The end of January also brought an end to bev-alc’s 2026 growth trends, according to the latest weekly report from Circana EVP of BevAl Scott Scanlon.

Hard cider was one of three beer segments to record consistent growth in 2025, escaping the declines that plagued most of the category as beverage-alcohol tackled increased supply costs, consumer purchasing shifts and numerous macroeconomic headwinds.

The impending federal ban of hemp-derived THC products continues to loom over the emerging beverage category, but that isn’t deterring investors from capitalizing on the “generational opportunity” to get in, should the law change.

Nearly six years after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down on-premise businesses and ignited a drastic shift in consumer purchasing behavior, bars and restaurants still have not returned to pre-pandemic levels of bev-alc volume sales, according to a new report from market research firm NIQ.

The ripples of green that graced most of bev-alc off-premise scans through the first few weeks of 2026 expanded to a full blown ocean in the latest week, with double-digit year-over-year (YoY) growth recorded across nearly every major category, according to the latest report from market research firm Circana.

The majority of adult non-alcoholic (ANA) beverage buyers are new consumers to the category, suggesting opportunities for suppliers looking to have a greater impact on the category, according to new data from market research firm NIQ.

Inflationary pressures, changing consumer shopping habits, immigration enforcement tactics, COVID-19, weather – all and more have been listed as causes for bev-alc’s less-than-ideal last few years. But one of the largest hurdles for the industry might be by its own design, according to National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) chief economist and VP of analytics Lester Jones.

Beer ordering remained in contraction in January, but recorded a “significant bump” compared to December, according to National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) in the first Beer Purchasers’ Index (BPI) of 2026.

Circle K stores will be “expanding beer” in 2026 – but what the convenience store chain considers “beer” includes products from all major bev-alc categories, Circle K lead category manager Bob Gulley shared Sunday during the Beer, Wine & Spirits Summit in Coronado, California.

On any given week, Stateside’s vodka-based, ready-to-drink (RTD) hard tea brand Surfside records $2 million in sales or more and triple-digit year-over-year (YoY) growth in Circana-tracked off-premise channels. Those sales represent only 20% of the RTD’s total depletions.

It may be time for beer to finally address its pricing issues. That was one of the main takeaways from Day 1 of the Beer, Wine and Spirits Summit Sunday, hosted by Beer Business Daily and Wine & Spirits Business Daily in Coronado, California.

Beverage-alcohol had a nearly universally down year in 2025. The few exceptions were adult non-alcoholic (ANA) and ready-to-drink (RTD) bev-alc, which further solidified their staying power beyond quick consumer trends, according to NIQ’s 2025 Year in Review report.

Bars and restaurants saw a boost in sales this holiday season compared to 2024, according to the latest report from CGA, the on-premise arm of market research firm NIQ.

After three years, Leinenkugel’s will once again be led by someone with the Leinenkugel surname. Leinenkugel’s president Tony Bugher is stepping down from his leadership role, passing the baton to his cousin, Katie Leinenkugel