Canned Cocktails Will Smash You to the Ground
Americans may be drinking less. But a lot of them are getting drunk faster.
TL;DR
- Canned cocktails, like Cutwater's mai tai and margarita, are now commonly found at baseball stadiums, replacing beer as a popular on-the-go alcoholic beverage.
- Ready-to-drink cocktail sales have seen a significant increase, reaching nearly 11 billion servings in 2025, and are available in various retail locations.
- The rise of canned cocktails follows the success of malternatives like White Claw, but these new options often feature higher alcohol content (7-15%).
- The alcohol industry, particularly the spirits sector, is actively pushing for relaxed regulations on canned cocktail sales, arguing for their availability wherever beer is sold.
- Despite an overall trend of Americans drinking less, canned cocktails are a bright spot for the alcohol industry, with sales jumping 40% year-over-year, while beer sales declined.
- The convenience and lower cost of canned cocktails contribute to their appeal, especially as consumer goods prices rise.
- Consumers may underestimate the alcohol content in canned cocktails, leading to accidental overconsumption and binge drinking, often documented on social media.
- The packaging of canned cocktails can act as a shortcut for consumers, blurring the lines of a single serving or socially acceptable amount, potentially leading to unintended intoxication.