#Alcoholic Drinks Market Growth

[researchrealmblog]

People Madly in Love with Beer All Over the World

Acholic drinks are commonly consumed by people all over the world. There is a never-ending debate that consumption of alcohol is bad for the body, and it should not be consumed. It is not about, alcoholic drinks being good or bad for health, but the fact of the matter is that, there is a good amount of consumption of alcoholic drinks all over the world.

Now, the question arises that why alcoholic drinks are so popular among people. I don’t know that, is it a concrete answer or not, but alcohol, upon entering into your body, gives you a sort of enjoyment.

Europe and the European Union has 9 out of 10 countries, consuming the most amount of alcohol all over the world. So, it can be easily said that Europeans are the biggest drinkers all over the world.

Beer is the Most-Consumed Alcoholic Drink

Do you know which alcoholic drink is the most consumed all over the world. It is beer. The fascination of the people for beer is such that it is the third most consumed drink after water and tea. Not only this, beer is considered as the oldest alcoholic drink all over the world.

A beer generally has 4-6% of alcohol content, but it is not that every beer has the same concentration of alcohol. Alcohol content might differ considering the fact that, the version of beer you are drinking is light, strong or ultra-strong.

Wine

Wine is another popular alcoholic drink. The word most commonly associated with wines is vintage. It is said that the older the wine, the tastier and valuable it is. A standard wine has less than 14% of alcohol content in it.

If you are into the consumption of alcoholic drinks, champagne is a kind of sparkling wine. It has an alcohol content of 10-12%. It is a common thing with champagne that it is littered more than it is actually drunk. Some of the wines are mixed with distilled alcohol, and the mix has around 20% of alcohol in it.

The Concept of Peg

If there is a talk about alcoholic drinks, there has to be a talk about a peg too. If we are to define a peg, it is an undefined measure of alcohol, which is poured in a glass. Talking of peg, the most famous peg (at least among Indians) is the Patiala peg.

It is not famous, just for nothing. A peg measure which was introduced by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, has 90 ml of alcohol. The size of a standard peg is considered to be 30 ml, so you can imagine, the speciality of a Patiala peg.

It has a measure of 3 standard pegs at once, so it is not that hard to imagine the mafic of a single or two Patiala’s going down your throat.

Coming to a Conclusion

It is a no-brainer that with the increase interest of people toward the consumption of alcohol every day, the demand for alcoholic drinks will continue to grow in the years to come.

[lalsingh228-blog]

Alcoholic Ready-To-Drink Market: Strong Momentum and Growth Seen Ahead

Latest business intelligence report released on Global Alcoholic Ready-To-Drink Market, covers different industry elements and growth inclinations that helps in predicting market forecast. The report allows complete assessment of current and future scenario scaling top to bottom investigation about the market size, % share of key and emerging segment, major development, and technological advancements. Also, the statistical survey elaborates detailed commentary on changing market dynamics that includes market growth drivers, roadblocks and challenges, future opportunities, and influencing trends to better understand Alcoholic Ready-To-Drink market outlook. List of Key Players Profiled in the study includes market overview, business strategies, financials, Development activities, Market Share and SWOT analysis: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (Belgium), The Brown–Forman Corporation (United States), Distell Group Limited (South Africa), Bacardi Limited (Bermuda), Boston Beer Company (United States), Halewood International (United Kingdom), Diageo plc (United Kingdom), Suntory Spirits Ltd. (United States), B.C distillery (Canada), Radico Khaitan Ltd., (India). Download Free Sample PDF Brochure (Including Full TOC, Table & Figures) @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/25418-global-alcoholic-ready-to-drink-market Brief Overview on Alcoholic Ready-To-Drink: Alcoholic ready-to-drinks are packed beverages with alcohol content in it which can be directly consumed, it includes spirit-based RTDs, wine-based RTDs, malt-based RTDs, high strength premix RTD, etc. These dinks are basically the hybridization of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks together and packed for direct consumption. These ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages are largely demanded by young adults across the world and can be availed in supermarkets, online stores, liquor stores, etc. Key Market Trends: Increasing Consumption of Spirit-based Ready-To-Drink Alcohol

Rising Demand for Alcoholic Ready-To-Drink Among Young Adults Opportunities: Growing Standard of Living People in Developing Countries will Boost the Alcoholic Ready-To-Drink Market Market Growth Drivers: Growing Demand for Alcoholic Beverages

Demand for Ready to Drink Beverages Among People Challenges: Regulatory Guidelines and Standards on the Production, Packaging, and Labeling of Alcoholic Ready-To-Drink Segmentation of the Global Alcoholic Ready-To-Drink Market: by Type (Spirit-based RTDs, Wine-based RTDs, Malt-based RTDs, High-Strength Premixes), Application (Household, Restaurant/Bars, Hotels), Distribution Channel (Supermarket & Hypermarket, Liquor Specialist Store, Online Retailing, Duty-Free Stores, Others), Alcohol (Ethyl, Isopropyl, Denatured Alcohol) Purchase this Report now by availing up to 10% Discount on various License Type along with free consultation. Limited period offer. Share your budget and Get Exclusive Discount @: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/request-discount/25418-global-alcoholic-ready-to-drink-market Geographically, the following regions together with the listed national/local markets are fully investigated: • APAC (Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, India, and Rest of APAC; Rest of APAC is further segmented into Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, New Zealand, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka) • Europe (Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Russia, Rest of Europe; Rest of Europe is further segmented into Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania) • North America (U.S., Canada, and Mexico) • South America (Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Rest of South America) • MEA (Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa)Furthermore, the years considered for the study are as follows: Historical data ��� 2017-2022 The base year for estimation – 2022 Estimated Year – 2023 Forecast period** – 2023 to 2028 [** unless otherwise stated] Browse Full in-depth TOC @: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/reports/25418-global-alcoholic-ready-to-drink-market

Summarized Extracts from TOC of Global Alcoholic Ready-To-Drink Market Study Chapter 1: Exclusive Summary of the Alcoholic Ready-To-Drink market Chapter 2: Objective of Study and Research Scope the Alcoholic Ready-To-Drink market Chapter 3: Porters Five Forces, Supply/Value Chain, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent/Trademark Analysis Chapter 4: Market Segmentation by Type, End User and Region/Country 2016-2027 Chapter 5: Decision Framework Chapter 6: Market Dynamics- Drivers, Trends and Challenges Chapter 7: Competitive Landscape, Peer Group Analysis, BCG Matrix & Company Profile Chapter 8: Appendix, Methodology and Data Source Buy Full Copy Alcoholic Ready-To-DrinkMarket – 2021 Edition @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/buy-now?format=1&report=25418 Contact US : Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager) AMA Research & Media LLP Unit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJ New Jersey USA – 08837 Phone: +1 201 565 3262, +44 161 818 8166 sales@advancemarketanalytics.com

[researchanalystsblog]

Non-alcoholic drinks Market Growth, Demand & Opportunities 2031

According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, “Non-alcoholic Drinks Market by Product type, Distribution Channel, andPrice Point: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022–2031,”

The global non-alcoholic drinks market was valued at $820.0Billion in 2020, and is expected to reach $2,134.6 Billion by 2031 at a CAGR of 6.8%.The soft drinks segment is expected to retain its dominant position, in terms of revenue generation during the forecast period. Asia-Pacific held the leading position in the global market in 2020, and is expected to maintain its lead in the future.

