An alcopop (or cooler) is any of certain mixed alcoholic beverages with relatively low alcohol content (e.g., 3–7% alcohol by volume), including:
- Malt beverages to which various fruit juices or other flavorings have been added
- Wine coolers: beverages containing wine to which ingredients such as fruit juice or other flavorings have been added
- Mixed drinks containing distilled alcohol and sweet liquids such as fruit juices or other flavourings[1]
The term alcopop (a portmanteau of the words alcohol and pop) is used commonly in the United Kingdom and Ireland to describe these drinks.[2] In English-speaking Canada, "cooler" is more common but "alcopop" may also be used. Other terms include flavored alcoholic beverage (FAB), flavored malt beverage (FMB),[3] "pre-packaged" or "premium packaged" spirit (PPS). In Australia and New Zealand "premix" and ready to drink (RTD) are both commonly used terms. "Malternative" is an exclusively American term for the malt-based alcopops.[citation needed] "Spirit cooler" is used in South Africa for distilled alcohol versions.
Hard seltzer is a related category of alcoholic drinks based on flavored seltzer water. Hard soda, meanwhile, is specifically related to soft drinks. Hard lemonade, which could be considered an alcopop, has been around for some time. Hard cider, on the other hand, is a fermented beverage similar to wine or beer.
- ^ SB1625, Illinois General Assembly 1977 Archived 2008-12-05 at the Wayback Machine (Amendment to The Liquor Control Act of 1934, Section 6-35; 235 ILCS 5/6-35)
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-11. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "California Board of Equalization. Flavored Malt Beverages, 2005" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-17. Retrieved 2007-10-19.