Latest news with #alcopops
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
'Dry' Gen Z discovers taste for booze - but it's spirits and alcopops over beer
Sobering stories about Gen Z ditching booze may be wide of the mark as young people rediscover a thirst for alcopops. Drinks giant Diageo said the latest generation is not swilling pints of beer, as in the past, but instead knocking back spirits and pre-made cocktails. It represents a 'huge opportunity' to win over a notoriously anti-drink generation, said Nik Jhangiani, interim boss of the company that makes Smirnoff Ice and Guinness. The Diageo boss - who was made interim chief executive after the firm parted ways with previous leader Debra Crew - said the firm was looking to serve up 'a huge range of choices' to young people, with more flavors and calorie options. He pointed out his firm had once been a leader in the alcopops business, thanks to its highly popular Smirnoff Ice brand. The company would soon 'rightfully have the ability to gain that [position] back,' Jhangiani said, pointing to a new advertising campaign for the brand across nearly two dozen countries in June. The CEO's comments come after data from drinks firm IWSR showed 73 per cent of Gen Z have consumed alcohol in the last six months, a considerable rise from two years ago when the figure was just 66 per cent. Richard Halstead, the head of consumer insights at IWSR, suggested previous surveys indicated young people were drinking less due to the cost of living crisis. He said: 'The idea that Gen Z drinkers are somehow fundamentally different from other age groups isn't supported by the evidence. 'For instance, we know that beverage alcohol consumption correlates with disposable income, and Gen Z came of age during a cost of living crisis. 'Rising prices have been especially acute in bars and restaurants — places that appeal most to Gen Z drinkers. 'With every year that passes, more Gen Z drinkers are entering the workforce, and those already in the workforce are typically earning more.' Gen Z still remains less likely to drink than the rest of the population, with the survey finding that millennials, those aged between 28 and 44, were the most likely to drink. In the past six months, 83 per cent of millennials said they had drunk alcohol followed by Generation X at 79 per cent. Meanwhile, only 72 per cent of baby boomers, people aged 60 and over, consumed over the same time period. The research found that Gen Z drinkers were most likely to engage in 'intermittent abstinence', as nearly 60 per cent had done so compared to 40 per cent of all drinkers. Halstead believes the survey results were positive for alcohol businesses, and said the recent struggle is 'definitely not the fault of Gen Z.' He added: 'The good news for the beverage alcohol industry is that, while moderation is set to be a long-term factor, consumption is not in a tailspin. 'According to this evidence, much of the recent decline is cyclical, not structural — and is definitely not the "fault" of Gen Z.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Alcopops are back in fashion, says Smirnoff Ice owner
The maker of Smirnoff Ice and Guinness has said alcopops are back in vogue as young people start to drink more alcohol after years of abstinence. Nik Jhangiani, interim chief executive of Diageo, said there was a 'huge opportunity' to win over Generation Z as it noted a boom in demand for premixed cocktails and alcopops. He said Gen Z customers who were drinking for the first time were doing so by consuming spirits and pre-made cocktails, reversing a previous trend where younger generations were introduced to alcohol through beer. It comes after data from drinks experts IWSR showed that 73pc of Gen Z have consumed alcohol in the previous six months, compared with 66pc two years ago. Ready-to-drink cocktails such as BuzzBallz have surged in