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The market for Gen Z alcohol trends like CBD drinks in RTD cans has meant innovation, tripling the market to over $10 billion. Recyclable and convenient canned cocktails are reshaping how Gen Z drinks less. (As wine tariffs rise and alcohol price inflation never stops, this could be very good news for bars solving the flux of operating expenses.)
Bar managers are recognizing these as essential digital menu options to meet Gen Z alcohol trends. Whether they mobile order from the pool, take themselves out to the patio, or add to a casual bunch—their needs mean less effort, more ROI, and a need for smart bar management tech.
Take this hot opportunity to optimize your drink lists and beverage menus with these Gen Z alcohol trends in mind. Stock up with RTD drinks and premium, health-aware brands to command the best profit margins as this market continues its boom.
Key Takeaways
Gen Z gravitates toward both premium RTDs and sophisticated non-alcoholic options in eco-friendly form factors because these brands offer instant recognition, consistent quality, and low-ABV drinks you can order as long as your social event lasts.
- The rise of "sober curious" and kava culture has driven demand for high-quality zero-proof alternatives
- Hybrid drinking experiences combining traditional cocktails with “healthy” ingredients like hard kombucha.
- Social media shareability remains crucial, with emphasis on aesthetic presentation and unique flavor profiles
- Bars see success offering both alcoholic and non-alcoholic craft beverages during peak service times
How RTD Cocktails & Gen Z Alcohol Beverages Sell
Whether you sell tequila soda, premium tea cocktails, or organic adaptogens like kava or kratom bars—the ready-to-drink beverage is leading the charge of bars headed for more sales and streamlined services.
Gen Z is leading the way. They’re digital-first, convenience-minded, and concerned with the social awareness of heavy drinking and less “conscious” beverages. In cans, they find low effort and high style, checking every box:
- Lightning-fast service
- Minimal waste materials
- Maximum brand identity
- Consistent, global flavors
- Grab-and-go form factor
- Transparent ingredients
Turning up their business’ charm means bar managers are actively redefining bar strategy. They see how “success” among this driven and aware generation isn’t the same as hard work, more effort, and bartending skill.
You Can, We Can: RTD Gen Z Alcohol Beverage Advantages
Owners appreciate these changes because RTDs and functional canned beverages can reduce service pressure, labor drain, and overhead costs:
- High-volume, high-margin
- Low-skill, low complexity
- Simple, satisfying service
- Perfect for peak hours
- Great product diversity
- Predictable satisfaction
Gen Z Alcohol Views, Social Trends, and Service Standards
Gen Z alcohol preferences have made ready to drink cocktails (like seltzers and pre-made mocktails) the fastest-growing category in the beverage market. Their reasons are not simplistic—even if the humble aluminum may make it look this way.
Instead of high ABV, known recipes, or posh presentation, this demographic wants value, convenience, and identity in perfect proportion. Somehow, they’ve found everything they want in the trending, branded can.
RTD canned drinks have clean aesthetics, bold branding, calorie information, green form factor, consistent flavor, and the opportunity to introduce functional, low- or no-alcohol beverages for health. Since Gen Z consumers desire portability and ease while their cohort is drinking less, low-ABV drinks are perfect to savor, snap open, and enjoy sustainability in recyclable packaging.
See how to snag this momentum, streamlining service, increasing bar sales, and enabling more complex no-alcohol drink programs. They grab, they go, and they happily pay for this guilt-free, low-skill drink experience.
Bar Manager’s Checklist for Stocking Gen Z Alcohol Brands
Appealing to Gen Z does great things for operational efficiency. Bar managers can use this checklist to ensure their beverage programs stay on-trend, on-brand, and uncompromisingly good:
- Stock low-ABV cans for multiple sales
- Offer variety for high-, low, and no-alcohol
- Include organic, functional mocktails
- Display RTD options front and center
- Bundle cans for special, curated flights
- Track sales trends with POS integration
Stocking the right mix and measuring results with smart bar tech like BinWise will mean more speed, higher sales, and an easier time elevating bar inventory to Gen Z alcohol standards. RTD drinks and Gen Z alcohol trends can reduce errors and labor as well.
Improve Gen Z Alcoholic Beverage Strategies with BinWise
The right Gen Z alcohol offers are one thing, and streamlined bar inventory is another. Since RTD and ready-made cocktails present little challenge to service, inventory becomes more pressing to optimize, improve, and master.
BinWise advances beverage programs with these favorite features and bar business benefits:
- Track real-time inventory performance for low-ABV and non-alcoholic drink menus
- Automate reordering to simplify stock and maintain these fast-moving products
- Watch seasons and trends with SKUs, variance reports, and visual stock-sales tools
- Cut shrinkage, inefficiencies, and overhead costs with fixed-price beverage inventory
Whether you want to introduce low-ABV sake cocktails or mocktails with herbal spirits, BinWise can help you stay ahead of Gen Z alcohol trends with inventory apps for beverages, bar variance calculations, and data integrations to drive decisions. Demo our inventory management platform.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Gen Z Alcohol Consumption
Understanding Gen Z alcohol preferences, like the tendency toward RTD canned drinks, can help any bar stay relevant, increase profitability, and relieve the stress of effective service.
Embrace this wave of canned cocktails and mocktail preferences to boost bar revenue without adding prep time. With cans and pre-made cocktail, you may ease the bartending skills needed to satisfy this relaxed, convenience-oriented crowd.
Why are RTD cans so popular for Gen Z alcohol buyers?
They’re grab-and-go, guilt-free, and on-brand. Gen Z prioritizes portability, low-ABV options, and sustainable packaging—values that align perfectly with canned cocktails.
RTDs fit Gen Z’s lifestyle: social, spontaneous, and values-driven. With calorie transparency, clean labels, and bold, recognizable branding, canned drinks appeal to a generation raised on customization and ethical consumption.
What types of drinks do bars stock for Gen Z drink preferences?
Global flavors, low-ABV cocktails, and Instagrammable sips top many digital drink lists. Bars stock yuzu spritzes, spicy margaritas, and hard kombuchas to meet Gen Z’s thirst for novelty.
Tequila canned drinks, CBD-infused seltzers, and canned espresso martinis lead sales. Mocktails with adaptogens and mood-boosting botanicals also attract sober-curious Gen Z drinkers looking for a premium experience.
Are seltzers, cans, and RTD cocktails replacing traditional drinks?
No—but they’re reshaping the menu. RTDs and seltzers serve speed, convenience, and lower-cost entry points, especially during peak hours.
Rather than replacing Old Fashioneds or Negronis, they extend a bar’s range. Gen Z still values curated mixology—but also wants a high-quality canned option that’s fast, fun, and photo-ready when the bar’s buzzing.
How can bars promote Gen Z alcohol preferences beyond canned beverages?
Spotlight flavor innovation, ethical sourcing, and social moments. Signature cocktails with local spirits, zero-waste garnishes, or housemade syrups hit the mark.
Offer interactive experiences—like build-your-own spritz kits or flavor flights with a story. Promote inclusivity by blending NA and low-proof options into menus and making every drink feel like a curated brand experience.
Are non-alcohol RTD cans in demand among Gen Z alcohol buyers?
Absolutely. Even drinkers dabble in NA. Gen Z’s interest in wellness, mental health, and inclusivity makes non-alcoholic RTDs a staple—not a substitute.
Bars and retailers stock cans with adaptogens, nootropics, and international flavor trends. Whether sober-curious or seeking the healthiest alcohol drinks, Gen Z customers increasingly treat NA RTDs as must-haves, not afterthoughts.
