[BND] Kane's Beverage News Daily

Good Morning and Happy Friday, August 21, 2026

Americans' Drinking Remains at Record Low for 2nd Consecutive Year

The share of Americans who say they drink alcohol remains at a record-low 54% for the second consecutive year, the lowest reading in Gallup’s trend dating back to 1939. Self-reported drinking fell over the previous three years, from 62% in 2023 to 58% in 2024 and 54% in 2025, before holding steady this year. Gallup based the latest results on interviews with U.S. adults aged 18 and older in its July 1-19 Consumption Habits survey. Fifty-one percent of U.S. adults now believe drinking one or tw

American Cancer Society Cancels Wine & Spirits Industry Gala

Your brand is a combination of everything a person knows about you. And so the American Cancer Society, whose home page immediately defaults to an appeal for donations to "help fund vital support, from 24/7 help to free lodging and rides to treatment," decided to cancel its annual "Wine & Spirits Industry Gala." From well before 1983, when I began covering the business of alcohol beverages, the American Cancer Society has raised millions from members of the alcohol industry at the gala, which w

CBrands to Invest $100 Million to Support U.S. Farmers

Constellation Brands, Inc. said it will invest an incremental $100 million iover the next five years to support U.S. farmers in Idaho, Montana, and North Dakota, reinforcing the company’s long-term commitment to American agriculture and the vital role it plays in sustaining America’s iconic beer industry. The investment includes incremental purchases from American farmers and initiatives designed to help strengthen the future of these U.S. farming communities. This investment reflects the comp

A-B Invests $13 Billion in Baldwinsville, NY, Brewery, Expands Local Training

Anheuser-Busch announced a $13 million investment in its Baldwinsville, N.Y., facility. This new $13 million investment will help increase production of Michelob ULTRA, the best-selling and fastest-growing beer in America, as well as upgrade can and bottle lines. 

Grapevines Under Solar Panels Grew 277% More Grapes than Those in Full Sun

Grapevines that grew in the shadow of photovoltaic, or solar, panels produced 277% more grapes than those grown in full sun. 

Spillovers on Tap: How AVAs Benefit Local Brewery Growth

Though there are differences between the specifics of AVA designations and those of appellations in other countries, the main premise is largely the same: signaling a standard of quality. Dating back to Duke Philip th

All Día Enters Mindful Drinking Category with Low-ABV Tequila Canned Cocktail

All Día, a new line of real tequila canned cocktails, offers a long-missing middle ground in the ready-to-drink market: a genuine tequila experience at 2.5% ABV with 50–60 calories, no artificial additives, and the kind of label transparency that remains rare across the RTD category. The brand is the creation of Austin-based co-founders Sasha and Ailee Petrovic. They saw a binary in the market; high-sugar, 5%+ cocktails on one side, and mocktails that remove the social dimension of drinking on

Remy Wines Celebrates 20 Years with Opera on the Lawn on August 23

Remy Wines, the Willamette Valley winery founded by winemaker and community leader Remy Drabkin, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month, marking a milestone for the queer-led winery.

To mark the occasion, Remy Wines will host Opera on the Lawn on Sunday, Aug.23, a community celebration under the oaks at Three Wives Vineyard. This year, Drabkin was awarded the LIVE Award for Excellence in Sustainability, an award that honors both sustainable practices in viticulture and enology, and the

Château Gato Launch Raises $10,000 to Animal Rescue — and Four Cats Find Forever Homes

Château Gato, a new California wine brand built around the mission “Drink Wine. Save Cats.”, celebrated the release of its first wines Saturday at We Care Animal Rescue in St. Helena — and reached its $10,000 fundraising commitment on its very first release day.

Compoveda Tequila Holiday Collection Features Custom Bottle Engraving, Curated Tasting Sets

This holiday season, Compoveda Tequila introduces three distinctive offerings that transform an exceptional tequila into a memorable keepsake.

DISCUS Partners with WSET to Offer Sake Courses

Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS) said it is offering the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 1 and Level 2 Award in sake as an approved program provider (APP). The new sake offerings expand DISCUS’ current WSET APP professional education portfolio, which includes qualifications in Levels 1, 2 and 3 in spirits. “The Distilled Spirits Council’s partnership with WSET has helped advance spirits professionals and inspire cocktail enthusiasts through world-class education.

What We're Reading --

Thanks for reading. Have a wonderful weekend. - Joel