New Global Trends in Hospitality!
Adel Eldin, MD FACC FACP, MBA, GGA
Board Certified Cardiologist, Founder/CEO Pronto Care and Florida Medical Tourism, Global Healthcare Leader,Entrepreneur, Speaker, Consultant
There is a new global trend showing the?rise of nonalcoholic drinks compared to many years ago as demanded by consumers to stay healthy and avoid many health complications associated with alcohol consumption. For example, (Holiday?Heart syndrome)takes place when people binge on alcohol over a weekend or during the Holiday Season. consequently, they would develop a dangerous heart rhythm called (Atrial Fibrillation) which can increase the risk of having a stroke or developing acute congestive heart failure through the direct toxic effect on the heart muscle.
They were noted mostly during the Holiday Season. consequently, people could even develop a fatal heart rhythm called ( Ventricular Tachycardia) which can cause sudden cardiac death!
Other health problems related to alcohol consumption include hepatitis (inflammation of the
liver cells ), liver damage, and many other types of cancers related to alcohol ingestion
affecting every part of the gastrointestinal tract that comes in contact with alcohol such as mouth cancer, esophageal?cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer, lung cancer, and breast cancer especially if associated with smoking.
Other diseases related to alcohol intake include seizures, bleeding ulcers, and esophageal?varices (dilated weak veins)that can rupture and cause massive bleeding!
Also, liver cell failure, bleeding in the head (subdural hematomas, intracranial bleeding),
especially due to the risk of unsteady gait, loss of balance, and falls with people hitting their head which?could have devastating effects especially if patients are taking blood thinners for atrial fibrillation caused in some cases by alcohol intake!
Alcohol can also cause diabetes, elevated cholesterol, and elevated triglycerides, elevated
blood pressure, leading to heart diseases such as heart attacks and chest pains by
promoting atherosclerosis ( hardening of the arteries). Alcohol consumption may cause
strokes and impaired peripheral circulation.
Alcohol intake can lead to impaired mental capabilities, and cause early dementia, with
progressive decline in intellectual functions, and loss of coordination, therefore when cops
arrest someone driving under intoxication (DUI), they use a straight-line walking test or
finger-to-nose test to evaluate neuromuscular?coordination which?is impaired due to the
direct toxic effects of alcohol on the brain and entire nervous system function. Alcohol leads
to many car accidents due to loss of neuromuscular?coordination. impairment of judgment
increases the incidence of domestic violence, robbery, and other crimes to support their drinking habit which is usually accompanied not infrequently with multiple substance abuse.
Alcohol depresses the immune system and leads to various infections including pneumonia,
COVID, meningitis, and more. Thus, post-pandemic, customers demand booze-free
beverages such as alcohol-free beers, and mocktails which are flooding the market!
Younger people now seek healthier alternatives to alcoholic drinks. Many new companies
now seize the opportunity to serve Gen Z customers driving the shift into nonalcoholic
mocktails. There is a clear cultural shift in health consciousness after the COVID
pandemic. Many studies showed alcohol consumption was one of the strong risk factors for contracting COVID infection due to immune system suppression by alcohol.
There was a close correlation between alcohol consumed at parties and various gatherings
with the subsequent COVID surge in cases that became evident and reproducible.
The same happened to the folks who increased their alcohol intake during the pandemic
due to stress/anxiety were found to have increased their anxiety and alcohol worsened it, especially with female and young drinkers.
Non-alcoholic alternatives are now available everywhere?thanks to the Awesome World
Cup event in Qatar in 2023! Alcohol was not allowed to be served then; thus, big companies
switched to non-alcoholic beers which became a global trend?not just in the USA.
consumers demanded the switch as they are more educated and more health conscious
now. There is also a change in culture among older folks who realize the health hazards of
alcohol consumption and the associated adverse financial impact when health problems
related to alcohol intake cause a heavy financial burden, thus forcing many to stop or
minimize alcohol intake as good health and finances are closely connected.
Thus, non-alcoholic drinks sales skyrocketed beyond just dry January or sober October. The
sober-curious movement is growing as people learn more about the toxic and harmful
effects of alcohol even in small amounts. As one study article found?“there is no amount of
alcohol is safe when it comes to Atrial Fibrillation”, a serious heart rhythm, that sharply
increases the stroke risk by showering blood clots to various parts of the body including the
brain. Thus, it is a smart business strategy to have non-alcoholic drinks on the menu to
satisfy different customer preferences and choices and not to lose their business from
those customers going somewhere else!
