Another day, another groundbreaking beverage launch. It seems like every day (more like every 30 minutes), there’s a new and exciting ready-to-drink coffee, better-for-you soda or a must-have thirst-quenching phenom that promises to soothe our parched palates with earth-shattering flavor and significantly less sugar. From Jones Soda Co. to Coca-Cola, brands everywhere are reacting to changing consumer habits that favor better alternatives to the high-calorie, ingredient-heavy drinks of yesteryear—and the soft drink industry isn’t the only one making some changes.
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Shifting sentiments toward alcohol and high-proof beverages that could more or less double as nail polish remover are changing the way legacy brands reach their target audiences. Brands like Seedlip and Free Spirits have seen a record increase in demand, and zero-proof cocktail bars like Mockingbird in Brooklyn are popping up everywhere. This shift in the market has signaled proverbial alarm bells for brands hoping to cash in on this cultural moment, whether it’s a passing fad or a permanent adjustment.
Even if you’re not ready to take the plunge and cut out the booze cold turkey (you’ll have to pry my cinnamon mezcal margarita from my cold dead hands), there are lots of low-proof options on the market today that can help ease you into the habit. Most recently, Kraft Heinz-owned Crystal Light announced its foray into the hard drink space with a new line of Crystal Light Vodka Refreshers, and @sodaseekers has all the details.
Related: Sprite Just Brought Back a Fan-Favorite Flavor, and Fans Say It’s a ‘Dream Come True’
These new lightly carbonated beverages come in Crystal Light’s classic Lemonade and a new Wild Strawberry flavor spiked with the addition of premium triple-filtered vodka. Each cocktail boasts to have zero added sugar and clocks in at only 77 calories, making it the lowest calorie ready-to-drink cocktail on the market. And at just under 3.8-percent ABV, they’re on the lower end of their category with the leader—White Claw—maxing out at 4.5-percent.
It’s safe to say this isn’t your mom’s Crystal Light, and judging by the response from fans, these are shaping up to be an instant hit. “This looks amazing!!!” said one excited fan. Our sentiments exactly.
These exciting new cocktails are slated to launch later this month in the Northeast U.S., with plans for further expansion to come in 2026. Is anyone else suddenly craving a cocktail? Low alcohol, of course.
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