In other research, scientists explored the effects of noise on the perception of alcoholic beverages’ sweetness. The admittedly small control group (80 participants) at the University of Portsmouth had to rate the alcohol strength, sweetness and bitterness of a selection of drinks while they were exposed to different distractions, such as music, hearing and repeating a news story, both music and news, and silence.
Recent years saw a boom in the craft beer segment of the alcoholic beverage category; even in the midst of an overall down beer market in 2010 (sales dipped 1% vs. 2009), sales of craft beers grew a solid 11% by volume and 12% in dollars.
With New Year’s Eve and its traditional libations now officially in the history books, it might seem a bit soon to take too close of a look at the alcoholic beverages segment. However, Mardi Gras is just over a month away, so it may well be a perfect time to examine the latest releases and news in the category.
West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw wants federal regulators to take a tougher stance against the marketers of the Four Loko brand of alcoholic beverages.
In a study that will raise the spirits of anyone driven to stick to soft drinks for the sake of their waistline, academics say previous assumptions about a link between alcohol and obesity have been inaccurate.
