Starbucks is renowned for its caffeinated drinks, but it isn't above spiking its beverage menu here and there. The coffee giant is adding wine and beer at up to a dozen cafes in the Southern California and Atlanta markets.
The holidays are a time for nostalgia -- and stuffing your stomach to the brim. So why not combine the two by taking inventory of a typical Christmas dinner, from eggnog to fruitcake, and comparing today's prices -- and, in some instances, portions -- to those of yesteryear?
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.
A new World Health Organization report finds excessive alcohol use results in 2.5 million deaths annually. That's more than those caused by HIV/AIDS, violence or tuberculosis. The study notes that alcohol is a far bigger danger than illegal drugs such as crack cocaine and heroin.
Hospitality analysts say this season's year-end celebrations are more numerous and a bit more lavish than the past several years. Champagne is replacing sparkling wine, and better food is getting served. Signs, they say, of an economy on the mend.
The locavore, or local food, movement is gaining momentum, driven in part by increasing awareness about the importance of quality food. Nationwide, small, local farms have tapped into a growing market by selling meat and produce to nearby consumers and choosy restaurant chefs.
Forget candy bars or soda. In Pennsylvania, new vending machines may start dispensing wine as early as this month. It's a controversial move in a state that has long restricted the sale of bottles of wine and spirits to state-owned stores.
Prince Robert of Luxembourg is a rebel of sorts. His Domaine Clarence Dillon produces four of the best-known wines in the world, and now he is attempting to expand his business by making more affordable wine on a larger scale.
Starbucks is exploring new ways to bring coffee lovers back, from selling CDs and instant coffee to offering free WiFi. And now, in what may be its most daring attempt yet, it's getting into wine and what it's calling "coffee theater."
