I’m taking a break from alcohol as I work to get in better shape. It’s been more than a month. Not drinking is easy. Not drinking while socializing is hard.

I took for granted the extent to which responsible social drinking is as much about ritual as intoxication. Everything from trying a new porter to experimenting with Old Fashioned recipes is fun. Doing it with people you love or laugh with is even better.

As I’ve written before, there are barriers to the adoption of non-alcoholic versions of alcoholic drinks. The functionality of alcohol as a social lubricant, as well as alcohol’s ability to lessen inhibition, are built-in mechanisms that drive consumption rates and make premium pricing palatable. Non-alcoholic replacements for booze don’t share those advantages.

Now, I find myself — like so many other consumers — not wanting to...

Mark Anthony Brands will launch a White Claw 0% Alcohol canned seltzer next year in four flavors. The non-alcoholic drink contains 2 grams of sugar and 15 calories per 12-oz slim can. The drink also contains electrolytes. Flavors are Black Cherry Cranberry...

We just announced the finalists for our 2023 Beverage Digest Awards. Winners in 13 drink categories will be named at Future Smarts in New York on Dec. 11.

There are a few trends worth noting from this year’s roster of finalists:

— A range of teas came to the forefront. Vying for Best Premium Drink is a Blue Tea Jasmine variant from Rishi’s line of Sparkling Botanicals, as well as a Cold Brew Tea from...

Dunkin’ has announced a line of Dunkin’ Spiked Iced Coffees and Iced Teas rolling out now to groceries and liquor stores in 12 states. The hard coffee drinks have 6% alcohol by volume while the hard teas contain 5% ABV. The coffee flavors are Original, Caramel, Mocha, and Vanilla. The tea flavors are Slightly Sweet, Half & Half (tea and lemonade), Strawberry Dragonfruit, and Mango Pineapple....