Latest news with #BacardiBreezer
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The return of alcopops: sales are booming – and the reason is worrying
Name: Alcopops Age: About 30 years old, give or take. Appearance: Brightly coloured, bottle-shaped. Like alcoholic drinks, but for kids? That was the worry when alcopops rose to prominence in the 1990s. Sweet and luridly hued, with 'fun' names including Two Dogs, Hoopers Hooch, Tilt, Lemonhead and WKD, they seemed designed especially to appeal to young drinkers. I remember now. Whatever happened to them? Alcopops were the subject of a moral panic that led to bad publicity, duty rises and bans from major pub chains and supermarkets. But mostly they succumbed to a sharp decline in drinking by young people. So they just disappeared? Almost completely. Sales plummeted and brands vanished. Even the Bacardi Breezer was discontinued in 2015. RIP Alcopops – you taught a whole generation to throw up in every colour of the rainbow. Not so fast. Reports of the death of alcopops have proved premature. You mean … they're back? That's right – the fabled Bacardi Breezer is hitting the shelves again this summer – now known simply as Breezer – in zingy flavours including orange, lime and watermelon. Yuck. 'RTDs are booming,' said Steve Young, Bacardi UK's business unit director, back in May. RTDs? Ready-to-drink beverages, the preferred name for alcopops among those that market them. See also FABs (flavoured alcoholic beverages). Is it just Breezers? Nope. Drinks giant Diageo has launched a new campaign across 20 countries to restore the fortunes of Smirnoff Ice, amid a near doubling in RTD sales over the last decade, fuelled by new brands including BuzzBallz. How have these RTDs managed to overcome the inexorable decline in alcohol consumption? Gen Z have started drinking again. They have? A recent study showed that in March 2025 the proportion of UK gen Z consumers who drank alcohol in the last six months was 76%, up from 66% in 2023. That seems pretty worrying … Who cares? The sector is saved! I'm really not ready for a whole new era of Technicolor sick. Relax. While gen Z may drink more frequently than they once did, they're not necessarily drinking more. And alcopops have slyly adapted to their new habits. How? In part by being less alcoholic. In their original formulations alcopops mostly hovered around 5% alcohol. The new Breezers are just 3.4%. Do say: 'The return of alcopops is just the latest attempt to monetise 90s nostalgia.' Don't say: 'Drink responsibly, but more often.'
Powys County Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Can you get Bacardi Breezer in UK? Fruity alcopop is back
Fans of a good night out back in the 90s and noughties will remember the refreshing taste of a Bacardi Breezer – and now they're back in the UK. For the first time since being discontinued in 2015, the iconic alcopop drink has returned to pubs and shops across the country. And there's one flavour that fans of the drink can't wait to sip again... What flavours does Bacardi Breezer come in? The new drink will feature three flavours: Zesty Orange, Zingy Lime and Crisp Watermelon. 'We know there is a lot of love for Breezer in the UK and we are confident a new generation of consumers will fall in love with the new Breezer,' said Steve Young, business unit director for Bacardi in the UK and Ireland. Bacardi expects the new Breezer to appeal to two distinct groups, according to Talking Retail. 'Gen Z' consumers who like 'fruit flavours and convenience' and those who remember the original Bacardi Breezer, which was first launched in 1990. Where can you buy Bacardi Breezer? The classic alcopops will be landing in B&M this month (July), Aldi from August and Sainsbury's from September. Bacardi has said they'll be available in convenience stores from July, with some local Nisa stores among others already having stock on their shelves. Breezer has an ABV of 3.4% and is available in 275ml glass bottles costing £2. What do people say online about the return of Bacardi Breezer? Excited shoppers were quick to take to social media to share their memories and excitement ahead of the drink returning to shelves and pubs. One person said on X: 'This was my drink of choice in my 20's!' While another added: 'Oh my god. They're coming back. We've had some good nights drinking these.' Yet there's one flavour that it appears punters can't wait to try again. 'Watermelon one was lush,' one person said. 'Yes I loved these - watermelon was the best taste of all time,' another added.
