How Much Alcohol In Mike’S Hard Lemonade?

Mike’s Hard Lemonade Lemonade Noun. limonade f (plural limonades) lemonade; a serving of lemonade. a soda with a hint of lemon flavoring with sugar that is popular in France; a serving of this soda. https://en.wiktionary.org › wiki › limonade

limonade – Wiktionary

(and its tasty flavors) contain 5% alcohol content. Conversely, as the name suggests, Mike’s Harder Lemonade has a ‘harder’ alcohol content at 8%.
Print. Mike’s flavors contain 5% alcohol.

Will 2 mikes hard lemonade get you drunk?

How much Mike’s Hard Lemonade before you start to feel drunk? – The number of Mike’s Hard Lemonades it takes to become drunk might vary depending on a number of factors, including your body weight, alcohol tolerance, and whether or not you’ve had any food prior.

However, most people would usually have to down many bottles of Mike’s Hard Lemonade rapidly in order to get intoxicated. Binge drinking is defined as having four or more drinks for women and five or more for men in a period of two hours by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

For a person weighing around 150 pounds, this is comparable to about four bottles of Mike’s Hard Lemonade over the course of two hours. However, remember that each person’s physiology is different, and some people may feel drunk after ingesting fewer drinks than this.

Is Mike’s Hard Lemonade stronger than beer?

What Kind Of Alcohol Is In Mike’s Hard Lemonade? – I’m sure you’ve heard of Mike’s Hard Lemonade, but do you know what kind of alcohol is in it? Well, the answer to that question is a malt beverage. Mike’s Hard Lemonade contain s 5% alcohol by volume (ABV). This puts it at a slightly higher ABV than traditional light beers and lagers.

1. The malt beverages used in Mike’s Hard Lemonade are fermented from grain-based ingredients like barley, corn, rice, and wheat.
2. These malt beverages also contain added flavors, such as natural lemon flavorings.
3. All these factors combine to give this popular adult beverage its unique taste and refreshing aroma.

So now, when someone asks you what kind of alcohol is in Mike’s Hard Lemonade, you can proudly say, “malt beverages!”

Is there vodka in Mike’s Hard Lemonade?

Our Review – Mike’s Hard Lemonade may be a punchline in the drinks world, but the brand’s success is no joke. After launching a blend of vodka, natural juices, and soda water in Canada in 1996, the company jumped stateside in 1999 and swapped out the vodka for a malt base.

1. In fact, the spiked lemonade was one of the very first products in the ready-to-drink category, which has since grown leaps and bounds thanks to hard seltzer, leaving many others to flounder while Mike’s has managed to innovate and stay relevant.
2. Today, the brand has added different flavors to its lineup and is pushing firmly into the seltzer market on top of the iconic lemonade that made it famous.

But despite two decades of solid sales numbers, there isn’t a joke about Mike’s Hard Lemonade that hasn’t been written already. The brand has never shied away from its product’s allure to people who don’t actually like the taste of alcohol, and the unabashedly sweet and citrusy drink has a reputation in many circles as the beverage of choice for underage drinkers in the U.S.

• Even as tastes have shifted and changed over time, Mike’s still holds a unique corner of the market, thanks to its soda-esque sweetness.
• Among today’s hard seltzers, which offer plenty in the way of watery artificial flavors, this sparkling lemonade indeed stands out more than it has in decades.
• You may never dream of handing a bottle to someone who grew up with the stuff, but getting someone to try one for the first time would likely elicit more pleasantly surprised reactions than anyone would be willing to admit.

In most cases, Mike’s Hard Lemonade will probably retain its position as the training wheels of the alcoholic beverage world, but it might also make sense in situations where a refreshing, crowd-pleasing canned cocktail would work, such as an outdoor party or by the pool.

Will a Mike’s Hard get me drunk?

Mike’s comes in the regular which is 5%ABV, and the Mike’s Harder, which is 8% ABV. Either one will get you drunk if you drink enough of them, but they are loaded with sugar (in addition to the alcohol which metabolizes to sugar).

Is Mike’s Hard Lemonade vodka or tequila?

What Liquor Goes Well In Lemonade? – Picture source: pinimg.com When it comes to making a delicious and refreshing summertime lemonade, there are a variety of liquors that can be added for a tasty twist. If you’re looking for a light and citrusy addition, then vodka is a great choice. Gin can also be added for a slightly herbaceous flavor.

