Trade Summit Brings Supply Chain and Distribution Leaders Together
The Daily Pour, founded by entrepreneur and TV personality Dan Abrams, has announced an expansion of its Drinks with Benefits (DWB) festival to a two-day event beginning September 16th in New York. The inaugural 2025 festival drew over 1,000 attendees and 70+ sponsors, prompting the organizers to scale the event as consumer interest in nonalcoholic and functional beverages continues to grow.
The expanded format includes the DWB Summit on September 16th—a select gathering for trade professionals, founders, and investors—followed by a full public festival on September 17th at the Altman Building. The Summit features panel discussions on entrepreneurship, capital raising, retail strategy, and the evolution of wine occasions, with confirmed speakers including Bill Shufelt of Athletic Beer, Laura Taylor of Mingle Mocktails, and Brian Rosen of Investbev.
Market Data Signals Distribution and Manufacturing Opportunities
The expansion comes as consumer attitudes toward alcohol shift measurably. According to data cited in the announcement, 1 in 3 adults now identify as mindful drinkers, 55% of Millennials and 63% of Gen Z actively moderate alcohol intake, and 47% of consumers are replacing alcohol with functional drinks on certain occasions. These metrics underscore the category's growth trajectory for distributors and manufacturers looking to expand their nonalcoholic product lines.
"We're witnessing one of the biggest cultural shifts in how people drink," Dan Abrams said. "Consumers today want options that fit their lifestyle, whether that's a glass of wine or now more than ever, a high quality alcohol free drink. Drinks with Benefits was built to celebrate that shift and give people a place to explore it in a way that's fun, delicious and genuinely exciting."
Festival Features Brand Showcasing and Networking
The September 17th consumer event includes a Tasting Gallery showcasing nonalcoholic brands such as Tom Holland's Bero, Oddbird, and Ayrloom; a curated culinary experience with plant-based dishes and cheese pairings; a "sober rave" called Rhythms Lounge; a mixology lab for zero-proof cocktail creation; a wellness sanctuary with guided meditation; and a contemporary art show.
DWB Summit seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis to trade professionals and founders. Consumer tickets for the September 17th festival are available through the event website.
Strategic Value for Distributors and Manufacturers
For beverage distributors, manufacturers, and supply chain professionals, the DWB Summit provides direct market intelligence on emerging nonalcoholic brands gaining consumer traction, peer networking with other players scaling NA portfolios, and exposure to capital-backed founders and investors. The event positions itself as a venue to understand category momentum, identify partnership and distribution opportunities, and assess competitive positioning in the rapidly expanding functional and nonalcoholic beverage segment.
For more insights and trends in the food and beverage sector, check out more articles in The Food & Beverage Magazine family of publications.
Written by FBM Publications Editors
