As bars and restaurants see a growing sect of consumers abstaining from alcohol beverages, operators are getting creative with their drink menus in order to encourage consumers to visit the establishment but for an alcohol-free evening.

As the beverage industry progresses, a cocktail isn’t just a cocktail and a bartender isn’t just a bartender anymore.

Philadelphia-based Mingle Sparkling Mocktails launched four flavors: Mingle’s Cranberry Cosmo, Moscow Mule, Blackberry Hibiscus Bellini and Melon Mojito.

The start of the new year is when many people re-evaluate their eating and drinking habits. That mindset also seemed to resonate with the readers of Beverage Industry when they were casting their votes for the Readers’ Choice New Product of the Month poll for December 2017.

As the new year begins, it seems to be the right time to highlight what food and beverage trends are expected to resonate, particularly as several research firms have released predictions of what will shape the industry.

Mingle Sparkling Mocktails now offers its self-titled non-alcohol cocktails. 

7UP, a brand of Plano, Texas-based Dr Pepper Snapple Group, announced its partnership with Trisha Yearwood, the three-time Grammy Award-winning country star, New York Times best-selling cookbook author and host of the Emmy-winning “Trisha's Southern Kitchen” on Food Network.

Lakeville-Middleboro, Mass.-based Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. introduced Ocean Spray Mocktails. Mocktails are premium non-alcohol juice drinks made with real fruit juice and inspired by popular cocktails, the company says.

Stolen Fruit introduced a line of wine-inspired cocktail and mocktail mixers. 

Suffolk, U.K.-based Treatt revealed this summer’s hottest drink trends based on its latest independent research. Melons, blossoms, garden goodies and sophisticated mocktails are among the trending drink options the research found.