alcoholic beverages

The country's troubled history with alcohol -- particularly Prohibition -- had a huge impact on what consumers expect from their alcoholic beverages. The bland, blended spirits that became popular after Prohibition ended are finally giving way to today's thirst for unique and locally made alcoholic beverages.

Could caffeinated alcoholic drinks, which the FDA deemed unsafe for human consumption in November, turn out to be good for cars? A Virginia-based ethanol recycler, MXI Environmental Services, is turning those soon-to-be-banned beverages into fuel.

The average college student spends $500 per year on alcohol, says Rachel Barrington of the University of Wisconsin. With the average student taking five years to graduate and borrowing about $23,000, that means that more than 10% of all college loans go to finance alcohol consumption.

Next time you're flying coach on Delta Airlines (DAL), and you want an almond butter and grape jelly sandwich or a grilled chicken gyro, you'd better have a credit or debit card handy. The jelly sandwich is $4, the gyro $8 -- and cash transactions for food will soon be history. In the wake of the...