The market is expected to witness notable growth in the near future, owing to rise in urbanization and increased disposable income in the emerging countries. Moreover, change in lifestyle patterns toward healthy functional food and increase in prevalence of diseases due to unhealthy lifestyle escalates the demand for premium and luxury non-alcoholic beverages.

Furthermore, the impact of surgein awareness of health and wellness among consumers and millennial generation are expected to boostthe demand for non-alcoholic beverages. In addition, broad range of preferences and innovative packaging play pivotal role in the market growth. Some of the major restraints associated with the market are stringent government regulations associated with sugary drinks, additives, and preservatives causing hazardous health effects such as obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

The non-alcoholic drinks market is segmented based on the product type and geography. By product type, the market can be segmented into soft drinks, tea & coffee, energy drinks, juices, bottled water, dairy drinks, and others. By distribution channel, the study covers supermarket/hypermarket, convenience stores, specialty stores, online retails, and others. By price point, the market is segmentedinto standard, premium, and luxury categories. Geographically, the market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

Explore More Info @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/non-alcoholic-drinks-market 

Key Players:-

Key players profiled in the report include A.G. Barr, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, DydoDrinco, Attitude Drinks, Co., Livewire Energy; Calcol, Inc., Danone, Nestlé S.A., PepsiCo, Inc., and the Coca-Cola Company. Other major players (not profiled in report) in the industry are Kraft Foods Group, Inc., Suja Life, LLC, FreshBev, Pressed Juicery, Suntory Beverage & Food, Unilever, Asahi Group, Jacobs Douwe Egberts, and Kirin Holdings Co.

Key Findings of the Study:-

By product type, the market size of soft drinkssegment remainedthe dominant segment in the year 2020, and is expected to maintain the market share in the coming years.

Soft drinks account for nearly 45.87% and 51.40%, by revenue and volume, respectively, followed by bottled water, and dairy drinks.

By distribution channel, specialty store is the fastest growing segment owing to the increasing interest in customized products that are offering more honey-sweetened foods and drinks.

By price point, premium category is anticipated to grow with thehighest CAGR during the forecast period.

By region, Asia-Pacificledin terms of the global non-alcoholic drinks market share in 2020, and is expected to retain its dominance during the forecast period.

[i-didnt-do-1t]

Oscar’s bottle of whiskey was cheap and burned when he drank it. It wasn’t enjoyable, but it got him drunk, and if that wasn’t the main purpose of alcohol then he wasn’t sure what was.

He’d had nicer ones before, like that one night back on the farm when da had poured him a finger of his nice bottle and they’d sat up talking, a celebration of sorts, of da’s success at the cattle market earlier that week. One of those rare occasions that da was in a good mood. Oscar had been eleven at the time. But the drink was smooth, poured neat, in one of those shit dainty little glasses that ma kept up on the high shelf, the last two she hadn’t smashed yet. He remembers that his feet didn’t touch the ground as he swung his legs, sat at the kitchen table with da opposite him; the growth spurt hadn’t hit till he was thirteen.

He didn’t have a lot of fond memories of the farm, but he guessed if he had to pick one, this would be up there.

He took another swing from the bottle in front of him, he didn’t have any of those fragile little glasses that ma liked, so his hand was firmly around the neck of the bottle instead; his feet planted firmly on the uneven floorboards of Wiesel’s house. It was late, quiet without Morris yapping in his ear about everything and nothing - without da’s drunk ramblings about the farm and ma and finances that Oscar couldn’t make sense of - but upon returning to the house Morris had stripped off his sopping wet coat from the rain, chucked it over a kitchen chair, and headed to their room as soon as they got in, flipping him off over his shoulder as a goodnight before he slammed the bedroom door shut behind him.

The whiskey burned as Oscar swallowed another mouthful. Hopefully it would only take a few more swigs before he couldn’t taste it, before he would be numb to the burn and could pretend it was something pricey, like that one night with da. And like da always said;

What was the point in drinking if he wasn’t going to get drunk.

[bees--in-my--bones]

Silver Spoons - Terry Silver Part 2 of 7

Main Masterlist

Series Masterlist

Chapter 1 / -----

Character: Terry Silver x female reader

Summary: Time jump because I'm jumping back and forth with this series. I've got a plan and I think it makes sense. But back to the past where Terry and reader first meet. Like the 90s ish. After the events of kk3

Warnings: manipulation, some alcohol (but just casual drinking of, no drunkenness), mention of war (no detail), weapons, blood, warning for Terry Silver in general, fade to black scene, business majors

Word Count: 3600

A/N: This chapter has been written for a while but I just do not feel like my writing is doing him justice. I'm at the point where I have to post it so it'll stop haunting me tho. Lmk if you want to be on a taglist.

-----

"Really, Ms. L/N, he's been… incredibly insistent on meeting you," Dorothy said.

Terrence Silver.

That was the name that the file in front of you had read. You had only skimmed it before tossing it aside. “Dorothy, if we’re going to be partnering with anyone, it’s not going to be the disgraced head of Dynatox to advertise for his silly little startups. Is Dynatox even still active?”

Dorothy, an intern in her final year of college, who you had already set your sights on for full time PA, sighed and picked the file up herself, leafing through it. “Ms. L/N, it looks like the only two options at the moment are either Mr. Silver or Mr. Beckett. Anything else and we’d be pushing our limits too far. We simply don’t have the capacity to take on more than one additional major client at the moment. And yes, I believe it is still active, but on a much smaller scale.”

You shivered at Beckett’s name. “God, I hate that guy,” you said, leaning back into your chair. He was the owner of a high profile financial firm, and about as sleazy as they come. But the growth of his company was far more reliably linear than Silver's was. And although your father had left you a sizably large marketing company, you wanted more. Beckett was the safest option for expansion.

"Beckett would probably be a safer bet," said Dorothy echoing your thoughts, "but based on what we know of Mr. Silver, he has the potential to see some exponential growth in the next few years.”

"And the advertising firm that got him there would see the same growth," you said, leaning back in your chair.

Dorothy nodded.

You sighed. "Dorothy, do you know what my father's problem was?" you asked her.

"I can't say that I do, ma'am."

"He never took a single risk. Only safe bets. Which grew this company some, sure, but think of where we could be right now if he had taken a calculated gamble every now and then." You tapped your fingers on the table as you mused.

“So you want me to schedule a meeting with Mr. Silver then?” she asked.

“Can’t hurt to check him out. What do I have Thursday evening?”

She flipped through the pages on her clipboard, landing on her calendar. “You’re free. Tuesday and Wednesday nights as well.”

