As the country entered lockdown and the public valiantly came to terms with a completely new way of living, every single one of us had to change our daily routines and habits.
From the way we worked, to how we bought our essentials, the coronavirus pandemic has meant that nobody’s life looks the same as it did at the beginning of this year. But have these changes in our routines affected our behaviours?
When the lockdown was announced, social media pages were flooded with promises of a new, healthier start. Almost like a second New Year, this drastic adjustment acted as a catalyst for change in our lifestyles.
It is not uncommon for those looking to get healthy to decrease their alcohol intake. Research undertaken by Alcohol Change UK found that 1 in 3 of their survey respondents had either stopped or reduced the amount in their alcohol consumption; compared to 1 in 5 who had found themselves drinking more frequently.
Looking anecdotally, it seems that the increased time for reflection during lockdown has led to a lifestyle change and health kick, triggering a reduction in consumption. Citing a desire for improvements to both physical and mental health, this shift in a fifth of the population has seen an increase in sales for lower alcohol and alcohol-free brands – making now the perfect time to prepare and push your business.
For producers of soft, low-alcohol and alcohol-free alternative drinks – just like New Years, Dry January and Sober October – lockdown provides an opportunity to expand your audience by connecting with these new curious drinkers.
At a time when face-to-face contact is still limited and on-trade is paused, this is the time to utilise your digital platforms and grow your customer base. If brands can maximise digital marketing to promote their products to an actively-searching audience, they can build a loyal following which will extend far into the future when lockdown restrictions are lifted.
And, of course, we’ll be here at Croxsons ready to grow with you. If you’re seeing an increase in demand from your customers, be sure to get in touch with our team to learn how we can support you.