popularity in recent months, with the brand one of the fastest growing drinks ranges in the UK. The drinks, which became popular after going viral on TikTok, are known for their brightly coloured packaging and quirky names such as Lotta Colada and Watermelon Smash. Mr Jhangiani said Diageo was seeing more young people buying spirits, with the drinks giant well placed to 'offer a huge range of choices' including more flavours and calorie choices. He said Diageo had once been a leader in alcopops with its Smirnoff Ice brand, adding that the company would 'rightfully have the ability to gain that [position] back', with plans to boost sales of Smirnoff Ice drinks again. The company launched a new advertising campaign for the brand across more than 20 countries in June. Diageo has also previously credited younger people, particularly women, for boosting sales of Guinness. Mr Jhangiani's comments came as profits fell 28pc to $4.3bn (£3.2bn) in the year to July compared with a year earlier as it said it would take a $200m hit from Donald Trump's tariff war. The company is also battling a slowdown in consumer spending. Diageo said on Tuesday it would ramp up a cost-cutting programme to revive the business, removing $625m (£470m) of costs over the next three years, $125m higher than previously planned. Last month, Diageo appointed Mr Jhangiana as its new interim chief executive, after abruptly parting ways with previous boss Debra Crew. Diageo shares rose as much as 6pc as investors were buoyed by the cost-saving plans. 登入存取你的投資組合
The Sun
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Iconic 90s alcopop RETURNS to pubs and supermarkets with a new name 10 years after being discontinued
CLASSIC Nineties drink Bacardi Breezer is continuing the summer of nostalgia — by returning to pubs and stores. The fruity rum alcopops were once a rite of passage for teenagers having their first alcoholic drinks. 2 Now, in a summer that has already seen legendary '90s band Oasis reunite to play mega stadium gigs, and Pulp perform at Glastonbury for the first time since 1995, the boozy brand has also made a comeback. It has been rebranded simply as Breezer — with its memorable orange, lime and watermelon flavours also returning. The drink was first released in the United States in 1990 before it was made available for the first time in the UK three years later. It quickly proved to be a hit. Alcopops were wildly popular with the country's drinkers at the time — with the competition including Smirnoff Ice, Hooper's Hooch, WKD, and later on VK and Reef. But the product was discontinued from sale in the country ten years ago. Now 275ml glass bottles of the 3.4 per cent drink are once again available in supermarkets and bars. Claire Presland, from Breezer, said of the drink's return: 'The excitement around the relaunch of Breezer is electric . . . we're confident that the new Breezer flavours will hit the sweet spot for fans old and new.' Bacardi Breezers are just the latest nostalgic products to return to shelves lately. Recently, Opal Fruits were brought back a whopping 27 years after they were axed. HANGOVER CURE The iconic sweets were rebranded as Starburst in 1998. The individually wrapped chewy squares are now available again in Sainsbury's, Tesco and Morrisons. Coca-Cola also brought back its Lime-flavoured drink after axing it around 17 years ago. As of December, Farm Foods was selling a pack of eight 330ml cans of the drink. Ocado and Iceland are also currently selling a 1.75litre bottle of Lime Coca-Cola for £2.50 online. Meanwhile, Tesco recently turned the clocks back to 1995 by selling a range of products in their retro packaging. Classic items like Robinsons, Wagon Wheels and Rocky Bars were all selling in their original packaging for a limited time. The range also included retro fizzy drinks like Pepsi, Pepsi Max, and Tango Orange, Apple and Cherry.