“Three days in a row, that’s a rare treat. Tell him Thursday, take it or leave it. If he really wants this then he’ll take it.”

“Yes ma’am,” she said. “Is that all?”

“For now,” you replied, and she was gone, no sooner had you said the words.

You picked up the file once more. If you were actually considering this, it couldn’t hurt to know as much about him as you could.

—--

And so Thursday evening came. Silver had sent a short reply to your acceptance.

Thank you for your time.

I’ll be by your office at 7. We can discuss details over dinner, my treat.

You had nearly laughed aloud when Dorothy read his response aloud to you. No doubt the domineering reply was in direct response to your insistence on the day. Contrary to what you first believed, Silver was going to be a challenge. Maybe even a fun challenge.

He came as promised, a long black limo pulling up outside your office building. You had dressed nicely, spent more time on your appearance than usual. First impressions were key.

As you walked down the steps of the building, you couldn’t help but be the tiniest bit relieved that most employees had gone home for the day. Maintaining your image was hard enough, you didn’t want to think about the impression that leaving the office for what very much looked like a date would leave.

The side door opened, and out stepped Silver himself, and so the game was afoot. You approached. He was taller than you thought he would be.

He outstretched his hand. “Terry Silver. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance Ms. L/N.”

You took it, shaking it firmly. “Likewise, Mr. Silver.”

“Please, Mr. Silver was my father. Call me Terry, I insist.”

“Then I must insist you call me Y/N.”

“Y/N.” He grinned. “Allow me to help you in, it’s a bit of a step.”

You only realized that your hand was still gripped in his just then, when he shifted his grip to help you into the car. Immediately, the pieces fell into place as you realized his plan, but you allowed him to help you regardless. You wouldn’t be charmed so easily.

You settled into a seat, and Terry followed close behind. With a quick rap of his knuckles on the driver’s window, you were off.

“It really isn’t that far of a drive,” he told you, “but if we’ve got to drive, I say we do it in style.”

You hummed slightly, an ambiguous sound that was close enough to agreement, without actually saying a word.

You couldn’t be sure, but you thought you saw him hesitate ever so slightly. Did he not think that you came prepared with games of your own? You wielded the power here, and you both knew that.

“It’s a nice place,” he went on, any previous hint of hesitation completely vanished. “I’m sure you’ll love it. I do prefer a more relaxing environment to chat business, don’t you?”

A direct question, a forced response. He adjusted quickly to his situation. Interesting. “I do. There’s far more to business than just meeting rooms, and I think you can learn a lot about your peers over a meal.”

He grinned again. “Good. That’s good. I hope we learn a lot about each other tonight."

"As do I."

There was silence for a short while, but not necessarily an uncomfortable one, then the car came to a halt. “What did I tell you?” he said. “Short drive.”

Quick as lightning, he was out of the car, offering his hand once more. “May I?”

You took his hand, accepting his assistance again, but dropped it as soon as you were standing on your own two feet.

The two of you entered the restaurant and were led to a private table. "For confidentiality," he had said with a wink.

You didn't talk business immediately, that would have been impolite. And small talk gave you a chance to get a handle on your opponent, see what he was thinking. Business deals were a battle after all, and Terry’s only hope of winning was proving to you that his once great company, now teetering between glory and ruination, had the potential to rise again, perhaps higher than it had before.

You were pleased to see that he seemed to think the same way, engaging with the small talk with a vivacity that you hadn't expected, but armed heavily with anecdotes and remarks that were absolutely riddled with reminders of how well he could do. A story of a successful business deal on his part. A small jab at a company that you had recently had a deal fall through with. You were impressed. He had clearly done his research.

Time passed rather quickly, with no talk of a deal. A waiter approached your table, bottle of wine in hand. "Allow me," Terry said, gesturing for the waiter to hand the bottle to him. He obliged and left the two of you alone.

Terry took your glass and filled it. "I've spent a lot of time in South Korea and Japan," he explained as he did. "To fill another's cup is a sign of respect, and I can't seem to break that habit here." He handed you your glass. "I simply wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t.”

“I’m aware of the tradition. Much appreciated,” you said, accepting the drink. “What led you to travel there?”

He smiled, a smile this time, not one of the enthusiastic grins he had been throwing your way all night. “Like most men at that time, the war.”

“You served?” That was a polite question. You already knew that he had, from your prior research.

Again, an almost imperceptible change in his demeanor, his smile falling ever so slightly. “Yes.”

He shook his head. “I apologize, we should be talking about things far happier than that.”

“That’s alright,” you said, still pondering the hairline fracture in his facade. “Thank you for your service.”

The grin returned. “You are most welcome. Now, have you decided what you wanted?”

—--

The rest of the evening passed by quickly, with not a word of a business deal. At first, true, the both of you were dancing around the subject, playing games and avoiding cutting to the chase, but eventually, you were talking like old friends, contracts far from your minds. At least, that’s how it was for you, but a certain air of lightness had come over Terry by the end of the night that you couldn’t help but think it was the same for him.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t like to be dropped off at home?” he asked you many hours later when you were back in the limo.

“No, thank you,” you replied. “I have some things I need to finish up at the office.”

“At this hour?”

You shrugged. “Duty calls.”

“It probably doesn't help that we didn’t get a lick of work done tonight,” he said.

You smiled, small but genuine. “That’s true. We’ll have to meet again.”

“Tomorrow night?”

“Booked. And I fly out to Denver for a conference this weekend.”

“I’ve got some time Monday.”

“I’ll have a lot of catching up to do after being gone all weekend. Does Tuesday work?”

“Tuesdays are no good.”

“Wednesday night?”

“I should be free.”

“Same time?”

“I can do that. Same place?”

“That works,” you said. “I’ll pick you up this time, and it’s on me.”

“Sounds fair to me,” he replied. “And it appears we are at our destination,”

The car rolled to a stop, and in a flash, Terry was holding the door open for the last time that night.

You exited the car. “Thank you, Terry. It was a nice night. We’ll have to actually talk business next time.”

“Of course. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

—--

Terry Silver stared at himself in the mirror.

He splashed cold water on his face.

He took down his ponytail and brushed out his hair, finding familiar comfort in the slight sting at his roots.

He had let his guard down around her, and it had shaken him to his core.

At some point tonight, the pretenses had fallen, his facade had dropped. He had no longer been playing the typical business game, he was just talking to her. The concept was almost foreign to him. And yet it seemed that the exact same thing had happened to her.

Even his time in the service, which usually he had no problem only mentioning casually, had somehow been different around her. It seemed to him that she had been able to decipher so much from so little, and as someone who usually had that effect on others, it unnerved him to be on the receiving end.

Had she said something? Done something that marked her as different than anyone else?

She was smart, he had to give her that. Maybe even as smart as he was. Was that why then? Perhaps, but the average businesswoman was always smarter than the average businessman, that was just the way things went.

