In this episode of A Question of Drinks, Felicity and Lulie continue their deep dive into Gen Z drinking habits. Is this generation truly rejecting alcohol — or are they just broke? Leaving no stone unturned, they dissect commercial reports from Barclays, Rabobank, and IWSR, comparing them with public health research that claims Gen Z is fundamentally different from previous generations. Discover how social media, economic pressures, and delayed adulthood are shaping drinking patterns. From Tinto de Verano cocktails made with cheap Pinot Noir to boarding school rebellions and prawn cocktail crisps, this episode blends hard data with sharp conversation. The hosts discuss: Whether social media is replacing alcohol’s social utility Why underage drinking has plummeted How economic models predict future alcohol growth The difference between moderation trends in Gen Z vs boomers Why brands must stop treating Gen Z as a monolith Join Felicity and Lulie as they ask: Is the drinks industry doomed or simply changing shape? In this episode: 04:43 Gen Z alcohol decline described as a long-term cultural shift 05:46 Alcohol losing its use as a tool of rebellion for Gen Z 12:50 Social media driving Gen Z to self-monitor and reduce drinking 15:10 Social media replacing alcohol’s role in making it easier to meet people 16:02 Asahi CEO links alcohol decline to rise of digital entertainment 21:04 Barclays predicts Gen Z alcohol spend will rise with disposable income 22:58 Rabobank says Gen Z drinks less not because they’re worried about health, but because they’re broke 31:00 IWSR data shows Gen Z alcohol consumption rebounding post-pandemic 34:44 Gen Z prefers temporary abstinence over long-term reduction 47:47 But it’s possible the cultural meaning of alcohol is changing despite sales data Got a question for us? Email us at aquestionofdrinks@gmail.com and it might just become our next episode. Meet Your Hosts: Lulie Halstead founded and led international consumer research and strategy consultancy Wine Intelligence, and led it to a su...

It’s the question of the moment: why is Gen Z drinking less alcohol? Academics are wondering, banks are wondering, and the drinks trade doesn’t know what to think. In the first episode of a two-part deep dive, Felicity and Lulie tackle this hotly debated question head one. In Part One, they examine a major new academic study, Young People, Alcohol and Risk: A Culture of Caution, which argues that Gen Z's attitudes to alcohol mark a generational shift, not just a life stage delay.  From risk-aversion to the rise of the Clean Girl Aesthetic, this episode explores what might be behind the dramatic fall in drinking across high-income countries — and whether it's really as new as people think. Along the way, expect Lidl wine tastings, boxing metaphors, rage-baiting influencers, and a brief moment of intergenerational defensiveness. This episode covers: A major new academic study argues that Gen Z is fundamentally different from previous generations in how they perceive alcohol. The clash between cohort theory (generational difference) and life stage theory (age-based behaviour). Who is Gen Z? Two sub-groups are defined: those born 1995–2002 and those born 2002–2012, with markedly different digital and social upbringings. An overview of the level of fall in high-income countries like Australia, Sweden, and the UK, with researchers linking this to cultural change. The role of risk aversion as the defining trait of Gen Z. The rise of the “clean girl” aesthetic and Trad Wife content points to a cultural pull toward order, discipline, and nostalgia. Gen Z is also more emotionally distressed than earlier cohorts, with higher rates of anxiety and depression shaping lifestyle decisions. The study finds that Gen Z often views intoxication as inauthentic, with alcohol seen as a way to mask the ‘real self.’ While individual behaviour varies, the academic consensus is that this generation’s ambivalence toward alcohol reflects deeper structural shifts. Lulie has questions about all of this. Big questions. Got a question for us? Email us at aquestionofdrinks@gmail.com and it might just become our next episode. Meet Your Hosts: Lulie Halstead founded and led international consumer research and strategy consultancy Wine Intelligence, and led it to a successful PE exit. Today she is a renowned global beverage alcohol and wine sector specialist, focused on consumer behaviour, strategy, retail and hospitality. An accomplished keynote speaker, she has spoken...