The Sun
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I tested ‘new' 90s alcopops from Hooch to Reef – £1.68 winner is real blast from past & a bargain to boot
GOOD news if you're gripped with Oasis comeback fever and pining for Nineties nostalgia. Alcopops from the era are set for a revival with the fruity drinks back in the spotlight, thanks to our thirst for all things from the fun-filled decade. Boozy lemonade sip Hooch is about to celebrate its 30th anniversary with a relaunch of its original 1995 can. And with rum-laced Bacardi Breezers recently reintroduced, there's never been a better time to revisit these retro tipples. But which ones are still worth glugging, and which might be better left in the past? Here, drinks expert Helena Nicklin tries a selection and gives us her verdict. Reef, 10 x 275ml, £8.50, B&M THE recent return of Solero-flavoured sipper Reef helped fuel nostalgia for naughty-but-nice Nineties drinks – and one sip of this will take you straight back to 1997. Flat and fruity, and made with a whack of real juice, this tropical-tastic tipple has a touch of the passion fruit martini about it and it's very inviting. Super-sweet and tangy, it scores high on the summer refreshment scale, especially if it's served ice-cold straight from the fridge or cool box. A great one for sunny days in the garden when you want a vibrant drink to match the mood. Fury as cost of 12-pack of beer set to soar by £1 thanks to sinister new tax brought in by Labour It's a great price when you buy the pack of ten, too. Rating: 4/5 Aldi Blue, 700ml, £1.99, Aldi KING of the dupes Aldi has unsurprisingly copied the best-selling, bright blue bevvy that is WKD – and here's the thing: in my opinion they've done it better than the original makers. This toned-down vodka-based tipple tastes a little lighter than the original glugger but I'd say in this instance it's all the better for it. The end drink is now not as claggy and made with less tooth- stripping sweetener. Its generic fruity taste is still just as fake and non-specific, but if you like that blue fruit style and flavour you'll love this. And it will save you a fair bit of money too, as it's way cheaper than the more famous alternative. Rating: 3/5 Breezer Watermelon, 275ml, £3.29, Costcutter THE rum drink you might remember from its former incarnation as a Bacardi Breezer is back with a bang and a new name for 2025. Now just known as ' Breezers ', these colourful tipples have had a flavour overhaul too – and in my opinion the change has been for the better. The new fruity flavours in the comeback line-up are orange, lime and a watermelon wonder, which is deeply refreshing and, remarkably, not too sweet despite what the ravishing red colour suggests. Still in the original shaped bottle, it feels vaguely natural- tasting too, with a subtle boozy bite. A guilty pleasure well worth a glug all these years later. Rating: 5/5 VK Apple & Mango, 10 x 275ml, £9, Morrisons WITH these boozy bottles working out at less than a pound a go when bought in bulk at Morrisons, the colourful, caffeine-fuelled alcopop- style ready-to-drink cocktails are almost suspiciously cheap. Packing a punch in the flavour department though, this fruity apple and mango glugger is a decent enough drop. And I have to admit that, if you find your energy levels flagging, one of these will certainly wake you up and leave you buzzing. A drink with a proper kick, and not just from the vodka it contains. Be careful not to have too many of an evening or you'll be awake all night . . . Rating: 3/5 WKD Blue, 700ml, £3.50, Sainsbury's THIS tingling tipple with its garish blue hue might take you straight back to your misspent youth but, remarkably, it is still so popular that it even has its own dupes in discount supermarkets, so clearly lots of people still enjoy drinking it. Made with vodka, fruity flavouring plus an added caffeine kick, it's invigorating in a generic way but also without really tasting of anything in particular. Drinking this is a sugary hangover waiting to happen – and it leaves your teeth feeling furry too, so your dentist probably won't like it. Sup it if there's nothing else, but I think there are much better bottled premixed boozes out there. Rating: 1/5 Smirnoff Ice, 700ml, £3.12, Asda THIS Nineties classic is still going strong and, moving on from its nightclubbing days, it now looks smarter than ever with its retro-chic and vintage packaging makeover, which actually looks very cool. As well as coming in a bottle you won't be embarrassed to be seen glugging from as a grown-up, the flavour seems to me to be much sweeter than it used to be back in the day. 9 Sipping this tastes of tart, cloudy lemonade with only the very faintest hint of a vodka kick, so if you don't like it too strong that might appeal. Not a lurid colour and served very cold over ice with a slice, it's remarkably drinkable. Rating: 