A growing number of South Africa’s Millennials or Generation Y consumers have started to consider sparkling wine their alcoholic beverage of choice.

Alcohol consumption is socially acceptable for individuals of legal drinking age. However, drinking during pregnancy is harmful and can lead to irreversible foetal cognitive and developmental issues. These are collectively known as foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

We often read that a glass of wine is actually good for you. That wine “lifts your mood” and relaxes you.

South Africa’s food and beverage industry in 2020 was worth around R43.6-billion, according to data from Statistics South Africa, but that was down from income of R71.4-billion in 2019 – an indication of the devastating toll taken by lockdown restrictions that began in March last year.