Meanwhile, the more recent rise of social media — plus digital publishing and the continued growth of e-commerce — has given brands strong incentives and tools to build direct relationships with their clientele, skipping the retail middlemen and keeping the rest of their margin.

Normalizing sobriety in an alcohol-dependent society is difficult, especially when individuals are up against a trillion-dollar industry pumping out advertisements and making it seem like the only way to experience life is with a drink in your hand. Marketing budgets for alcohol brands are expected to rise to $7.7 billion by next year, and the indu... See more

• Between 2015 and 2018, US alcohol consumption declined three straight years, with beer consumption down five consecutive years.