Popular RTD brand BuzzBallz has garnered criticism following the launch of a 99p alcoholic shot, with charities raising concerns over its appeal to children.  Launching into the UK with more than 20 flavours, the brand organised a nineties-themed activation at the University of Birmingham earlier this month, featuring a travelling ice cream van serving soft serves infused with 99p shots. …

RTDs are helping to prop up drinks sales amid wider struggles across the alcohol industry, according to a new report from the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).  As per the WSTA’s new Sip 2 Report, the RTD category grew by 12% in volume and 17% in value over the last year, generating £704m in off-trade sales.  In contrast, the WSTA…

London Wine Fair (LWF) continued its evolution beyond a traditional wine exhibition this week, with this year’s event juggling not only wine and spirits, but beer and cider via a new partnership with BREW//LDN. Another area that has come to prominence in recent years is the fast-evolving no, low and mid-strength category, which touched down at the Olympia through the Mindful Drinking Experience…

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, NIQ’s Rob Hallworth argues that cider is best placed to capitalise on summer drinking occasions, building on shifting consumer trends and strong recent performance in UK retail. Football and beer have always been linked – and when it comes to major tournaments, it’s certainly no different. Decades of sponsorships, pub culture and fan rituals have…

Non-alcoholic beer volumes grew by 8% in 2025, compared to a 1% decline in the overall beer category.  Within this, premium-plus beers performed especially well, accounting for 29% of the category, compared to 20% in 2019.  According to new data from the IWSR, other areas of growth included stout, which continued to record solid gains in core markets.  Countries…

While most drinks releases this year seem to be focusing on health, sessionability and lower abvs, there is an exception: the rapid growth of high-abv RTDs. Recently at Drinks Retailing, we delved into the success of the Buzzballz brand, which grew by over 800% last year. At the time, the brand seemed singular in what it was offering. Since then, however,…

By Jeff Evans, chair of the International Beer Challenge Siren Coven, 6.5% Brewed for International Women’s Day, Coven is a charity beer created by a team of female ale lovers who pooled their talents at Siren in Berkshire. The beer they came up with is a gruit – a throwback to the days when hops were not used in beer…