1. For a more intense flavor, you could try adding whiskey or even dark rum for a more tropical taste.
2. Tequila is another great option for a unique and complex flavor.
3. No matter which liquor you choose to add to your lemonade, it’s sure to be a tasty treat! Mike’s Hard Lemonade has found a home in the drinks world, but it has not relented from its popularity.

The company, which was founded in 1996 with a combination of vodka, natural juices, and soda water, has grown to become one of Canada’s most successful businesses. Mike’s Hard Lemonade has become a popular party beverage in the United States since 1999, when the company switched to a malt-based formula.

How much 8% alcohol does it take to get drunk?

What is the clinical utility of the “heavy drinking day” metric? – Knowing what counts as a heavy drinking day —4 or more drinks for women and 5 or more for men—can be clinically useful in two ways. First, brief screening tools recommended by the U.S.

Preventive Services Task Force—such as the AUDIT-C and the NIAAA single alcohol screening question—ask about heavy drinking days.24 (See Core article on,) These tools allow you to identify the patients who need your advice and assistance to cut down or quit. Second, when offering advice to patients who drink heavily, you may help motivate them to cut back or quit by sharing that having no heavy drinking days can bring marked improvements in how they feel and function.25 In studies, the gains were strong enough to prompt the FDA to accept no heavy drinking days as a positive outcome in alcohol treatment trials, in addition to the outcome of abstinence, the safest route.26 (See the Core article on,) It also helps to be aware of the typical weekly volume, because the more frequent the heavy drinking days, and the greater the weekly volume, the greater the risk for having AUD.27 (See Core article on,) In closing, to gauge how much alcohol is too much for patients, you will need to look at their individual circumstances and assess the risks and health effects.

At one end of the spectrum, any alcohol is too much for some patients, as noted above. At the other end, patterns such as heavy and binge drinking are clearly high risk and should be avoided. In the zone in between, for people who choose to drink, current research indicates the less, the better.8, 9 Other Core articles will help you to for heavy drinking, identify possible of alcohol use, for signs of AUD, and conduct a to guide patients in setting a plan to cut back or quit if needed.

Absorption and distribution. When alcohol is consumed, it passes from the stomach and intestines into the bloodstream, where it distributes itself evenly throughout all the water in the body’s tissues and fluids. Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach increases the rate of absorption, resulting in higher blood alcohol level, compared to drinking on a full stomach.

In either case, however, alcohol is still absorbed into the bloodstream at a much faster rate than it is metabolized. Thus, the blood alcohol concentration builds when a person has additional drinks before prior drinks are metabolized. Metabolism. The body begins to metabolize alcohol within seconds after ingestion and proceeds at a steady rate, regardless of how much alcohol a person drinks or of attempts to sober up with caffeine or by other means.

Most of the alcohol is broken down in the liver by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). ADH transforms ethanol, the type of alcohol in alcohol beverages, into acetaldehyde, a toxic, carcinogenic compound. Generally, acetaldehyde is quickly broken down to a less toxic compound, acetate, by aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH).

Acetate then is broken down, mainly in tissues other than the liver, into carbon dioxide and water, which are easily eliminated. To a lesser degree, other enzymes (CYP2E1 and catalase) also break down alcohol to acetaldehyde. Although the rate of metabolism is steady in any given person, it varies widely among individuals depending on factors including liver size and body mass, as well as genetics. Some people of East Asian descent, for example, carry variations of the genes for ADH or ALDH that cause acetaldehyde to build up when alcohol is consumed, which in turn produces a flushing reaction and increases cancer risk.28–30 People of other races and ethnicities can also carry variations in these genes.6 Blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

• Alcohol Metabolism
• Resources to Share with Patients Related to this Article
• More resources for a variety of healthcare professionals can be found in the,