But there was something about her. The carefully crafted words whenever she spoke. The subtle expression she wore, as mysterious in nature as the Mona Lisa, that told you nothing of what she was thinking.

Something in him wanted to break her. To push through her defenses, to get her barriers to crack. A genuine smile, a real laugh, a falling tear, or fiery anger. Something in him saw her as a challenge. Something in him wanted to win.

To beat her though, to triumph against her? Or to win her over, to have her for his own, this wily woman, this enigma? He couldn't tell.

—--

Time passed, much slower than you thought it would. The conference in Denver dragged on, and the first few days of the week were mind numbingly dull.

You, against your better judgment, found yourself eager to meet with Terry again. When you had told Dorothy to add another meeting with him to your calendar, she had seemed suspicious.

"Two meetings?" she had asked, an eyebrow raised. "Were you not able to work things out last night?"

You waved your hand dismissively. "We just had more to discuss than previously anticipated."

A small smile appeared on her face. "I take that it went a little too well."

"I said nothing of the sort."

"You don't have to," she said. "Are you planning on taking him on as a client then?"

You nodded. "Don't tell Beckett anything until the contract with Silver goes through, but I think so. Beckett's too content. Silver's got ambition, and unlike a lot of people, has the skill set to do something with it. I'll take that gamble."

"Even if he's tanked before?"

"Even if he's tanked before."

She nodded, and scribbled a note on her clipboard.

"Alright then, Ms. L/N. Anything else?"

"Not at the moment. And thank you Dorothy, I wouldn't have taken that meeting if it weren't for you."

That had been Friday morning, of course, and here you were, Wednesday night, feeling something far too close to nervousness for comfort.

The dinner went as smoothly as before. You made a point to get business out of the way at the beginning of the night. You both signed the contract your lawyers had drawn up, and just like that, Terry Silver was a client of L/N Legacy Marketing Group.

“To a long and fruitful partnership,” Terry said, raising his glass in a toast.

“Hear, hear,” you replied as you clinked your glasses together.

—--

You hadn't heard from Terry for a few weeks after that, not that you were counting. Your only correspondence had been between your respective assistants and legal departments, and you already had a team working on an ad campaign for one of his more prominent tech startups.

So needless to say, you were shocked when late one night, you were interrupted by a sharp knock at your office door. Snapping your head up, your eyes met Terry’s, who definitely was not scheduled to be in your office well after business hours.

"Can I help you, Mr. Silver?"

He raised an eyebrow, and you sighed.

"Can I help you, Terry?"

He leaned against the doorframe, his ascot becoming ever so slightly askew as he did. He straightened it. "I was thinking this morning," he began slowly, "that it's been quite a while since you and I have spoken. But I know you tend to work late…" He straightened and walked up to your desk. "I've heard bits and pieces from my assistant, but I'd really like an update straight from the source."

You swallowed thickly at his intense gaze, but didn't dare break eye contact. "Well, I'm not too hands on with it, but we've been considering expanding the target demographic-"

"Interesting," he said, quickly, not even allowing you to finish your sentence. "Why don't we discuss it further over dinner?"

This gave you a moment's pause. "I'm not dressed to go out," you offered up. A weak excuse and you knew it.

"Then I'll cook you something."

It was your turn to raise an eyebrow.

He laughed. "I have quite the home, if I do say so myself," he said. "I'll give you a tour of my collections after dinner."

"You're awfully confident, Terry Silver."

"You don't get this far if you aren't."

You shook your head. "Alright then. Give me a moment to pack up."

He grinned. "I'll be waiting outside."

He shut the door behind him as he left. The second it latched you quickly put your stuff away, then pulled the pocket mirror out of your drawer. You hastily fixed your appearance as best you could. When the initial adrenaline wore off, you found yourself staring into the mirror, not quite recognizing yourself. You were being ridiculous. No business partnership was worth this effort.

But you couldn't quite ignore the way your stomach twisted when you opened the door and walked outside.

—--

Terry wasn't lying. He did have quite the home. And he was a surprisingly excellent cook. Although you probably shouldn't have been surprised. There didn't seem to be anything that Terry was bad at.

He gave you a full tour of his home, telling you the history of every rare art piece on display. You found yourself hanging onto his every word.

Even more fascinating, though, was the weapons collection. Knives, swords, and various other sharp objects that you had no name for adorned the room. He took you over to one corner and lifted a particular dagger from its display.

"This is a tantō, traditionally worn by samurai. And one in this condition is worth quite a bit of money."

He held it out to you, looking at you expectantly.

Your eyes widened as you realized what he was saying, but gingerly took the blade into your hands as he nodded and pushed the knife slightly forward one again.

"It's beautiful," you said quietly.

You dragged your finger along the blunt edge of the blade, slipping by accident over the tip. You let out a soft “Oh!” of surprise as a small bead of blood pooled out of the nick in your fingertip.

Terry said nothing, seemingly entranced at the sight of your blood, slowly beginning to spill over the edge of your fingertip. Before you had realized the speed at which the blood was falling, a drop had spilled onto the floor. Terry took your hand in his.

“I’m sorry,” you said. He showed no signs of hearing you.

He raised your finger to his lips and gently put it in his mouth, tongue deftly swiping the blood away. You were too stunned to move, even as he released his grip, your hand dropping to your side.

Your breath became shallow as you realized just how close he was.

He brushed one hand over your cheek, his touch ghostlike and hesitant, as if he were holding himself back. “The things I would do to you,” he murmured, followed by a soft chuckle. There was a copper tinge to one of his front teeth.

You froze at his statement, and he lifted the dagger from your uninjured hand and set it back in its place.

He drew closer to you, piercing blue eyes not leaving yours, and you slowly backed away until your back hit the wall.

His arm rested against the wall behind you, leaving you effectively trapped. His face wasn't more than a few centimeters away.

"I'm not sure I know exactly what you're implying," you said, though you suspected that the hint of breathlessness in your voice told him the exact opposite.

"Oh, I think you do," he said, his eyes trained on your lips, and before you could think of a clever retort, his mouth captured yours.

The second it began, it was over. You swallowed thickly, tried to ignore the butterflies in your stomach and rush of heat in your face, and he looked at you expectantly. Seconds felt like hours as you tried to gather your thoughts.

"It's unprofessional," you finally breathed out.

"Then tell me to stop," His hand moved to rest on your waist.

"I'm doing you a favor by working with you," you reminded him. "You don't want to lose the chance I'm giving you."

"Then tell me to stop." His hand trailed lower, his fingers capturing the hem of your top, brushing faintly over the skin on your torso.

"I could ruin you," you said, struggling to keep your voice level. "Kick you while you're down. No investor would ever touch you again. It wouldn't be that hard."

"Then tell me. To stop." His voice was so low it was nearly a growl.

You said nothing.

For a long moment you stood there, silently, your breathing becoming harder and harder to keep even, before pushing yourself forward and planting your lips on his.

He broke the kiss, only for a moment, and you could feel his grin against your mouth. Not a second later he was kissing you once more.