North Wales Chronicle
14-07-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Can you get Bacardi Breezer in UK? Fruity alcopop is back
For the first time since being discontinued in 2015, the iconic alcopop drink has returned to pubs and shops across the country. And there's one flavour that fans of the drink can't wait to sip again... The new drink will feature three flavours: Zesty Orange, Zingy Lime and Crisp Watermelon. 'We know there is a lot of love for Breezer in the UK and we are confident a new generation of consumers will fall in love with the new Breezer,' said Steve Young, business unit director for Bacardi in the UK and Ireland. Bacardi expects the new Breezer to appeal to two distinct groups, according to Talking Retail. 'Gen Z' consumers who like 'fruit flavours and convenience' and those who remember the original Bacardi Breezer, which was first launched in 1990. The classic alcopops will be landing in B&M this month (July), Aldi from August and Sainsbury's from September. Bacardi has said they'll be available in convenience stores from July, with some local Nisa stores among others already having stock on their shelves. Breezer has an ABV of 3.4% and is available in 275ml glass bottles costing £2. Excited shoppers were quick to take to social media to share their memories and excitement ahead of the drink returning to shelves and pubs. One person said on X: 'This was my drink of choice in my 20's!' While another added: 'Oh my god. They're coming back. We've had some good nights drinking these.' Recommended reading: Cadbury's discontinued Dream chocolate bar back at The Range Most expensive pints revealed as average price soars to £5.08 'Amazing' Cadbury chocolate bar is 'closest you'll get' to discontinued treat Yet there's one flavour that it appears punters can't wait to try again. 'Watermelon one was lush,' one person said. 'Yes I loved these - watermelon was the best taste of all time,' another added. While a third said: 'Watermelon Bacardi Breezer coming back? Bring it to meeeee!'
The Herald Scotland
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Can you get Bacardi Breezer in UK? Fruity alcopop is back
And there's one flavour that fans of the drink can't wait to sip again... What flavours does Bacardi Breezer come in? The new drink will feature three flavours: Zesty Orange, Zingy Lime and Crisp Watermelon. 'We know there is a lot of love for Breezer in the UK and we are confident a new generation of consumers will fall in love with the new Breezer,' said Steve Young, business unit director for Bacardi in the UK and Ireland. Bacardi expects the new Breezer to appeal to two distinct groups, according to Talking Retail. 'Gen Z' consumers who like 'fruit flavours and convenience' and those who remember the original Bacardi Breezer, which was first launched in 1990. Where can you buy Bacardi Breezer? The classic alcopops will be landing in B&M this month (July), Aldi from August and Sainsbury's from September. Bacardi has said they'll be available in convenience stores from July, with some local Nisa stores among others already having stock on their shelves. Breezer has an ABV of 3.4% and is available in 275ml glass bottles costing £2. What do people say online about the return of Bacardi Breezer? Excited shoppers were quick to take to social media to share their memories and excitement ahead of the drink returning to shelves and pubs. One person said on X: 'This was my drink of choice in my 20's!' While another added: 'Oh my god. They're coming back. We've had some good nights drinking these.' Recommended reading: Yet there's one flavour that it appears punters can't wait to try again. 'Watermelon one was lush,' one person said. 'Yes I loved these - watermelon was the best taste of all time,' another added. While a third said: 'Watermelon Bacardi Breezer coming back? Bring it to meeeee!'
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iconic 90s alcopop that has 'best taste of all time' back in UK after 10 years
Fans of a good night out back in the 90s and noughties will remember the refreshing taste of a Bacardi Breezer – and now they're back in the UK. For the first time since being discontinued in 2015, the iconic alcopop drink has returned to pubs and shops across the country. And there's one flavour that fans of the drink can't wait to sip again... The new drink will feature three flavours: Zesty Orange, Zingy Lime and Crisp Watermelon. 'We know there is a lot of love for Breezer in the UK and we are confident a new generation of consumers will fall in love with the new Breezer,' said Steve Young, business unit director for Bacardi in the UK and Ireland. Bacardi expects the new Breezer to appeal to two distinct groups, according to Talking Retail. 'Gen Z' consumers who like 'fruit flavours and convenience' and those who remember the original Bacardi Breezer, which was first launched in 1990. The classic alcopops will be landing in B&M this month (July), Aldi from August and Sainsbury's from September. Bacardi has said they'll be available in convenience stores from July, with some local Nisa stores among others already having stock on their shelves. Breezer has an ABV of 3.4% and is available in 275ml glass bottles costing £2. Excited shoppers were quick to take to social media to share their memories and excitement ahead of the drink returning to shelves and pubs. One person said on X: 'This was my drink of choice in my 20's!' While another added: 'Oh my god. They're coming back. We've had some good nights drinking these.' Recommended reading: Cadbury's discontinued Dream chocolate bar back at The Range Most expensive pints revealed as average price soars to £5.08 'Amazing' Cadbury chocolate bar is 'closest you'll get' to discontinued treat Yet there's one flavour that it appears punters can't wait to try again. 'Watermelon one was lush,' one person said. 'Yes I loved these - watermelon was the best taste of all time,' another added. While a third said: 'Watermelon Bacardi Breezer coming back? Bring it to meeeee!'
