Health concerns have been exacerbated in the pandemic, and people are looking for ways to balance smart food and drink choices with a desire for comfort and indulgence. SkinnyBooze meets their needs with an online shop of low-cal and low-alcohol brands, shipped straight to buyers’ homes.

Online wine boutique Astro Vino is personalising wine-gifting by matching each bottle with the giftee’s astrological chart. Amid declining trust in institutions and a rising interest in astrology, the tailor-made offering will likely appeal to Gen Yers as they increasingly put their faith in the stars.

From the way they buy their alcohol to the quantities in which they consume it, Australians’ drinking preferences are evolving. As COVID-19 re-shapes the behavioural landscape both temporarily and in the longer term, how can Aussies’ desires be better fulfilled in the moment and beyond?

Research has revealed that Australians are drinking more alcohol during lockdown. While this may be good news for drinks brands, it also raises health concerns, creating an opportunity for brands to foster safer drinking habits and improve Aussies’ understanding of drinking’s health risks.