As alcohol consumption declines, cannabis-infused drinks are entering the mainstream and displacing traditional alcohol sales. In markets like Minnesota, these new beverages already account for over 15% of total alcohol sales, signaling a massive shift in consumer preference.

The widespread adoption of weight-loss drugs is reducing demand for products like wine bottles and beer cans. This introduces a significant, unforeseen secular risk to packaging companies, a sector traditionally considered a safe bet by credit investors who often focus only on coupon payments and credit ratings.

Chef David Chang identifies that Gen Z's reduced alcohol consumption is a major financial threat to the restaurant industry. Traditionally high-margin beverage sales have subsidized food costs, but this model is breaking down. As a result, restaurants face a dual pressure of rising labor costs and shrinking beverage revenue, forcing a difficult choice between raising food prices or facing insolvency.

A world-famous chef claims the mid-tier restaurant business is "over." Patrons on drugs like Ozempic eat less, and younger generations drink less alcohol, drastically reducing average check sizes. This makes the economics of a $75-per-person establishment unsustainable, leaving only high-end and fast-casual options viable.

Entrepreneurs often chase trending markets. However, even a market in slight decline, like craft beer, can be enormous ($28 billion). Capturing a tiny fraction (e.g., 0.05%) of such a market can still result in a nine-figure business, making it a viable opportunity.

Despite narratives of decline in the West, the global alcohol industry is thriving. This resilience comes from two key trends: consumers "drinking less, but better" by choosing more expensive, premium beverages, and the rapid growth of alcohol consumption in large emerging markets, especially among young people and women.

A surprising driver of Fruitist's success is the Ozempic effect. GLP-1 drug users consume more fruit but are averse to "surprises" in taste or texture. This creates demand for branded, highly consistent produce, allowing companies like Fruitist to command a premium price from this growing consumer segment.

Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic have moved from a niche medical treatment to a mainstream phenomenon, with new data showing 15.2% of all American women are now taking them. This rapid, large-scale adoption signifies a major public health shift that will have downstream effects on the food, fitness, and healthcare industries.

The global decline in wine sales faces a new headwind from the rise of GLP-1 drugs. Analysts worry that as these medications reduce users' desire to eat, they also diminish the desire to drink alcohol, further depressing a market already struggling with demographic and cultural shifts.