UPFs, Soda Taxes, SNAP Bans, Natural Colors, GRAS Reform, Plastic Waste, More
Shares Thoughts on Federal Mid-Term Elections
It’s been a “challenging” regulatory year for the beverage industry, American Beverage President and CEO Kevin Keane reminded participants during Beverage Digest’s Future Smarts conference in New York on Dec. 15. A new U.S. president and a new Congress brought new
If you joined us for Future Smarts last week, you know what a compelling and inspiring day it was. If you were unable to attend, we’d love for you to experience the insights and networking firsthand next year. I’ve...
How Should Executives, Investors, and Government Officials Respond?
In a new report called “The Great Recalibration: Forces of Exponential Change,” researchers at RBC Capital Markets including beverages analyst Nik Modi defined five new...
Industry Pushing Back; Seeks Federal Solution During Grace Period
November 19, 2025
Legal Expert Doesn’t Expect Pending Ban to Kill Fast-Growing Hemp THC Sector
The agreement to open the US government last week included a potential beverage industry casualty — hemp-based THC drinks. As part of the deal, Congress and President Donald Trump closed a loophole embedded in the 2018 agriculture act that previously legalized hemp farming. Last week’s law will effectively ban hemp-based THC drinks a year from now, following a grace period. The loophole in the 2018 act has unintentionally led to the proliferation of ready-to-drink canned beverages infused with psychoactive hemp-based THC, mostly by way of a cannabinoid called Delta-9. Manufacturers have...
SPARKLING WATER CATEGORY GREW. The US sparkling water category grew +2.6% by volume and +7.2% by dollars at retail for the first nine months of 2025, according to BD data. As shown in the Green Sheet with this report, volume leader LaCroix by National Beverage posted volume and dollar sales...