3/5 Hooch Lemon, 440ml, £1.68, Asda SPIKED lemonade Hooch was the original alcopop, as anyone who was around in the Nineties will know. And to celebrate its birthday it has now been relaunched in a cool-looking limited edition can, like the one that originally hit shelves in 1995. That's bound to be nostalgic enough for anyone who remembers it from the first time around, and its zesty lemon flavour and pale-ish colour remain pretty authentic too. For drinkers of any age, the vodka hit feels more subtle and balanced than it used to. One to opt for if you like Limoncello but want your drink long, and much drier! A real blast from the past. Lovely with ice and a slice – and a bargain to boot. Rating: 5/5 Malibu and Cola, 250ml, £2.25, Sainsbury's NOTHING gives you those beach-holiday vibes quite like the coconut booze Malibu. And this premixed rum cocktail, with those nostalgic flavours that will take lots of us right back to our carefree younger days, has been done really well. Flavour-wise, it has a beautiful balance, with that creamy coconut rum just shining through the cola enough. Obviously the mixer here is not 'the real thing' and it is very sweet – though it always was, even back in the day. Serve this over ice with a twist of lime to tone down the sugar. A delicious on-the-go cocktail you can rely on. Fabulous and fun.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Nostalgic alcoholic drink to return to supermarkets this summer after being discontinued 10 years ago
A NOSTALGIC alcopop that was much-loved by clubbers in the 90s and 2000s is returning to supermarket shelves. Ten years after disappearing from British supermarkets and convenience stores, Bacardi Breezers are back. They'll be coming in the flavours Zesty Orange, Zingy Lime and Crispy Watermelon and will be priced at just £2 a bottle. The fruity alcopops were once a rite of passage for teenagers having their first alcoholic drinks or going clubbing for the first time. Many will have fond memories - and now they'll be able to enjoy the nostalgic drink once again, just in time for the summer. You'll be able to get Bacardi Breezers in major supermarkets and in convenience stores too. They'll be landing in B&M from July, Aldi from August and Sainsbury's from September. Bacardi has said they'll be available in convenience stores from July but some shops have already said they've got the alcopops in stock. They include Stevenston Post Office & Convenience Store in Scotland, USAVE Grocery Store in Carnbroe, Your Store Premier Sinclair Street in Greenock and Premier Express Linwood. The shops have all posted photos of the Breezers on their shelves, with one teasing: "Guess what's back." Bacardi Breezers first launched in 1990 and quickly became a nationwide phenomenon. Alcopops were wildly popular at the time and the competition included Smirnoff Ice, Hooper's Hooch, WKD, and later on VK and Reef. HANGOVER CURE Breezers then disappeared off shelves in 2015, leaving shoppers disappointed. More grown-up flavours like lemon and elderflower were launched in 2019, but the original Breezer flavours haven't been seen in the UK for 10 years. They will now be permanent additions to supermarket shelves, Bacardi has told The Sun. The company has said one of the reasons for the return is "strong demand from a new generation of consumers". Flavoured alcoholic drinks are becoming more popular, particularly among Gen Z. In particular, the pre-mixed Buzzballz have been going viral on TikTok. Bacardi is hoping the Breezers will appeal both to the younger generation and to those who will remember when they were last on shelves. The brand recently brought back another popular alcoholic drink. Patrón XO Cafe, a coffee liqueur drink, was discontinued four years ago - but brought back again in 2024. It's now available to order at 24 branches of The Alchemist across the country, including London, Birmingham and Leeds. What other nostalgic products are being brought back? Bacardi Breezers are just the latest nostalgic products to return to shelves lately. Recently Opal Fruits were brought back a whopping 27 years years after they were axed. The iconic sweets were rebranded as Starburst in 1998. The individually wrapped chewy squares are now available again in Sainsbury's, Tesco and Morrisons. Coca-Cola also brought back its Lime-flavoured drink after axing it around 17 years ago. As of December, Farm Foods was selling a pack of eight 330ml cans of the drink. Ocado and Iceland are also currently selling a 1.75litre bottle of Lime Coca-Cola for £2.50 online. Meanwhile, Tesco recently turned the clocks back to 1995 by selling a range of products in their retro packaging. Classic items like Robinsons, Wagon Wheels and Rocky Bars were all selling in their original packaging for a limited time. The range also included retro fizzy drinks like Pepsi, Pepsi Max, and Tango Orange, Apple and Cherry.
