When we cancelled our family Christmas trip to San Diego last year, I didn’t imagine that we might have to consider postponing again this year. Yet here we are, facing a new Covid-19 variant.

We aren’t cancelling our trip, though. We fly out Monday.

Experts guided us all that this pandemic would present ups and downs. They said variants of Covid could turn the virus into an annual consideration like the flu. This is becoming the reality.

As we watch the spread of Omicron, experts see evidence in South Africa that the variant isn’t hitting people as hard, as measured by the number of people in hospitals who need ventilation. What is still unclear is just how quickly the variant will spread, and how bad the symptoms will be for people in other countries where vaccination rates are varied. In the US, the greater concern for now remains the Delta variant.

Fortunately, after almost two years of learning, we as Americans and global citizens are much better at protecting ourselves, whether with masks, vaccination boosters, or precision social distancing. We are adapting.

The same goes for beverage markets, whose leaders are finding ways around supply shortages, higher costs, and general disruption to serve consumers and retail customers.

As we wind down the year with this final issue, I’m grateful for all this industry has accomplished in 2021 despite the setbacks. We at Beverage Digest wish you and your families a wonderful and peaceful holiday season and a Happy New Year. You’ve earned it.

-- Duane Stanford, Editor & Publisher