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Focus all you want on the on-premise consumer occasion, but don’t forget those who make the drinks – Comment

Charlie Mitchell
Last updated: 03/08/2026 at 3:24 PM
By Charlie Mitchell
3 August 2026
6 Min Read

In the high-stakes world of serve strategy, drinks brands risk forgetting about one vital perspective.


Cocktail with garnish on a bar
Credit: Ming Chao

The drinks industry has a habit of speaking in what is, to be frank, a weird code of sector-specific terminology and of looking at the world of drinks in a way that consumers don’t. This is no more evident than when it comes to categories and decision-making. We, those immersed in the detail of drinks, have assumed that consumers walk into bars and see categories rather than drinks.

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Our industry has a habit of speaking in what is, to be frank, a weird code of sector-specific terminology and of looking at the world of drinks in a way that consumers don’t. This is no more evident than when it comes to categories and decision-making.We, those immersed in the detail of drinks, have assumed that consumers walk into bars and see categories rather than drinks. As such, we've built ‘category visions’, developing distinct stories about gin, whisk(e)y, vodka and rum without really considering that consumers don’t see the world in that way.Thankfully, the discourse is slowl

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Charlie Mitchell
ByCharlie Mitchell
Charlie Mitchell is a renowned industry commentator and research expert within the drinks industry, having worked for well over a decade delving into the data that tells the story of how consumers eat and drink out. After having spent 13 years at NielsenIQ (formerly CGA Strategy), where he led the on-trade consumer & bartender research division, Charlie now heads up data, research & insights at Wilde Toast, the specialist drinks agency that helps drinks get chosen, through intelligent activation. Working with bartenders, consumers and trade professionals, Charlie distils what is happening in the sector to build winning strategies for brands. Email him at [email protected]
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