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The Future Laboratory and Bacardi investigate cocktail culture in 2025

2025 Bacardi Cocktail Trends Report in collaboration with The Future Laboratory

UK – Bacardi, in collaboration with The Future Laboratory, has released its cocktail trend report for 2025, forecasting a transformative year for the spirits industry and cocktail culture. Following the introspective trends of 2024, next year will be defined by embracing uncertainty, exploring new ideas and fostering optimism.

Consumers are reshaping drinking culture with more intentional values, driving innovation in areas such as flexitarian consumption, which redefines the NoLo (no- and low-alcohol) category. Post-party drinking preferences are carving new rituals, while sustainability takes centre stage as brands align with eco-conscious mindsets. These shifts mark a move from evolution to outright transformation in the spirits industry.

Martin Raymond, co-founder of The Future Laboratory, describes the era as one of ‘people-driven cocktail culture’, emphasising innovation and experience rooted in social connection. As people demand more meaningful engagement, the drinks industry is poised to lead by example, redefining priorities and sparking cultural recalibration. You can download the full report here.

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Looking to accelerate leadership thinking and identify new sector opportunities with a bespoke report? Get in touch with a member of our team at [email protected]

LG Display unveils world’s first stretchable display with 50% expandability

LG Display, South Korea

South Korea – LG Display has achieved a major milestone in display technology with the launch of the world’s first stretchable display, capable of expanding by up to 50%. The breakthrough was unveiled on 8 November 2024 at LG Science Park in Seoul during a meeting of more than 100 South Korean stakeholders from industry, academia and research.

The innovative display features a 12-inch screen that stretches to 18 inches while maintaining a high resolution of 100ppi and full RGB colour. By using advanced materials such as a special silicon substrate and micro-LED light sources, the display boasts durability to withstand over 10,000 stretches in extreme conditions, making it a game-changer for industries including fashion, wearables and automotive.

Among the applications showcased was a wearable display for firefighters that delivers real-time data and an adaptive automotive panel. ‘We aim to build a sustainable future display ecosystem through collaboration with South Korean industry and research leaders,’ said Soo-young Yoon, CTO of LG Display.

This development solidifies LG Display’s leadership in next-generation displays, positioning the company to define new possibilities in technology design.

In our macrotrend report Home States Futures: Residential Retail we discuss how brands are creating new innovative smart devices that enhance entertainment experiences and offer people escapism from the comfort of their sofas.

Strategic opportunity

Create customisable smart devices or displays that can twist and stretch, enhancing user engagement and interactive experiences

New research finds that cannabinol significantly improves sleep

Paseo, Austin, US. Photography by Charlie McKay, UK

Australia – Researchers from the University of Sydney’s Lambert Initiative have found new evidence supporting cannabinol (CBN) as an effective sleep aid.

Unlike its well-known counterparts THC and CBD, CBN – a lesser-known cannabinoid – demonstrated significant improvements in NREM and REM sleep in animal studies.

Monitoring sleeping rats’ brain patterns, the research revealed CBN’s ability to increase total sleep time without intoxication. It showed comparable effects to zolpidem (sold under the brand name Ambien) without the sedative’s side effects, such as drowsiness or sleepwalking. This positions CBN as a promising treatment for insomnia, particularly for patients struggling with sustaining sleep.

In our Cannabis Market Update, we analysed the growth of the cannabis-derived food and beverage sector. This new research marks a milestone in cannabis-based medicine and will likely lead to the development of cannabinol Sleep Enhancement supplements.

Strategic opportunity

These findings pave the way for refined research into CBN and human trials. How can your brand harness cannabinoid innovations to disrupt sleep health markets?

Stat: Teens face weekly exposure to conspiracy theories

Pinterest, US

US – A study by the News Literacy Project reveals that teens encounter conspiracy theories on their social media feeds at least once a week, yet most schools fail to offer media literacy education. The report, based on responses from more than 1,000 teens aged 13 to 18, highlights that many young people struggle to differentiate between factual and false information online.

The findings come amid a growing flood of online misinformation targeting teens, making the need for media literacy instruction more urgent than ever. Eight in 10 teens on social media say they see posts that spread or promote conspiracy theories, but the frequency of their exposure varies: 20% of teens report seeing these posts in their feeds daily, 31% report seeing them weekly and 29% report seeing them less than once a week. As misinformation proliferates, educators and policymakers must act to equip the next generation with the tools to navigate today’s complex media landscape.

‘News literacy is fundamental to preparing students to become active, critically thinking members of our civic life,’ says Kim Bowman, senior research manager at the News Literacy Project and author of the report. Without these skills, Bowman warns, teens face lifelong disadvantages in civic engagement and personal decision-making.

Read how Gen Z and their parents are re-evaluating their relationship with technology in response to its toxic and addictive nature in our Teens, Tech and Tapping Out report.

Strategic opportunity

Ensure your content is verified and work with social media platforms to develop features that help users identify misleading content, such as fact-checking pop-ups or verified information badges