It seemed to last both a lifetime and a millisecond, but eventually, regrettably, you had to come up for air. Terry was still grinning, and looking for all the world like he could have kept going for several more minutes. Judging by the firm torso you could feel beneath his shirt, he was in good enough shape that he quite possibly could have.

You were panting, he still had that smug grin on his face, and the both of you were clinging to one another like your lives depended on it. The second your chest stopped burning, you spoke.

"I don't want you to stop."

He took this as his cue, and soon the two of you were clumsily making your way out of the weapons room, stumbling into furniture and clawing at the walls in the brief reprises between kisses. Before you knew it, you were in his room, but you hardly had a moment to look around before the two of you were tangled in the sheets.

The night took a turn from there in a manner that could only be described as violent. Never, though, had the word violent had such pleasant connotations.

You had been right earlier in the evening. There really was nothing that Terry Silver was bad at.

-----

A/N: I'm sorry for another fade to black scene. cop out ending, i know. might happen again. idk. Also I need to think of a name for this beyond "Terry Silver Series" so I can post it on AO3. Could be all lana del rey vinyl about it and call it terrence loves you lmaooo

Chapter 1 / -----

[ethicalarcana]

Tarot// The Hermit at the Mental Gym

A quick Google search of how to become happier or improve mental health will often list “Time with friends” as a solution. For a shy person, this advice may not be sound. We are at the ninth card in the Major Arcana. Loneliness and shyness are not the primary issues this far in the hero's journey. More research is needed to get to the next card, The Wheel of Fortune. The next step towards release and growth is different for each person; to find our own unique solution, time alone and in study is needed.

A seeker may have to combine a variety of spiritual modalities or have a meditation and exercise practice that makes them both happy and emotionally available for others. A business owner may need to go against market trends after reviewing the sales data specific to their customers. They know that their research and approach must be homegrown. When a child is meant to perform for their parents academically and socially, she may look back on a life of empty achievements and repressed feelings. Pressure in family family begins so early and is so relentless, that many teens and young adults just need a break. If the adherence to family traditions and unspoken rules continues well into adulthood, we see family cut-offs and quiet quitting. The same is true for go-go-go social careers like sales, modeling, or acting. When the Hermit is alone it may feel like the first time they can think for themselves.

A life review can be the last-minute stopgap before a mental break or unfortunate change in personality. Taking a break from shopping, working and pandering can be awkward. You cannot question illusions while maintaining them. You can't quit drinking at the bar with the bros or gals. Sometimes turning a hobby into a new job requires are period of unemployment, when long hours can be dedicated to a start-up. Many people see this card as spiritual, and this is true. However, solitude is practical. Sitting with oneself is not mystical or strange, In times with less technology than we have now, there was time for a meandering walk to market or a person had to sit by a phone and wait for a phone call. Breaks in the day are less likely today. Mental health content creators seem to be begging others to sit with themselves and put down their phones. The irony of this is unavoidable.

The brain is an organ. This organ produces thoughts the way other organs secret hormones and fluids. A liver exhausted from processing alcohol, cannot break down toxins in food and medication. If a person is overindulgent, the toxins remain leaving a mark on appearance and health and even stressing other organs, triaging important maintenance. Similarly, when a person is flooded with toxic thoughts and experiences, the thinking organ becomes a coping organ. This coping may include fantasy, addiction, workaholicism, exhibitionism, bullying, or deading with sleep and drugs, These all can be interpretations of The Hermit card when drawn in reverse. Upright this card is about enjoying moments of peace and contemplation without being forced into exile.

Mental health and spirituality require a quality of time that resembles the happiness and wisdom we seek. When the profit goes up on the mountain to be alone, they remain their old selves on the ascent. Only at the pinnacle of their pilgrimage can the truth thinking become integrated into the personality. We have to become a person who practices mindfulness or take long hikes for many years before achieving sen status. This person is the Hermit. A life filled with odd habits and denied social engagement may seem cringe-y. This impulse away from the self is the real cringe. Life will allow bring us moments when we must work alone. Ironically. the ability to do this is crucial to fame and fortune. Think of Kobe Bryant practicing alone in a gym. Odd and compulsive to some, it was the only physical path to his greatness and he took it. The Hermit is happy without being satisfied and at rest during hours at the gym.

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

The <0.5 % ABV spirit is made with locally foraged rowan berries

Loch Lomond creates first non-alc spirit

Spirits producer Loch Lomond Group has entered the low-and-no market with a non-alcoholic botanical ‘spirit’ version of its Ben Lomond Gin.

The non-alcoholic botanical spirit, which has an ABV of less than 0.5%, is inspired by the full-strength Ben Lomond Scottish Gin and has a similar citrus and juniper-focused flavour profile.

Locally foraged rowan berries from Loch Lomond and the Trossachs are described as adding a ‘crisp bitterness’, while the sweetness of Scottish blackcurrants provide balance.

Its tasting notes see orange and pine on the nose, and sweet berries and rowan berries on the palate. The finish is said to bring citrus and berries to the fore with peppery spice.

It will debut at the 152nd Open golf championship, taking place at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Ayrshire between 18-21 July.

The spirit will be poured across bars at the championship and will also be available to purchase from the Ben Lomond Gin website for £22 (US$28).

John Grieveson, chief marketing officer of Ben Lomond Gin and its owner Loch Lomond Group, said: “Over the past few years, we’ve seen the trend towards more mindful consumption increasing. However, this doesn’t mean consumers should have to compromise on quality or taste.

“Ben Lomond Gin has always been passionate about giving people the freedom to explore, to drink wherever and however they choose. Our Non-Alcoholic Botanical Spirit is a delicious non-alcoholic gin alternative to be savoured anywhere you choose, ensuring you can fully embrace everyday adventure.

“We’re excited to debut this elevated option to the low and no-alcohol category at the 152nd Open at Royal Troon, where we look forward to hearing what gin enthusiasts and golf fans think of our new creation.”

Last year Loch Lomond Group created two limited edition whiskies and a gin for The Open. It has a partnership with the championship until 2028.

The gin Ben Lomond released for The Open this year – The Open 2024 Special Edition (43% ABV, £45/US$58) – was made with native botanicals hand-picked directly from Royal Troon, including tansy herb, elderberries and blackberry leaves.

The low-and-no space is developing at pace. IWSR data predicts the sector will rise by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6% from 2023 to 2027 in 10 key markets – and this will be driven by non-alcoholic products, rather than low-alcohol

By Rupert Hohwieler

Posted 15th July 2024

————————————

You are welcome to The Open ⛳ 🤗 The Perfect NON-ALCOHOLIC GIN ALTERNATIVE

NON-ALCOHOLIC BOTANICAL SPIRIT

Bold & Versatile

£22.00

#LochLomond #non-alcoholspirit #TheOpen #Spirits Business

Posted 17th July 2024

[likeadeuce]

would love to hear about "surplus if we need it" !