Felicity and Lulie investigate the murky world of wine and spirits fraud — from harmless fakes to lethal counterfeits. They start with historic wine scandals that rocked Austria and Italy in the 1980s, where illicit additives led to injury and even death. From there, they explore the modern world of counterfeiting: billionaires tricked by fake Romanée-Conti, questionable Thomas Jefferson bottles, and the infamous case of Rudy Kurniawan, whose kitchen doubled as a counterfeit factory. Lulie introduces her framework for understanding deception in drinks — “fake, fraud or faux” — and the duo discuss how fakes can turn up anywhere, as in the case of $10,000 fake whisky served in a luxury Swiss hotel. Also covered: Counterfeit bulk wine sold as French The Gallo Pinot Noir scandal Methanol poisoning in Southeast Asia Why counterfeit spirits can blind or kill Efforts to authenticate bottles using technology and carbon dating How fake wine might still be sitting in collections around the world Plus: undercover sommeliers, Elvis impersonators, and cheap wine confessions. Got a question for us? Email us at aquestionofdrinks@gmail.com and it might just become our next episode. Please note: the story of the Jefferson bottles and Hardy Rodenstock is covered in public record sources including The Billionaire’s Vinegar. No assertion is made about events not publicly documented. Meet Your Hosts: Lulie Halstead founded and led international consumer research and strategy consultancy Wine Intelligence, and led it to a successful PE exit. Today she is a renowned global beverage alcohol and wine sector specialist, focused on consumer behaviour, strategy, retail and hospitality. An accomplished keynote speaker, she has spoken at more than 70 international events over the past 20 years. Felicity Carter is an award-winning wine and drinks journalist, editor, speaker trainer and content strategist. She led Meininger’s Wine Business International to become the world’s most must-read wine trade magazine, and was founding Executive Editor of The Drop/Pix, which the Wall Street Journal named one of the most trusted sources of wine information. A regular keynote speaker, she was named a 2024 Industry Leader by WineBusiness Monthly. 

In this fizz-filled episode of A Question of Drinks, Felicity Carter and Lulie Halstead investigate one of the wine world’s most persistent myths: who really invented Champagne? Was it Dom Pérignon, as the marketing legends claim — or were British scientists and merchants bottling bubbly decades earlier? Expect exploding bottles, legal firestorms, Russian oligarchs, Stalinist innovation, and a blind tasting study that might permanently change how you see cheap sparkling wine.   What we cover: The overlooked role of English scientist Christopher Merret (1662) in documenting secondary fermentation. Why British coal-fired glass furnaces mattered more than French monks. How Champagne marketing reinvented history and created global brand dominance. The 1911 Champagne riots and how they shaped today’s AOC protections. Champagne Jane vs. the CIVC: When trade protection becomes personal. Why Californian 'Champagne' still exists — and the legal loophole keeping it alive. What really happened when Belgian customs seized Gallo André 'Champagne' on its way to Nigeria. Stalin’s role in democratising sparkling wine. Consumer preferences: Do drinkers actually like Champagne best?  Sugar, calories, and labelling. Plus: Lulie tastes Chinese wine in Hong Kong. Felicity finally tries Guinness (but did she like it?). Australia goes soft, with Wagyu for dogs and "Paw-kies" on menus. To contact us: Got a burning drinks question? Or just want to tease Felicity about Guinness? Email us at: aquestionofdrinks@gmail.com Meet Your Hosts: Lulie Halstead founded and led international consumer research and strategy consultancy Wine Intelligence, and led it to a successful PE exit. Today she is a renowned global beverage alcohol and wine sector specialist, focused on consumer behaviour, strategy, retail and hospitality. An accomplished keynote speaker, she has spoken at more than 70 international events over the past 20 years. Felicity Carter is an award-winning wine and drinks journalist, editor, speaker trainer and content strategist. She led Meininger’s Wine Business International to become the world’s most must-read wine trade magazine, and was founding Executive Editor of The Drop/Pix, which the Wall Street Journal named one of the most trusted sources of wine information. A regular keynote speaker, she was named a 2024 Industry Leader by WineBusiness Monthly.

Why are so many people suddenly fluent in tannins, terroir, and Tokaji? There is an explosion of interest in wine education — and not just in the wine trade. Thousands of enthusiasts are signing up for wine courses, regardless of difficulty or cost. What’s driving this new thirst for knowledge? Is it fun, status, or the chance to bond with others? s not just about work: many are taking courses for fun, for status, or to bond with others. The episode dissects the appeal of rigorous wine courses, from the WSET diploma to the notoriously difficult Master of Wine, and what motivates people to sign up even when pass rates are low and costs are high. This episode also touches on how education is becoming a new kind of cultural capital, replacing the arts as a marker of sophistication. It features features personal stories, educational psychology frameworks like the Human Givens model, and historical insights into how institutions like the WSET and the Court of Master Sommeliers evolved.   Meet Your Hosts: Lulie Halstead founded and led international consumer research and strategy consultancy Wine Intelligence, and led it to a successful PE exit. Today she is a renowned global beverage alcohol and wine sector specialist, focused on consumer behaviour, strategy, retail and hospitality. An accomplished keynote speaker, she has spoken at more than 70 international events over the past 20 years. Felicity Carter is an award-winning wine and drinks journalist, editor, speaker trainer and content strategist. She led Meininger’s Wine Business International to become the world’s most must-read wine trade magazine, and was founding Executive Editor of The Drop/Pix, which the Wall Street Journal named one of the most trusted sources of wine information. A regular keynote speaker, she was named a 2024 Industry Leader by WineBusiness Monthly.  

