc drinks brand. (insideretail.us)

Q&A with Sèchey Founder, Emily Heintz. (all-places.com)

Video: WithCo Cocktails founders discuss the challenges of retail. (linkedin.com)

Interview: Shane White chats with Parch Co-Founder, Ila Byrne. (youtube.com)

Launches + Collabs + More

Beer for dogs! (globalnews.ca)

Big reveal coming from DrinkSip NA Beer. (linkedin.com)

Tess Roby x Partake Brewing

Harmon’s Craft Beer x Flying Squirrel Motorcycles

The Boston Beer Company introduces General Admission, a non-alc fruit brew available in four flavors. (foodengineeringmag.com)

TRIP launches new adaptogen-infused drinks in four flavors to enhance calm and wellness. (forbes.com)

Go Brewing debuts The New School Pineapple Sour. (linkedin.com)

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Health

Global push for cancer warnings on alcohol labels gains momentum; U.S. action overdue. (nytimes.com)

UK alcohol deaths soared by 33% in 2022 to a record high due to increased drinking during the Covid pandemic. (theguardian.com)

A Morgan Stanley survey indicates that users of GLP-1 weight loss drugs significantly decrease their alcohol consumption, potentially reducing sales for major alcohol producers. (cnbc.com)

Culture

From kava bars to "sleepy girl mocktails," people are seeking alcohol alternatives to align with wellness trends, but the quest to find a substitute that replicates the social and ritual aspects of drinking continues. (vox.com)

Cannabis-infused drinks are gaining traction as a healthier alternative to alcohol, particularly during celebrations like 4/20, aligning with the "California Sober" lifestyle of avoiding alcohol and hard drugs. (axios.com)

Navigating a half-sober relationship. (gq.com)

Wine regions like Sonoma, Mendoza, and Tuscany are attracting sober travelers with mocktail trails, olive oil tours, and luxury amenities. (nytimes.com)

Non-Non-Alc Splashes

Foxtrot and Dom’s parent company faces a lawsuit for not providing legally required notice before laying off about 1,000 employees. (chicagotribune.com)

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