For Tag Game (see above):

"surplus if we need it" is the sequel to "Crosstown" (https://archiveofourown.org/works/51719059), my niche'iest fandom, based on the novel "Confidence," by Rafael Frumkin. Long story short, the MCs are 22 year old boyfriends, semi-closeted, and running an extremely disreputable stock market scam in the guise of a 'wellness startup.' Title comes from 'Riches & Wonders' by the Mountain Goats and is suitably on the nose. This fic exists for exactly 1-2 other people and Idk when it's getting finished but I have enjoyed writing it so:

I’d had a few drinks and my after-dinner edible was kicking in or I never would have said it, but I had and I did. “Are we ever going to do anything with all this money? Like, for us?”

“It’s all for us, buddy.  We’re not in it for charity.”  Orson didn’t look up from his laptop, where he’d been deep in a database of big-money donors to mental-health nonprofits. We had theorized it wouldn’t take much to get them to redirect some of their munificence to a couple fresh-faced boys with a shiny startup.  Doing good while doing well was in the zeitgeist in northern California in 2012, and Orson was good at riding a zeitgeist, regardless of the small detail that our shiny startup, did not and, if I understood the plan correctly, never would offer a useful product or service of any kind.

“I know.  I get it.  Our assets aren’t liquid.  We invest and we re-invest, we grow and we leverage our growth to expand our scale.”  I was the CFO.  It was my five-year plan.  The five-year-plan would turn into a ten year plan into a thirty-year-plan, once Orson had figured out the endgame.  The plans were mine but the endgame was his, and whenever I tried to talk to him about the endgame, he told me it was evolving.   Knowing that we had a future, however vague, was reassuring, but it was hard to think so far ahead all the time. “I’m not talking about five years from now, or once we get it all figured out.  We get to pay ourselves, and just once I’d like to pay ourselves enough to spend a week on a private beach sipping cocktails with umbrellas in them.”

Orson finally looked at me. He didn’t drink alcohol, though he basically never got judgmental when I did; he even liked having somebody who would taste whatever expensive whiskey or personal-branded tequila some potential investor wanted to impress us with.  “They can put an umbrella in a vegan smoothie for you, I promise.”  

That wasn’t it.  “You’ve never said you wanted something like that before,” he said.  “Do you think it would make you happy?”

I felt foolish.  I had given absolutely no thought to private beaches or fancy drinks before the words came out of my mouth. We’d lived in California for six months and driven to look at the Pacific Ocean exactly once.  It just popped in my head when I was trying to think of the kind of thing that people did when they had money and time.  “I guess not.”  I pulled my hoodie over my face.  “Never mind me.”

And he didn’t mind me, just looked back at the computer.  “What do you think Alliance for Healthy Kids does?  It’s like ten million dollars to get Nickelodeon stars to make ads telling kids to eat celery instead of potato chips.  Tell me that’s any less of a fucking scam than what we do.”

“Yeah, that’s pretty dumb.”  He didn’t notice me rocking on the couch, pulling my knees toward my chest, thinking that of course he was right, a vacation wasn’t going to make me happy.  I was supposed to be happy here, on the sun-soaked West Coast, making money with the man I loved.  We had all the sex we wanted, whenever we wanted, perfected each other’s schemes, finished each other’s sentences.  If I wasn’t happy here, what was there?

[kambaleprashant622]

RTD Cocktails Market - Growth Factors and Regional Forecast to 2030

RTD cocktails are ready-to-drink packaged drinks meant for direct consumption. The drinks include premixed beverages, mocktails, and spirit mixers. It is typically a mixed drink containing alcohol. The growing demand for flavored drinks with low alcohol content due to the rising health concerns is driving the market. Rising urbanization, growing trend of party culture, and changing consumer taste preferences are the factors driving the RTD cocktails market.

Social media is playing a crucial role in changing the lifestyles of people. Over the past few years, the number of social media users has increased dramatically, owing to the rising penetration of the internet and smartphones. Thus, major global manufacturers are showcasing their products on social media platforms to generate more revenue. For instance, Diageo plc, one of the prominent RTD cocktail manufacturers, stepped up its multi-million-dollar partnership with Facebook to market its products. Moreover, people are heavily influenced by social media influencers and celebrities and try to follow them. Brands benefit from the growing influence of social media and celebrities on people. Celebrities heavily promote RTD cocktails and are also getting involved in the businesses. For instance, Thomas Ashbourne Craft Spirits is the latest company to work with celebrities in order to build a brand image. Thus, the increasing influence of social media and celebrities on RTD cocktails is expected to bring new trends to the RTD cocktails market in the coming years.

A few players operating in the RTD cocktails market are Bacardi Limited, Beam Suntory Inc, Boulevard Brewing Co, Bully Boy Distillers LLC, Constellation Brands Inc, Cutwater Spirits LLC, Five Drinks Co, New Holland Brewing Co LLC, Post Meridiem Spirit Co, and The Crown Royal Co, among few others.

[av5525677]

RTD Cocktails Market - Growth Factors and Regional Forecast to 2030

RTD cocktails are ready-to-drink packaged drinks meant for direct consumption. The drinks include premixed beverages, mocktails, and spirit mixers. It is typically a mixed drink containing alcohol. The growing demand for flavored drinks with low alcohol content due to the rising health concerns is driving the market. Rising urbanization, growing trend of party culture, and changing consumer taste preferences are the factors driving the RTD cocktails market.

[ayurvedforhaircare]

A Comprehensive Guide to Naturally Preventing Hair Loss

Introduction : Hair loss can be a distressing experience, affecting both men and women of all ages. While there are numerous treatments and products available on the market, many people prefer to take a more natural approach to tackle this issue. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore a wide range of natural methods and remedies to help you prevent hair loss and promote healthy hair growth. From dietary changes to lifestyle adjustments and herbal remedies, we've got you covered with effective strategies that can make a real difference in maintaining your luscious locks.

Section 1: ( The Role of Nutrition ): A well-balanced diet is fundamental to healthy hair. Essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and proteins, play a crucial role in hair growth and strength. Incorporating the following elements into your diet can significantly reduce hair fall:

Protein: Hair is primarily composed of a protein called keratin. Ensure you have an adequate intake of lean proteins like eggs, fish, lean meats, and legumes.

Iron: Iron deficiency can lead to hair loss. Include iron-rich foods such as spinach, lentils, and red meat in your meals.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: These healthy fats found in fatty fish (like salmon and mackerel), walnuts, and flaxseeds can promote scalp health and hair growth.

Vitamins: Vitamins such as A, C, and E are essential for healthy hair. These can be found in foods like sweet potatoes, citrus fruits, and nuts.

Biotin: Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is crucial for hair health. It's found in eggs, nuts, and leafy greens.

Section 2: ( Proper Hair Care ) The way you care for your hair can have a significant impact on hair fall. Here are some natural tips for maintaining healthy hair:

Gentle Washing: Avoid frequent and aggressive hair washing, which can strip your hair of its natural oils. Wash your hair every 2-3 days with a mild, sulfate-free shampoo.