Why do so many people find wine so confusing?  Is it something about wine itself, or is it because of the misconceptions that the wine trade has about wine drinkers? Data maven Lulie Halstead and wine journalist Felicity Carter dive into the topic, looking at the consumer experience: In supermarkets When reading about wine on menus In front of the wall of wine in retail When talking to sommeliers and other wine professionals With other people. Is the wine trade putting up barriers to entry — or is there something else going on? Felicity and Lulie look at research from China, at international consumer data, and the questions that consumers themselves have asked, to come up with some answers. If you’ve ever felt confused about wine, you’ll discover why. And if you’re a wine nerd, this episode might inspire you to approach customers differently.   Meet Your Hosts: Lulie Halstead founded and led international consumer research and strategy consultancy Wine Intelligence, and led it to a successful PE exit. Today she is a renowned global beverage alcohol and wine sector specialist, focused on consumer behaviour, strategy, retail and hospitality. An accomplished keynote speaker, she has spoken at more than 70 international events over the past 20 years. Felicity Carter is an award-winning wine and drinks journalist, editor, speaker trainer and content strategist. She led Meininger’s Wine Business International to become the world’s most must-read wine trade magazine, and was founding Executive Editor of The Drop/Pix, which the Wall Street Journal named one of the most trusted sources of wine information. A regular keynote speaker, she was named a 2024 Industry Leader by WineBusiness Monthly.  

What happens when sparkling wine, global trade policy, and Paris Hilton collide? In this episode, Felicity Carter and Lulie Halstead take a deep dive into the unlikely but very real international trade war over Prosecco. What could be more civilised than a glass of refreshing Prosecco, or a colourful Aperol Spritz? And yet this aperitivo ritual, adopted around the world, led to one of the most bitter fights in wine. From vineyard slopes in northern Italy to Australia’s King Valley and the halls of the EU, this is a story of politics, marketing, and viticulture — and how one celebrity upended the serene world of wine. In this episode: Prosecco, from humble beginnings to international juggernaut The invention of the Aperol Spritz — and why everybody’s drinking it How a flying visit by celebrity Paris Hilton caused a regional crisis The wily politician who exploited a legal loophole Why an international trade war ensued Meet Your Hosts: Lulie Halstead founded and led international consumer research and strategy consultancy Wine Intelligence, and led it to a successful PE exit. Today she is a renowned global beverage alcohol and wine sector specialist, focused on consumer behaviour, strategy, retail and hospitality. An accomplished keynote speaker, she has spoken at more than 70 international events over the past 20 years. Felicity Carter is an award-winning wine and drinks journalist, editor and content strategist. She led Meininger’s Wine Business International to become the world’s most must-read wine trade magazine, and was founding Executive Editor of The Drop/Pix, which the Wall Street Journal named one of the most trusted sources of wine information. A regular keynote speaker, she was named a 2024 Industry Leader by WineBusiness Monthly.

If everybody is moderating their wine intake, then how come there aren’t more small wine bottles on the shelf? And what would it take to put them there? In this episode of A Question of Drinks, join hosts Lulie Halstead and Felicity Carter as they explore why wine continues to be sold in those standard 750ml bottles. And who decided it should be 750 ml in the first place? Come on a journey into wine history, into a world of glass blowers, Biblical figures, show-offs and vending machines. Along the way the hosts explore bag-in-box, aluminium cans, and whether there’s really a bottle called the Goliath or whether it’s just an urban myth.   Meet Your Hosts: Lulie Halstead founded and led international consumer research and strategy consultancy Wine Intelligence, and led it to a successful PE exit. Today she is a renowned global beverage alcohol and wine sector specialist, focused on consumer behaviour, strategy, retail and hospitality. An accomplished keynote speaker, she has spoken at more than 70 international events over the past 20 years. Felicity Carter is an award-winning wine and drinks journalist, editor and content strategist. She led Meininger’s Wine Business International to become the world’s most must-read wine trade magazine, and was founding Executive Editor of The Drop/Pix, which the Wall Street Journal named one of the most trusted sources of wine information. A regular keynote speaker, she was named a 2024 Industry Leader by WineBusiness Monthly.