1. Dawson DA, Li TK, Grant BF. A Prospective Study of Risk Drinking: At Risk for What? Drug Alcohol Depend,2008;95(1-2):62-72. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2007.12.00
2. Kerr WC, Stockwell T. Understanding standard drinks and drinking guidelines. Drug Alcohol Rev,2012;31(2):200-205. doi:10.1111/j.1465-3362.2011.00374.x
3. Devos-Comby L, Lange JE. “My drink is larger than yours”? A literature review of self-defined drink sizes and standard drinks. Curr Drug Abuse Rev,2008;1(2):162-176. doi:10.2174/1874473710801020162
4. Martinez P, Kerr WC, Subbaraman MS, Roberts SCM. New Estimates of the Mean Ethanol Content of Beer, Wine, and Spirits Sold in the United States Show a Greater Increase in Per Capita Alcohol Consumption than Previous Estimates. Alcohol Clin Exp Res,2019;43(3):509-521. doi:10.1111/acer.13958
5. Chang JS, Hsiao JR, Chen CH. ALDH2 polymorphism and alcohol-related cancers in Asians: a public health perspective. J Biomed Sci,2017;24(1):19. doi:10.1186/s12929-017-0327-y
6. Chen CH, Ferreira JCB, Joshi AU, et al. Novel and prevalent non-East Asian ALDH2 variants; Implications for global susceptibility to aldehydes’ toxicity. EBioMedicine,2020;55:102753. doi:10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.102753
7. S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025,9th ed.; 2020. DietaryGuidelines.gov
8. Rehm J, Roerecke M. Cardiovascular effects of alcohol consumption. Trends Cardiovasc Med,2017;27(8):534-538. doi:10.1016/j.tcm.2017.06.002
9. Millwood IY, Walters RG, Mei XW, et al. Conventional and genetic evidence on alcohol and vascular disease aetiology: a prospective study of 500 000 men and women in China. Lancet Lond Engl,2019;393(10183):1831-1842. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31772-0
10. Choi YJ, Myung SK, Lee JH. Light Alcohol Drinking and Risk of Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies. Cancer Res Treat Off J Korean Cancer Assoc,2018;50(2):474-487. doi:10.4143/crt.2017.094
11. Hartz SM, Oehlert M, Horton AC, et al. Daily Drinking Is Associated with Increased Mortality. Alcohol Clin Exp Res,2018;42(11):2246-2255. doi:10.1111/acer.13886
12. GBD 2016 Alcohol Collaborators. Alcohol use and burden for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. The Lancet,2018;392(10152):1015-1035. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31310-2
13. Griswold MG, Fullman N, Hawley C, et al. Alcohol use and burden for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. The Lancet,2018;392(10152):1015-1035. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31310-2
14. Drinking Levels Defined. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Accessed August 6, 2021.
15. Excessive Alcohol Use. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published September 21, 2020. Accessed August 6, 2021.
16. White A, Tapert S, Shukla S. Binge Drinking: Predictors, Patterns, and Consequences (Editor’s Note). Alcohol Res Curr Rev,2018;39(1):1-3.
17. Roerecke M, Rehm J. Chronic heavy drinking and ischaemic heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Open Heart,2014;1(1):e000135. doi:10.1136/openhrt-2014-000135
18. Scoccianti C, Straif K, Romieu I. Recent evidence on alcohol and cancer epidemiology. Future Oncol Lond Engl,2013;9(9):1315-1322. doi:10.2217/fon.13.94
19. Han BH, Moore AA, Ferris R, Palamar JJ. Binge Drinking Among Older Adults in the United States, 2015 to 2017. J Am Geriatr Soc,2019;67(10):2139-2144. doi:10.1111/jgs.16071
20. Keyes KM, Jager J, Mal-Sarkar T, Patrick ME, Rutherford C, Hasin D. Is There a Recent Epidemic of Women’s Drinking? A Critical Review of National Studies. Alcohol Clin Exp Res,2019;43(7):1344-1359. doi:10.1111/acer.14082
21. Wilsnack RW, Wilsnack SC, Gmel G, Kantor LW. Gender Differences in Binge Drinking. Alcohol Res Curr Rev,2018;39(1):57-76.
22. Schuckit MA. A Critical Review of Methods and Results in the Search for Genetic Contributors to Alcohol Sensitivity. Alcohol Clin Exp Res,2018;42(5):822-835. doi:10.1111/acer.13628
23. Hingson RW, Heeren T, Winter MR. Preventing impaired driving. Alcohol Res Health J Natl Inst Alcohol Abuse Alcohol,1999;23(1):31-39.
24. O’Connor EA, Perdue LA, Senger CA, et al. Screening and Behavioral Counseling Interventions to Reduce Unhealthy Alcohol Use in Adolescents and Adults: An Updated Systematic Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2018. Accessed September 20, 2021.
25. Falk D, Wang XQ, Liu L, et al. Percentage of subjects with no heavy drinking days: evaluation as an efficacy endpoint for alcohol clinical trials. Alcohol Clin Exp Res,2010;34(12):2022-2034. doi:10.1111/j.1530-0277.2010.01290.x
26. Witkiewitz K, Wilson AD, Pearson MR, et al. Temporal Stability of Heavy Drinking Days and Drinking Reductions Among Heavy Drinkers in the COMBINE Study. Alcohol Clin Exp Res,2017;41(5):1054-1062. doi:10.1111/acer.13371
27. Dawson DA, Grant BF, Li TK. Quantifying the Risks Associated With Exceeding Recommended Drinking Limits. Alcohol Clin Exp Res,2005;29(5):902-908. doi:
28. Zaso MJ, Goodhines PA, Wall TL, Park A. Meta-Analysis on Associations of Alcohol Metabolism Genes With Alcohol Use Disorder in East Asians. Alcohol Alcohol Oxf Oxfs,2019;54(3):216-224. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agz011
29. Goldman D, Oroszi G, Ducci F. The genetics of addictions: uncovering the genes. Nat Rev Genet,2005;6(7):521-532. doi:10.1038/nrg1635
30. Hurley TD, Edenberg HJ. Genes Encoding Enzymes Involved in Ethanol Metabolism. Alcohol Res Curr Rev,2012;34(3):339-344.

