Some of these problems are the result of liquor companies' (self-imposed, iirc) moratorium on advertising back in the 1970s and 80s (maybe earlier), which opened the door for Bartels & James and the like to grab their market share with sweet, tasty beverages. After those became widely available, people that didn't like beer didn't have the incentive to learn to appreciate the taste of something like a Martini or Manhattan, so they never really came back from that. Add to this the younger generations' temperance and the rise of thc. It's a problem that's been long in the making.
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I have friends in the wine industry saying the same things. Thousand of acres of vineyards are being torn out all over NorCal. I was on a trip through the Napa Valley earlier this year and was shocked by how many piles of high-dollar grapevines were stacked for burning. It seemed like most of the ones I saw were small growers/boutique wineries. They're the most vulnerable, but the big growers are feeling the pinch as well. The huge bulk wine producers like Gallo seem to be weathering the storm, but they have a different market.
With that, they all kinda did it to themselves through market saturation, much like the marijuana industry in NorCal. Supply and demand, that's how economies function properly and self-correct.
I will raise a toast and drink to the success of the survivors!! (From the skulls of my enemies, of course)Comment
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We're heading up to Niagara Falls in a few weeks. Last time we were there, the Canadian side pricing was pretty phenomenal on liquor (and Cubans!) and I scored an 18 year old single malt scotch for pennies compared to local prices. That was some smooth scotch.
I'll probably use that opportunity to stock up (as much as corporate accounting will allow). So, I'll be very little help to save the distillers.Comment
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You can’t go anywhere in NYC without getting the stink of weed. It’s horrible. Literally EVERYWHERE. At this point I’d prefer someone blowing a Marlboro Red in my face. So it doesn’t surprise me that booze is down.Comment
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That’s why I stick to heroin, none of that stinky smell…Last edited by Panhead John; May 18, 2026, 07:31 PM.
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Since I have moved back to Meeechigan I was stunned at the saturation of Pot shops. We do know where this will end up. Trouble comin every day!Comment
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I've got 3 kids born in the 90's, and even in my own family, am seeing the drinking scaled back in the last couple of years.
My 28 year old daughter married a man who is a teetotaler (he is 37), and they drink nothing at all (alcoholic that is). She drank before they got married, but he made her promise to give it up. I imagine he looks at the rest of us as a bunch of drunks!
My 31 year old son drinks, but has really cut back. He was brewing beer with me and taking kegs at home, and buying a lot of whisky and bourbon, but realized he has insufficient self control to keep kegs of beer on tap at home, as he and his wife would knock out a keg in a week or two, that would sit on tap for months at my house. So January 2025 he resolved to no longer keep booze at the house, and they only drink when out with friends, or over here. They do a good job when here of raiding my stuff though!
My 34 year old daughter and her husband drink, and that son in law does his best to keep the Kentucky bourbon industry in business on his own! He gave me a bottle of really good bourbon for Christmas. I had maybe one shot of it, and recently found the bottle pretty much empty! He also has an 11 tap kegerator in his garage, and brews beer, but not since they moved about 6 months ago, as he has had too many home related projects to have time for it. My daughter just popped out my second grandson, and has not had a drink in many months.
I drink less than I did myself, as I get older.Comment
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I used to love beer, mostly craft brew, although i drank my share of cheap beer early on. When i was diagnosed type 1 diabetic, i moved to maybe a 6 pack of beer a year, mostly barrel aged beers i have cellared.There is no place for liquid sugar so most cocktails were nixed right away, so no margaritas or similar.
I turned towards bourbon, (i have also always enjoyed a good gin martini, and glass of wine).After spending enough time staring at my continuous glucose meter, you see the negative effects in your metabolism to frequent pours. That and Since I have a hard enough time walking as it is, not to mention interaction woth some of my heavy immune system meds, and continue to lose insulin building cells in my pancreas with each immune system flare, I now maybe have a pour once or twice a month, and totally willing to celebrate big with family or friends if the occasion is right.
I moved mostly to cannabis (which i have enjoyed just as long as I have ever enjoyed booze just not daily like now), To keep it as a healthier focus, I almost never smoke it, and none of the trendy seltzers, or sugary edibles.
I mentioned above that I make my own canna cooking oil, canna butter, canna honey, add it into finishing a pan sauce with my steak, some honey in my tea or yogurt, finishing oil on a salad, in a coffee, drizzled over ice cream. Rarely enough to distort any reality for me, but i also did not drink just to get drunk (well there were definitely times i did, and there are still times it will happen).Last edited by Richard Chrz; May 18, 2026, 07:41 PM.Comment
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I never liked bourbon in the days, was always a scotch drinker. Then in the past ten years I have developed a taste for it and rarely have a scotch anymore. Must be a getting old thing?.... And all of these flavored whiskys that are on the market now. You may as well go out and get a soda. Missing out on the good flavor of a straight sip on your tongue. Covered up by maple, sour apple, honey whatever. Sigh Well I am doing my part to try and keep them going!Comment
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I saw some dude and his grandpa on YOUTUBE dropping sugar, watermelon, and yeast into 5 gallon Lowe's buckets. Might have turned into something alcohol-ish.Comment
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That's called pruno. Inmates clandestinely make it in jails/prison. It has a unique and distinctive smell that often gives them away. I worked at a conservation camp for a couple of years that housed and employed inmates for public works projects and firefighting. The correctional staff were always on the lookout for pruno. I'm guessing the dude and/or gramps have done some time in their time. -
CaptainMike when I worked in the prison system as a C.O. we called it buck and hooch. Nasty stuff.
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Well there are all of the above reasons stated in the post before this but also Canada has pulled all the American booze off their selves quite a while ago. I'll give you one guess why. I probably can not come straight out and say why due policies here.Comment
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I just bought a bottle of Old Crow. I'm doing my part.
Old Crow was originally developed by the Scottish chemist–distiller Dr. James C. Crow, who began producing the whiskey in Frankfort, Kentucky in the 1830s. His scientific approach to fermentation and the sour‑mash process is what gave Old Crow its reputation and its name.
It is distilled as part of the Jim Beam portfolio and uses the same mash bill and yeast as Jim Beam, though aged for a shorter period.
BTW, alcohol actually lowers blood glucose.
Posted with a little help of AIComment
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My wife retired 2 years ago next month. We cut loose. For us, 3 pm every day became happy hour. We both loved our craft beer. And we both got fat, fatter than ever. And daily alcohol is just not healthy. I couldn't walk from one end of our small house to the other without breathing heavily.
We've almost completely cut out alcohol since January. Gone low carb. After not riding for 2 years, I got back on my bicycle, riding 3 days a week. I've lost 30 pounds, need to lose another 20. She's down 15. We both feel a better, all the time.
After hitting our weight goals, IDK if we'll bring back alcohol, maybe a day or two per week.Comment
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Same. We will have an afternoon shot or two a couple times a week. Good for you on the exercise program. I am still drooling over your stick burner...... -
cruiseplanner1 I love my bike. But I'm not a cyclist. I ride for one reason, to burn calories. And its the most enjoyable way I've found to burn calories.
And I hate an indoor stationary bike. Can't do it. I gotta be outdoors. -
I ride my outdoor one when the weather is good but here in Michigan if you don't like a recumbent bike you are going to be not riding for months. I just take a book down with me and that seems to cut the time in half if it's a good book!
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