It may be more than 300 years old, but sales of Guinness are surging, as the Irish beer finds popularity with new groups of consumers of all ages. How has it managed to reinvent itself in a world of falling beer sales? Hosts Lulie Halstead and Felicity Carter do a deep dive into everything Guinness, from the beer’s history to its taste, to the ‘Splitting the G’ social media trend that’s taking TikTok by storm. They explore every question, from the effectiveness of the 51-page pouring manual, to the immersive beer tourism experience, to the value of legacy advertising campaigns. And they look at the phenomenal rise of Guinness 0.0 and ask what lessons can be learned by other drinks, both historic and modern. It’s an entertaining look at an Irish institution that’s gone global — and which shows no signs of slowing down. Meet Your Hosts: Lulie Halstead founded and led international consumer research and strategy consultancy Wine Intelligence, and led it to a successful PE exit. Today she is a renowned global beverage alcohol and wine sector specialist, focused on consumer behaviour, strategy, retail and hospitality. An accomplished keynote speaker, she has spoken at more than 70 international events over the past 20 years. Felicity Carter is an award-winning wine and drinks journalist, editor and content strategist. She led Meininger’s Wine Business International to become the world’s most must-read wine trade magazine, and was founding Executive Editor of The Drop/Pix, which the Wall Street Journal named one of the most trusted sources of wine information. A regular keynote speaker, she was named a 2024 Industry Leader by WineBusiness Monthly.

Pink wine is everywhere. On supermarket shelves, on Instagram, and clutched in the hands of celebrities. If there is a single defining wine of the 21st Century, it has to be rosé. How did this pink wine go from being considered an icon of 70s kitsch to a celebrity diva? In this episode of Drinks Insider, hosts Lulie Halstead and Felicity Carter delve into the fascinating world of rosé wine, looking at the economic, social, and technological forces that have made rosé wine such a hit. From novel cooling systems to Instagram, the story of rosé is one of quirky changes that have had major consequences. Tracing the story from Portugal to Provence to the world, this is a story about how and why rosé became an unstoppable trend. [00:05:28] Is the rosé wine boom here to stay — or just a fad? [00:13:00] The surprising truth about global rosé consumption  [00:18:17] How changes in technology led to new styles of wine  [00:27:12] The role of Provence [00:35:06] How Instagram fuelled a wine boom  

The days of the pre-lunch cocktail followed by the bottle of wine at lunch, followed by a chaser, are well and truly over. The peak of alcohol consumption came in 2012 and it’s fallen 25% since then. Not only are people drinking less alcohol than ever before, but many people now see any amount of alcohol as being bad for them.  What happened? In this insightful episode, Lulie Halstead and Felicity Carter look at the impact of technology, the rise of health and wellness trends, and the emergence of the sober curious movement. They also discuss the rise of the No- and Low-Alcohol category and ask whether it has a future or is just a momentary trend. And they dive into controversial questions about just how bad (or not) alcohol really is, and look at the impact of health lobby messaging. You might want a drink in hand as you listen. [00:01:55] Global Alcohol Consumption Decline Since 2012, it’s all been downhill. [00:04:32] The Impact of Technology How a new gadget hit the market and had an unexpected impact on alcohol consumption. [00:05:50] The Rise of Zebra Striping The hosts explore how the sober curious movement and the new trend of zebra striping are changing drinking habits. [00:17:06] Conflicting Research on Safe Alcohol Levels The discussion highlights conflicting research and the controversy around the claim there is no safe level of alcohol. [00:27:40] The Future of the Drinks Market With so much changing so fast, where to from here? Meet Your Hosts: Lulie Halstead founded and led international consumer research and strategy consultancy Wine Intelligence, and led it to a successful PE exit. Today she is a renowned global beverage alcohol and wine sector specialist, focused on consumer behaviour, strategy, retail and hospitality. An accomplished keynote speaker, she has spoken at more than 70 international events over the past 20 years.Felicity Carter is an award-winning wine and drinks journalist, editor and content strategist. She led Meininger’s Wine Business International to become the world’s most must-read wine trade magazine, and was founding Executive Editor of The Drop/Pix, which the Wall Street Journal named one of the most trusted sources of wine information. A regular keynote speaker, she was named a 2024 Industry Leader by WineBusiness Monthly.

