Alcopop

Alcopop is a term coined by the popular media of the United Kingdom to describe 'alcoholic soft drinks'. In the alcohol industry they are known as RTDs which stands for 'ready to drink' or FABs (Flavoured Alcoholic Beverages). These drinks, such as alcoholic lemonade, tend to be sweet, served in small bottles, and around 5% alcohol by volume.

These drinks emerged onto the market in the mid 1990s with the launch of Two Dogs and Hoopers, both alcoholic lemonade drinks made in Australia. Many, many more have followed as the drinks became increasingly popular, especially with women.

Some parts of the popular media expressed intense concern that such drinks might appeal to children as they tend to be sweet and brightly coloured. The drinks now carry a warning stating that they are not for consumption by minors (under 18 in the UK). Remarkably, other sweet, alcoholic beverages that had been around for years, such as cider and wine coolers, escaped this concern, perhaps because they were not marketed to young people.

While the amount of beer being sold worldwide has dropped drastically, the sale of alcopops has taken off dramatically. It is thought to be because of the fact that the sweet alcopops taste nicer than the bitter taste of wines and beers, and they dont leave the drinker with a stale beer stench afterwards.

In the United States, these beverages are called malternative drinks.