We invite healthcare professionals including physicians, physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists, and psychologists to complete a post-test after reviewing this article to earn FREE continuing education (CME/CE) credit. This CME/CE credit opportunity is jointly provided by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and NIAAA.

How many mikes to get tipsy?

Complete Overindulgence – Based on the medical and scientific evidence above, if you want to get drunk on Mike’s Hard you are going to need at least one six pack per person, maybe a little less if you are drinking the Harder version. How drunk can you get drinking Mike’s Hard? The sky’s the limit, folks.

Can Mike’s Hard lemonade get you tipsy?

FAQs – Is Mike’s Hard Lemonade a wine cooler? No, Mike’s Hard Lemonade is not a wine cooler. Mike’s Hard Lemonade is a flavored malt beverage. A wine cooler is an alcoholic beverage made from wine and fruit juice. Will a can of Mike’s Hard Lemonade get you drunk? No, a can of Mike’s Hard Lemonade will not get you drunk.

Is 8 alcohol a lot in a drink?

– According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans: 2020–2025, a standard drink is defined as 14 grams (or 0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol. Remember that alcohol levels can vary by specific beverage. For example, by these guidelines, 12 ounces of an 8 percent beer is technically more than one drink. Similarly, a mixed drink such as a margarita likely contains more than one drink as well.

Does Mike’s Hard taste like alcohol?

Hard lemonade tastes a lot like regular lemonade, perhaps a bit more sour due to the addition of malt flavor and alcohol. But it’s a great choice if you’re looking for a not-too-heavy drink for a hot summer day.

What type of alcohol is Mike’s?

America’s Fastest-Growing Beer Brand, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, To Refocus On 25-29 Year Old Males If you’re a male under 30, get ready to hear a new message: drinking is fun, Won’t make you popular with women, won’t slake your thirst, won’t remind you of lazing on a remote beach, just fun,

1. Technically, Mike’s is a malt beverage like beer.
2. But then, so are Smirnoff Ice and Skyy Blue, leveraging the name of their hard-liquor parents to cover up the fact that they’re only 5% alcohol.
3. When Mike’s was launched in Canada, almost 30 years ago, it really did use vodka.
4. But the US market is fraught with booby traps designed to hobble the sales of beverage alcohol, and it just made more sense for Mike’s, once it decided to court drinkers south of the 49th parallel, to use un flavored malt liquor as the base for its signature Hard Lemonade.

It was part of an explosive new category called FMB, flavored malt beverages, which originated in the 1990s. Producers realized that a malt-based beverage, regardless of flavor, was taxed at the same rate as beer (five cents for a 12-ounce can or bottle), whereas wine coolers would pay double that rate and spirit-based beverages a much as ten times that rate (depending on the percentage of alcohol).

• Well, Mike’s has had great success.
• The original plan had them set up a headquarters in Seattle, to take advantage of the pool of creative talent; now they’re in Chicago for logistical reasons.
• They’re also up to a dozen flavors, and the Mike’s Hard Lemonade brand has doubled its business since 2009.
• It was the fastest-growing “beer” company in the country last year, according to the Chicago-based research firm IRI.

On Monday the company announced it would pivot its marketing efforts. Now that it has developed a strong following among its original target audience of casual drinkers, says VP Marketing Sanjiv Gajiwala, Mike’s will hyper-focus on the highly sought-after “millennial males” in the 25-29 year age group.

1. In its new campaign, Mike’s will shift the creative content from “celebrating the occasion” with Mike’s Hard Lemonade to the emotion (“pure happiness”) that the consumer will feel when drinking it.
2. The slogan will be Mike’s Hard Lemonade lets people “Drink on the Bright Side.” Gajiwala said the rational was that “We’re living in a time full of a lot of negativity, and lemonade is an inherently happy flavor.” From there, the conclusion was: it’s silly to think about sad people drinking Mike’s.