Scalp Massage: Regular scalp massages can improve blood circulation and stimulate hair follicles. Use natural oils like coconut or almond oil for added benefits.

Natural Hair Products: Opt for natural and chemical-free hair care products. Harsh chemicals in shampoos and conditioners can weaken hair over time.

Avoid Heat Styling: Reduce the use of heat styling tools like straighteners and curling irons. If you must use them, apply a heat protectant spray.

Wide-Toothed Comb: When detangling your hair, use a wide-toothed comb to prevent breakage.

Section 3: ( Lifestyle Changes ) Our lifestyle choices can have a profound impact on hair health. Making the following adjustments can contribute to preventing hair loss naturally:

Stress Management: Chronic stress can lead to hair loss. Practice stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises.

Adequate Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night. Sleep is essential for hair repair and growth.

Hydration: Stay well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Dehydration can make hair brittle and prone to breakage.

Smoking and Alcohol: Both smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can negatively affect hair health. Reducing or quitting these habits can benefit not only your hair but your overall well-being.

Physical Activity: Regular exercise can improve blood circulation, which is beneficial for hair follicles. Find an activity you enjoy and make it a part of your routine.

Section 4: ( Herbal Remedies and Supplements ) : Herbal remedies have been used for centuries to promote hair growth and prevent hair loss. Some popular options include:

Aloe Vera: Aloe vera gel can be applied to the scalp to reduce dandruff and promote hair growth.

Hibiscus: Hibiscus flowers and leaves are known for their hair-strengthening properties. You can make a paste and apply it to your scalp.

Fenugreek: Fenugreek seeds can be soaked overnight and made into a paste for scalp application. They help strengthen hair roots.

Saw Palmetto: This herbal supplement is believed to block the hormone responsible for hair loss (DHT) and is often used to combat hair loss in men.

Conclusion

Preventing hair loss naturally requires patience and consistency in implementing these strategies. Remember that results may vary from person to person due to genetics and other factors. By nourishing your body with the right nutrients, adopting a healthy lifestyle, and using natural hair care methods, you can reduce hair fall and promote a healthier, more vibrant mane. Embrace these natural remedies, and you'll be well on your way to enjoying stronger, more resilient hair.

[breweryjobs]

Exploring Brewery Jobs in the Non-Alcoholic Beer Industry: Opportunities and Techniques

Welcome to the fascinating world of brewery jobs in the non-alcoholic beer industry! As the beverage sector continues to evolve, the demand for non-alcoholic beers is on the rise. This growth has led to the creation of a wide range of new job opportunities for those passionate about the brewing process, marketing, sales, and much more. This article will provide an in-depth look at the non-alcoholic beer industry, the reasons behind its popularity, and the various brewery jobs available within this exciting sector.

The non-alcoholic beer industry has been steadily expanding in recent years, with numerous breweries choosing to focus on creating flavorful, high-quality beers that contain little to no alcohol. As a result, job seekers can find a wealth of opportunities within this sector, from positions at small, local breweries to roles at larger, international companies.

Non-alcoholic beer production is not just limited to the creation of traditional, malt-based beverages. The industry also encompasses a wide range of other innovative products, such as alcohol-free spirits, wine alternatives, and even cannabis-infused drinks. This diverse range of offerings means that there are many exciting and varied brewery jobs available within the non-alcoholic beer industry, making it an excellent career choice for those who are passionate about brewing and the beverage sector as a whole.

[researchanalystsblog]

Rise in urbanization, increased disposable income in developing countries, and surge in prevalence of diseases due to unhealthy lifestyle have boosted the growth of the global non-alcoholic drinks market

[oediex]

@dancinggrimm Interesting how you point towards agave used as a sweetener as being terrible for the environment, as opposed to agave in general, irregardless of its use. I've been trying to find if there is a difference in the effect on the environment based on what agave is used for, but I can't find anything. As far as I can see, agave syrup and tequila, for example, are generally made from the same part of the plant, so my common sense tells me there shouldn't be a difference in harvesting and thus no difference in its possible effect on the environment. But obviously I might be wrong about that. I'd love to know if you have any sources why agave used as a sweetener is bad for the environment in a way that it is not in the case of, for example, agave used for making tequila. (Apologies if I misinterpreted your sentence there, maybe you didn't mean to point to agave only when it is used as a sweetener, but that is, I think, a fair interpretation of your text. And therefore prompts me to provide the following information.)

The reason I'm asking about this: if there is no difference, then singling out agave as a sweetener, and pointing towards people who are cutting out sugar or who are vegan, seems kind of random to me. I tried to find some numbers as to how much of yearly agave harvest is used for which agave-based products, but unfortunately couldn't find any. However, there does seem to be a consensus that the main driver of agave demand is tequila.

However, the main driver of agave demand is alcohol. (...) distilled agave spirits are now consumed worldwide. Tequila, which is made only from the blue agave, is the most popular. A smokier kind of agave spirit, mezcal, is made from a wider range of agave varieties, some wild-collected and some cultivated. (...) The explosion of artisanal tequilas has contributed to rapid growth in the tequila market, with sales nearly quadrupling since 2002. Mezcal is also booming in popularity: Imports to the US surged 50% in 2019, overtaking consumption in Mexico itself.

From Salon.com (my emphasis)

In fact, rising demand of tequila in 2020 meant there was also an agave shortage, hiking up prices of agave. (Forbes.com)

On top of that, it appears that you need more agave to make 1 litre of tequila than 1 litre of agave nectar.

Traditional processes require approximately 7 kilos of agave to create 1 liter of tequila

From Tastetequila.com (my emphasis).

They note that this is different when tequila producers use diffusers, "commonly used to create agave nectar" (my emphasis), which drops the needed agave down to "3.3 kilos to produce the same amount." Another number I found for agave syrup/nectar is just a bit higher than the latter, but significantly lower than the former, with "around 4.7 kg of piña to make 1 liter of syrup". (spiritedagave.com, my emphasis) (I don't know if the difference between the former numbers and this latter one is affected by it specifying the amount of piña rather than agave. It might be.)

This means that tequila is not only the most likely product created with agave (to a large amount), it also requires more agave to make the exact same amount, creating even more demand. And I think it speaks for itself that a person who uses both products is probably more likely to drink more litres of tequila than use litres of agave in their lifetime. I don't really drink/use either anymore, but have in the past and I can say that this is at least anecdotally correct in my case. But I think it speaks to common sense as well.

This means that singling out agave syrup/agave nectar when the biggest use of agave is tequila (with a "rising demand" indeed) seems a bit disingenuous to me, unless there is indeed a difference in the cost to the environment, but again, I couldn't find anything about that online. In fact, most articles talking about the environmental cost of agave make the link with tequila, rather than with agave syrup. Would love to hear if I'm missing something here.