Drinks is a 270 Billion dollar Business in the USA alone and currently is getting strong
competition from non-alcoholic beverages. Cranberry tonic, fresh juices, shakes, apple cider, ginger, and a whole lot more!
Lemon drinks are just examples of these popular alcohol-free drinks. They can have an
additional health bonus which is enhancing the immune system so, people can enjoy?healthy
drinks and do not get sick or have a?hangover.
Other innovative non-alcoholic drinks include drinks with probiotics being served in alcohol-
free -bars. These are designed for health-conscious folks as it would provide them with the
领英推荐
options to?participate and have an even “Happier Hour” without alcohol in these alcohol-free bars while still socializing and having a great time!
These alcohol-free bars/cafes will be a very attractive choice for additional customers like
those who follow various faiths that prohibit alcohol, the largest group globally being two
billion followers of Islam, leading to a robust market growth of non-alcoholic drinks.
The old way of after-hours tradition, where workers socialize till evening hours and
drink alcoholic beverages has changed. Now, you have the late workers, and those who are
working from home remotely post-pandemic have caused the pass time to change. The
culture has changed, and while people can still socialize, after work, the new trend of
alcohol-free beverages is growing across all ages and backgrounds having a good time without alcohol and its toxic effects on health and finances. They do not have to worry about having someone being a ( designated driver) as everyone will be sober and can drive home safely after their event!
Changing?culture and preference for non-alcoholic drinks is expected to extend to the upcoming holiday season and beyond (all year round) helping customers to stay healthy.
Businesses will have many returning happier and healthier consumers. Organizations do not have to worry about alcohol-related accidents that could have devastating medico-legal consequences of officially sponsoring alcohol-drinking activities as now they have a safer option!
The Fall of pork-related products sales and consumption
In 2023, pork products sales decreased by 19% in volume. Some factors affecting the fall is
a drop in European?production, and currency disadvantage to the EU. In the US market,
domestic demand dropped?significantly in California (20%) for example. Traditional pork
consumption like baby boomers is now empty nested with decreased consumption. The
pork industry has been struggling to appeal to?young people who are not very interested in
the meat market or switched to healthy choices such as chicken and beef. Some restaurant
chains dropped pork off their menu and are doing fantastic in their sales (Chipotle) and
many others like Chick-fil-A!
People now are interested in being healthy, because “You are what You eat”. It is common
knowledge that pork consumption is NOT healthy and leads to so many diseases including
heart disease, infectious diseases with tapeworms, and others that cannot be
cured. Pork consumption can lead to Trichinosis which is an infection with a parasite-like
Trichinella roundworm can lead to serious and sometimes fatal outcomes. Other infections
related to pork consumption included Hepatitis E, inflammation of the heart muscle
( myocarditis), liver cell failure, acute pancreatitis, neuromuscular?problems, and multi-joint pain.
Also, Multiple Sclerosis, or MS is a devastating auto-immune disorder. Pork consumption
can lead to Yersinia Bacteria infection which causes about 117,000 cases of food poisoning
in the United States and 35 deaths. Yersiniosis has acute symptoms of fever, pain, bloody
diarrhea, arthritis, inflammation of the?eye, and iris, increased risk of Graves’ disease,
and chronic diseases such as diabetes, and swine flu in humans.
Pigs have a very troublesome digestive tract which?is unable to get rid of toxins
that accumulate in the tissues. Pigs have very few sweat glands, thus again unable to get rid
of toxins leaving more toxins in the pig body. When consumers eat pork, all these toxins are
not eliminated, thus examples of contamination of pork meats include Salmonella,
mycotoxins, and metals. Pigs harbor common viruses and parasites, drug-resistant bacteria,
and so on. Pigs have nonhygienic eating habits eating garbage and even dead animals. Eating pork increases the risk of
Eating pork increases the risk of bladder cancer, and heart disease, through its high fat
content and salt content. Other infections caused by pork consumption include Listeriosis,
Brucellosis, Anthrax, influenza, pneumonia, chronic digestive problems, gout, and male
infertility due to high estrogen ( female hormone content) in pork meat?compared to other
non-swine meats. Due to an increase in health-conscious consumers in addition to so many
faiths that prohibit pork including Christianity, Judaism,?and Islam, it is a global trend to
avoid pork products and replace it with healthy choices of animal protein including chicken, lean beef and turkey.
There is also an increase in demand for Halal (wholesome, organic meat) products (Halal is
Healthy) globally adding to its popularity amongst health-conscious consumers worldwide.
The critical role of the Food and Beverage Department in the Hospitality World is influenced
greatly by customer?preference, choice, and certainly guest wellness and overall experience!