When most people imagine nightlife or going out for an evening, bars and booze-filled clubs come to mind. However, this has been slowly shifting in recent years, with many Millennials and more drinking less frequently than other generations. As drinking becomes less popular, populations may experience widespread health benefits, while alcohol companies are poised to lose profits.
Alcohol-Related Risks
Researchers, medical professionals, and even the general public have all understood the health risks alcohol creates for quite some time now. It’s especially harmful for pregnant women and children, and yet this doesn’t stop many from drinking. According to the CDC, although drinking under the age of 21 is illegal, people aged 12 to 20 years drink 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States.
Health Trends Promoting Sobriety
With awareness of the health risks on the rise, fewer adults and teens today are choosing to drink. Many health trends have become popular, and fitness has found itself at the center of many popular fad diets. With the current era’s emphasis on self-care and wellness, cultural shifts are being made away from the previously existing drinking culture many older generations knew. As many adults are making the shift away from alcohol to healthier lifestyles, companies are going to need to work harder to keep up.
The Future Of Alcohol Companies
While some alcohol companies are suffering in the face of increased sobriety among certain demographics, others are seizing the opportunity as best they can. Many of small start-ups, in particular, have dedicated themselves to creating alcohol-free liquors, marketing themselves as high-quality mocktail ingredients and a great choice for those looking to go sober. Even some craft beer brewers are beginning to produce non-alcoholic beers, seeing the opportunity in providing alcohol-free options for sober populations.
As more adults move away from drinking alcohol on a regular or social basis, alcohol companies are going to have to be creative to keep up. Meanwhile, those moving away from drinking are likely to lead healthier lifestyles overall. With any luck, this alcohol-free trend will spread, increasing public health over longer periods of time.
