Becoming a country of party poopers.Alcohol sales as a whole are declining.
In 2025, 54% of Americans reported drinking alcohol, the lowest level in the past 86 years, according to Gallup’s annual Consumption Habits Survey. The decline coincides with recent research indicating that any level of alcohol consumption could have a negative effect on a person’s health, according to a Gallup newsletter.
The drop in alcohol consumption is most pronounced among young adults, with the decline accelerating in recent years, Gallup reports. In 2023, 59% of people between 18 and 34 reported drinking alcohol; in 2025, that had fallen to 50%.
Offline Cocktails preparing to tap into growing ready-to-drink beverage market - Business Record
The power button symbol in Offline Cocktails’ logo nudges consumers to step away from their screens and instead, spend quality time with family and friends. That’s the message Matt and Jodi Schweiger want to convey with their startup, a $4.5 million canned cocktail and mocktail business they are...www.businessrecord.com
I don’t think that west o is big enough to pull something like that off. Plus I think to be successful in a place like this, you need a real food menu. Taprooms that sell pretzels and flatbread pizzas aren’t going to make it.
I remember when Iowa started getting Olive Gardens and it was like THE place to go... 26 years ago.
I was about to say something like this, an established brand with a few locations where they can come in and get going from the start serving lots of folks. A restaurant/pub that isn't some generic national brand but something regional.
If Ames put in a Tom's and it's anything like the one in Denver... expect $9 beer night every night!
One of the main owners/ operators (Dan Blum) is from Ames, but went to the U of I for business school. It wouldn't be shocking given his connection to Ames and presence in Ankeny (think he's involved with at least one more bar there).
My son is at Iowa State. He drinks Coors Bangyet or Guiness.
His dad just retired from the Ames downtown Fareway after 48 years. Great family!
Sounds like you raised him well. Any kid who enjoys creamy pints of Guinness knows good beer.
I could live off those two beers the rest of my life and be a happy man.
Is the Iowa Athletic Club a bar/restaurant? I feel like I saw something on social media about it once.