Gin may have started life as a medicine for heartburn, but it became so popular, it turned into an instrument of mayhem and murder. Hosts Lulie Halstead and Felicity Carter delve into the fascinating world of gin to explore the question of how this one drink shaped history —and what has driven the contemporary gin craze. The discussion then explores the role of tonic water and its connection to the expansion of the British Empire. And then the question comes round to the current boom in non-alcoholic versions. Can they last? And why did gin never take off in the US market, despite its popularity elsewhere? Like no other, gin illustrates how history and culture shape our drinks choices. This episode includes: (00:08:28) The role of the botanicals and where they come from. (00:21:00) How the 18-th century gin craze led to murder and governmental crackdowns. (00:27:00) How two entrepreneurs changed the law and kickstarted the modern gin boom. (00:24:52) The role of tonic water in the colonial expansion of the British Empire. Meet Your Hosts: Lulie Halstead founded and led international consumer research and strategy consultancy Wine Intelligence, and led it to a successful PE exit. Today she is a renowned global beverage alcohol and wine sector specialist, focused on consumer behaviour, strategy, retail and hospitality. An accomplished keynote speaker, she has spoken at more than 70 international events over the past 20 years. Felicity Carter is an award-winning wine and drinks journalist, editor and content strategist. She led Meininger’s Wine Business International to become the world’s most must-read wine trade magazine, and was founding Executive Editor of The Drop/Pix, which the Wall Street Journal named one of the most trusted sources of wine information. A regular keynote speaker, she was named a 2024 Industry Leader by WineBusiness Monthly.   

Join Lulie Halstead and Felicity Carter as they unpack the complex world of wine scores, medals, and critics, asking where they come from and why the results can be so different between competitions and critics. Then they move into the history of wine criticism and the impact of figures like American wine critic Robert Parker, who changed the market. They also unpack the psychological and sociological factors that affect consumer perceptions of wine, to find out what consumers think about it all. And they discover a surprising truth about what drives people to choose one wine over another. And they answer the question — do those little gold dots on bottles of wine count for anything? In this episode: [00:05:19] How the emergence of Robert Parker and his 100-point scoring system significantly changed wine criticism. [00:10:22] An insider’s look at how wine competitions across the world use different judging systems and get very different results, from Australia to Europe. [00:24:27] How taste in wine is influenced by social class — and how awards and medals tap into “social capital”. [00:26:52] How awards and medals act as a heuristic, helping consumers make quicker decisions. [00:30:33] Where awards and medals sit in the hierarchy of choice. Meet Your Hosts: Lulie Halstead founded and led international consumer research and strategy consultancy Wine Intelligence, and led it to a successful PE exit. Today she is a renowned global beverage alcohol and wine sector specialist, focused on consumer behaviour, strategy, retail and hospitality. An accomplished keynote speaker, she has spoken at more than 70 international events over the past 20 years. Felicity Carter is an award-winning wine and drinks journalist, editor and content strategist. She led Meininger’s Wine Business International to become the world’s most must-read wine trade magazine, and was founding Executive Editor of The Drop/Pix, which the Wall Street Journal named one of the most trusted sources of wine information. A regular keynote speaker, she was named a 2024 Industry Leader by WineBusiness Monthly.   

Why do we drink what we do? And why are we drinking different wines than we did 30 years ago? Lulie Halstead and Felicity Carter do a deep dive into why the wine rack looks very different than it once did. But what is a wine style and who determines it? And who gets to decide what we drink? It turns out the answer involves changes in technology, fashion and even what looks good on Instagram. In the course of the discussion they roam over academic research, popular culture, the role of celebrities and critics, and even whether there really is more choice on the shelf, or whether it’s an illusion. Included in this episode: [1:00] All about the hidden side of the drinks market. [14:00] How wine styles are classified. [19:00] The unexpected role of technology. [32:00] The influence of the critics and whether their judgements are still important or not. Meet Your Hosts: Lulie Halstead founded and led international consumer research and strategy consultancy Wine Intelligence, and led it to a successful PE exit. Today she is a renowned global beverage alcohol and wine sector specialist, focused on consumer behaviour, strategy, retail and hospitality. An accomplished keynote speaker, she has spoken at more than 70 international events over the past 20 years. Felicity Carter is an award-winning wine and drinks journalist, editor and content strategist. She led Meininger’s Wine Business International to become the world’s most must-read wine trade magazine, and was founding Executive Editor of The Drop/Pix, which the Wall Street Journal named one of the most trusted sources of wine information. A regular keynote speaker, she was named a 2024 Industry Leader by WineBusiness Monthly.   

Why do we drink what we do? Why do some drinks catch fire for a time, and then spend decades at the back of the cupboard? And how do some drinks become classics? In this engaging podcast, drinks data maven Lulie Halstead joints drinks writer and researcher Felicity Carter on a journey into the world of drinks. Along the way, they discover that what's in the glass is more than a drink — it's a representation of cultural, technological and social shifts.