Survey Reveals Consumers' Least Favorite Alcoholic Drink To Celebrate With
For centuries, Champagne has practically been synonymous with celebrations. According to Live Science, it's popularity as an effervescent party pleaser dates back to the halcyon days of the 18th century, when it was a favorite of the European aristocracy. King Louis XVI and his wife, Queen Marie Antoinette, were both crazy about Champagne, notes Lolo French Antiques ... at least until the French Revolution cast a pall on the party mood.
But is Champagne still the go-to celebratory quaff of choice? According to our most recent Tasting Table survey, the answer is no. We polled 626 of our readers with the question: Which is your favorite alcoholic drink to celebrate with? Somewhat shockingly, Champagne didn't finish in either first or second place. Instead, it finished in third, garnering the support of only 24.44% of respondents (153 votes).
Economic factors may have something to do with Champagne's slippage. As Reuters reports, sales have been tailing off for the expensive French sparkling wine because the pandemic put a damper on celebrations by forcing the closure (temporarily, at least) of many celebratory venues.
Cocktails are for celebrating, beer is not
So which alcoholic drink finished first in our survey? Cocktails were the surprise winner after being named the top celebration drink choice by 30.03% of those polled (188 votes). We'd guess martinis are the most celebration-worthy of all cocktails, although that's a poll question in itself. Wine, either of the red or white variety, earned runner-up status with the support of 26.36% (165 votes). Champagne, it should be noted, is a kind of wine, but our readers now seem more disposed to still wines when they're in a celebratory mood.
The last place finisher, not surprisingly, was beer, which received only 19.17% of the votes (120 of those cast). Why wasn't it a surprise? Beer is certainly a popular drink. Time called it the world's most beloved drink, after all. But beer has a blue-collar reputation and it's more commonly considered a daily drink than something served up for special occasions — unless it's October and you're in Germany, of course, in which case by all means celebrate with beer.