How the Spirits Industry Is Winning Over Young Drinkers
Table of Contents
What’s New in Drinks for Young People
Young people want new drinks. Bars need new tools. Let’s see how drinks are changing.
1. Why Young People Matter to Drinks Makers
Young people like Gen Z and Millennials buy lots of drinks. They want drinks with real stories. Old ads don’t work on them.
Young people will say:
- “I want to know how you make this.”
- “Is your drink good for the earth?”
- “I saw this drink on my phone!”
More than 6 in 10 young people pick brands that tell how they make things. They want to know the whole story.
2. How Drinks Talk to Young People Online
Social Stars Help Sell Drinks
Young people watch drink stars on apps. These stars show cool ways to mix drinks. This makes people want to try new things.
Fun Fact: When drink stars show a new mix, bars see more people ask for it!
Buy With a Click
Buying drinks online is big now. Look at these facts:
| What’s Happening | Big Number | What It Means for Bars |
|---|---|---|
| Online drink sales up | 38% more in 2023 | Need to stock what’s hot online |
| Young people in drink clubs | 72% are 18-34 years old | They try new drinks each month |
| Digital drink shows | 300% more people join in | More folks want to try what they see |
When people see drinks online, they want to find them at bars too. Bars need the right custom bar coasters to show these new drinks.
Fun Phone Tricks
Drink brands use phone games now. You can point your phone at a bottle and see how it’s made. This is called AR or “phone magic.”
One brand let people see their drink made in Japan without going there. People loved it and told friends!
3. What’s In The Glass: New Drink Trends
Fancy Drinks Win
Young people want special drinks with stories. They will pay more for the good stuff.
For bars, this means:
- Stock small-batch brands
- Tell the stories behind the drinks
- Use nice wine buckets to show off fancy bottles
Quick and Easy Drinks
Ready-to-drink or RTD means drinks that come mixed in a can or bottle. Young people love them because they’re:
- Fast
- Always taste the same
- Easy to take places
Bars are selling more pre-mixed drinks. They keep them cold in acrylic ice buckets that look nice on the bar.
Drinks From Around the World
Young drinkers want to try new things from far away. Drinks from Asia like soju and baijiu are getting big. Also mezcal from Mexico.
Look at what’s happening in China:
- Bars mix old Chinese drinks in new ways
- Young people visit these bars 45% more each year
- These new mixed drinks are 60% more liked by young people
4. What Young Drinkers Care About
Green Drinks
Young people want drinks that are good for the earth. Brands now use:
- Bottles made from plants
- Less water to make drinks
- Power from the sun
Bars can show they care too by using custom bar runners made from good stuff.
Everyone Welcome
Drink makers now tell many types of stories. They show all kinds of people making and drinking their products.
For example, Japanese whisky tells stories about old ways of making drinks. Young people love these tales!
Health Matters
Many young people want drinks with less alcohol or no alcohol. They still want good taste.
Bars now need:
- Fun drinks without alcohol
- Drinks with good things like fruit
- Ways to show which is which
5. How Drink Sellers Can Win
Team Up With Small Makers
Drink sellers can work with small drink makers to make special bottles. This makes both sides happy.
| What Sellers Do | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Make special drink tools | Cost goes down 15% |
| Offer cool glasses | Bars charge 30% more |
| Help with special events | 2000+ bars say yes |
When bars get good tools, they come back for more – 25% more!
Stock What’s Hot
Bars need the right tools for today’s drinks. Popular items include:
- Special ice molds
- Fun glasses
- Tools for bubbles and smoke
When bars use the right custom logo bar mat, people remember the brand and the bar.
Teach New Mixing Ways
Bartenders want to learn cool new tricks. Drink sellers can teach them about:
- Adding fats to drinks
- Making their own flavors
- Using fruits in new ways
When bartenders learn new skills, drinks sell for more money.
6. What’s Next for Drinks
Drinks With Proof
Young people want to know their drinks are real and made right. New computer tools called blockchain can show where each part of a drink comes from.
Smart Taste Finding
Drink makers use smart computers to find what tastes people will like next. This helps make new hits.
Mix of Real and Online
The best events mix online and real life:
- Try drinks at home while watching online
- Then go to a real place to try more
- Share both parts with friends online
What This Means For You
If you sell to bars, you need to know what young drinkers want. When you have the right tools, glasses, and bar items, bars will pick you.
Remember:
- Young people want real stories
- Online selling is getting bigger
- Ready-to-drink options are hot
- World flavors are exciting
- Earth-friendly matters
- The right bar tools make drinks special
Help bars tell these stories with your products. Give them the tools to serve today’s drinks in style.
What To Do Next
Want to help your bar customers win with young drinkers? Check out our:
- Rubber Bar Mat collection for busy bars
- Metal Ice Bucket options for premium service
- Custom Coasters to make brands pop
We can help you stock what bars need for today’s drink trends.
