Against a backdrop of seemingly never-ending geopolitical rifts and trade tensions, running alongside surging global economic uncertainty, the beverage alcohol industry still offers scattered pockets of potential. Over the coming 12 months, competition will no doubt be fierce.As 2026 beckons, our industry is without doubt facing up to more challenges than opportunities. The macroeconomic and geopolitical backdrops continue to be largely unhelpful, with world trade looking fragile as the Trump administration in the US continues its aggressively protectionist tariff policy.A glance at the rec
The beverage alcohol trends that will shape 2026 – Part I
Alongside our review of the last 12 months, Global Drinks Intel also considers what we can expect from 2026.

Former newspaper journalist Richard Woodard has been writing about the global wine and spirits industry for 25+ years, and is a regular contributor to a number of magazines and websites.