I did find this blog post that talks about the environmental impact of agave nectar, and doesn't mention any other agave-based product, but it is a culinary blog post, so it makes sense that they would be focusing on the sweetener that might be used in cooking and baking, rather than something like tequila which one primarily drinks. They mention water and land use as being the two most important concerns, and obviously these concerns would also apply to agave plants being grown for other uses such as tequila. They also go into the sustainable farming practices and responsible water and land management practices that can be adopted to make the production of agave more sustainable, and from my limited searching online, it is clear that a lot of work is being put into making the production of agave more sustainable, so that's great to see.

As for your comments on honey.

Is honey from honey farms eco-friendly? A bit of searching online unfortunately suggests the opposite. First of all, domesticated bees competing with wild pollinators is detrimental for the latter:

Harvesting honeybees increases the number of bees in an area, but because these domesticated bees compete with other native bee species, flower resources become limited and can eventually cause other bee species to die out, according to the University of Cambridge. Different bee species target specific flowers, and so a balance of honeybees and other species is essential in the long–term survival of plant and insect species.

From livescience.com (my emphasis)

Here's another source saying the same:

Honeybee hives aren't natural, and they don't help the environment. In fact, they may harm it. There are thousands of bee species. Almost all of them live in the wild, hiding away in the ground or in odd cavities, like hollow plant stems. They play a vital role in the ecosystem, pollinating flowering plants. Many are in peril; some species have disappeared.

When flowers are abundant, there is plenty of pollen for both honeybees and their wild cousins. But in many landscapes, or when an orchard stops blooming, farmed honeybees can compete with wild bees for food, making it harder for wild species to survive. Basically, a healthy environment needs bees — but not honeybees, Geldmann says. This week, he published a commentary in the journal Science trying to spread the word to a wider audience. "The way we're managing honeybees, in these hives, has nothing to do with nature conservation," he says. Scientists who study bees already understand this. But they struggle with how to talk to the public about it.

From NPR.org (my emphasis)

Now your claim of course, isn't that there are no environmental impacts to honey. Rather, you say that honey is "more eco-friendly" than alternatives like agave syrup/nectar. I honestly couldn't find any information on a comparison, but given that there are great strides being made in making the production of agave more sustainable, and it is talk about quite a lot, and my seeing no such efforts being done when it comes to farming honey from bees ("scientists already understand this" but "struggle with how to talk to the public about it" certainly doesn't sound like the message has come through yet), I would be surprised if long-term farmed honey is more environmentally friendly than its plant-based alternatives. Happy to be proven wrong, though.

As for "properly managed hives not actually changing the bees' lives".

The first problem with this is that most farmed bee hives are not properly managed. (Obviously it's difficult for me to know what you understand for a hive to be properly managed so I'm going to base my interpretation on what is common sense. What I have seen people advocate for when talking about honeybees in the past.)

Let's say, for example, that a properly managed bee hive means that not all the honey, that the bees have worked hard for in order to get through the winter, is taken. Let's say only the excess honey is taken. Does that "not change the bees' lives"?

To produce the honey found in supermarkets, beekeepers harvest the honey made from bees in artificial hives. This process is a widely debated topic. How does keeping bees impact honey production, the environment and the bees themselves?  Bees can produce more honey than they need to sustain their colony over the winter period, according to the Journal of Agricultural and Food Information. So, many beekeepers believe that using the excess for human benefit causes little harm to the bees’ welfare. Others claim that the bees are overworked as they have to make up extra volumes of honey to replace what’s taken, according to the Journal of Environmental Law and Litigation. In addition, when bees’ honey is taken and replaced with a sugar alternative, bees aren’t getting the same nutrition as wild honeybees.

From livescience.com (my emphasis)

Seems there isn't a consensus on this. I don't know about you, but having to work harder to replace what is taken doesn't, in my book, mean the bees' lives aren't changed. And of course, if the beekeeper misjudges how much honey to take, then they will have to provide another food source to get the bees through the winter, which, as specified, is nutritionally not as sound as the honey itself. That, to me, sounds like a significant change to their lives.

So, how common is it to not take all the honey from a beehive? And how often are bees presented with a less nutritious substitute for their honey?

In some practices, only a modest amount of honey will be harvested, leaving enough honey for the entire colony to feed on throughout winter. On a commercial level, bee farms, will remove all of the honey and substitute it with sugar for the bees to eat. Sugar isn’t as nutritious for the bees as honey — it could cause a decline in productivity and overall well-being. These practices only exist because of human consumption and demand. This doesn’t mean that people should never harvest honey. Instead, opt for organic or locally produced honey rather than commercially produced. Not only will it be better for the bees, but it will also reduce your footprint on the environment.

from beehivehero.com (my emphasis)

I think it's fair to say that most people who buy honey, probably buy honey that is commercially reproduced. I'd say that means most beehives are not properly managed. That's a lot of bees' lives being changed on a regular basis.

Secondly, I think it's quite obvious from the way in which bee farming is done in practice that the bees aren't happy with us taking their honey.

As you might imagine having all that honey and resources will make you a target. Honey bees have to be ready to defend their stash of honey from any honey-loving bears, badgers, or other large animals that might want to satisfy their sweet tooth. How do bees do this? They usually do not bite. Instead they sting. Honey bee workers will sting to protect their sisters and colony from danger. Honey bee worker stingers are barbed. These barbs allows the stinger to remain in the victim and continue to pump venom at the site of the sting. However this barb also means the stinging bee will likely damage its body and internal organs and later die.

from askabiologist.asu.edu (my emphasis)

Beekeeping essentials include:

Beekeeping Suit: You’ll need a protective suit made of thick fabric, like canvas, to cover your body and mask before opening a beehive. This comes with a beekeeper’s hat and veil to protect your head and face. Smoker: A smoker is a handheld metal device with a bellow filled with combustible material. It helps to create smoke which will calm the bees and prevent them from attacking.

from beekeepingtrove.com (my emphasis)

Sure sounds like the bees lives aren't being changed, being pushed back into their hives because a sudden rise of smoke anytime the beekeeper has to engage with their hive 👍

Lastly, a naturally occurring event in the life of a beehive is swarming. It’s natural behaviour aimed at reproduction and the forming of new colonies. It’s basically, very roughly, a bee colony splitting in two. Part of the bees' lives, one might say. And beekeepers will do what they can to avoid it from happening. How? Well, one way beekeepers can prevent swarming, is by clipping the wings of the queen. Not life-altering at all, right?

I am all for protecting the continued existence of these bats, whether the agave is used for agave syrup/nectar or tequila. I am also a big fan of making sure that our practices do not harm the environment, and that includes in the production and harvest of agave.

But I think, and I would hope that you and anyone would agree, that the information we provide in order to make that happen is accurate. I am always in search of the truth and will change my mind and actions accordingly if I have what appears to be a faulty belief.

So if there is anything that I have missed, in terms of the harvesting of agave plants for agave syrup vs. tequila, I would love to know about it. Apart from spreading accurate information, I am also hugely eager to learn. I love acquiring knowledge, you know? Just for the sake of it. So let me know!

At least do the sky puppies right.