“Mike’s is the only brand in alcohol beverage that is exclusively about happiness,” Gajiwala said in an email statement. “By owning the happy feeling you experience when drinking a hard lemonade, we’re having a conversation and an interaction with our consumers that’s relevant to them.” Four new, 15-second spots were produced by The Annex in Chicago, a shop “powered by” the Havas agency.

Is Mike’s Hard Lemonade or Smirnoff stronger?

Is Vodka In Mike’s Hard Lemonade – There is no vodka in Mike’s Hard Lemonade. The flavor of Mike’s Hard Lemonade is created by combining triple-filtered water, cane sugar, natural flavors, and citric acid. This drink, unlike most non-alcoholic beverages, has 5% alcohol by volume.

• Because alcohol causes the central nervous system to become depressed, REM sleep can be disrupted, anxiety can be increased, and social anxiety can be increased.
• The first Mike’s opened in Canada almost 30 years ago, and vodka was the primary liquor at the time.
• Cooler-type drinks have been made with a malt base to save money on production taxes.

Mike’s, a vodka-based, natural flavor, and carbonated water drink, was first introduced in Canada in 1996. Mike’s Hard Lemonade Company, which operates from Levittown, Pennsylvania, provides alcopop throughout the eastern United States. When 5% alcohol by volume is used, it is impossible to taste the alcohol in each drink.

1. I’ve never tried anything like this before, but it’s one of the best RTDs I’ve tried.
2. Mike’s Hard contains 5% more alcohol than regular versions in the Harder form.
3. Smirnoff Ice, in comparison to beer, has a 5.5 percent alcohol content, whereas beer has a lower alcohol content.
4. A%22ABV%22 in a beer with 5% alcohol by volume (ABV) is more likely to be drunk.

Mike’s Hard Lemonade has a tart lemon flavor that is offset by hints of sweetness and slightly higher alcohol content than most beers on the market. This beverage is well-balanced by adding cranberry lemonade to its mix of tart and sweet flavors. This Apple Ale is crafted from Washington Apples and has a crisp and flavorful flavor.

1. Drizly Hard Strawberry Lemonade is said to contain 228 calories and 33 grams of carbs per 12 oz serving.
2. The product of five times distilled spirit, purified water, natural flavors, sugar, citric acid, and sodium Citric acid, it is marketed as “Crafted to Remove Gluten.” This seltzer beverage is made with real lemon juice and has a slightly sweet flavor.

The alcoholic beverage hard lemonade is made by combining lemon juice, water, and sugar. This drink is similar to a regular lemonade, but it is made with alcohol and is frequently topped with vodka. Mike’s Flavors is the place to get the most unique and delicious alcohol flavors.

How long does it take for Mike’s alcohol to kick in?

3. It takes 30 minutes to feel the effects of alcohol. – It may take an hour to metabolize a drink, but it takes approximately thirty minutes before you feel alcohol’s effects. This is a good gauge for pacing yourself. Drinking more than one drink every 30 minutes means you are probably drinking too much, too fast.

Is Mike’s Hard Lemonade actually lemonade?

Mike’s Hard Lemonade vs. Truly Lemonade Hard Seltzer – The first difference between the two drinks is their color. Mike’s Hard pours an inviting cloudy, icy hue, similar to Minute Maid lemonade. Truly Lemonade, by comparison, looked much less appetizing.

If I saw this in a clear bottle on a shelf, I’d be like, ‘Is there something wrong with this?'” one taster commented. Another thought that it looked like “dirty shower water.” There were further distinctions when it came to each drink’s aromas. Most tasters thought Mike’s Hard smelled like actual lemonade, albeit commercially-produced, artificial lemonade, rather than the freshly-squeezed style mom serves on a hot summer day.

As for Truly, descriptors ranged from “chemicals” to “litter box” to “passionfruit — but not in a good way.” No one thought the drink smelled anything like lemons or lemonade. The most noticeable difference between the two drinks, however, is their flavor.

Mike’s Hard is significantly sweeter, which is no surprise given the fact it contains 30 times the amount of sugar. But it is extremely palatable, especially when tasted alongside Truly’s offering, which was dominated by the flavor of stevia. “It tastes like diet Sprite,” one panelist said. One consolation for Truly Lemonade is its effervescence, which is much livelier than Mike’s Hard Lemonade.

It’s a characteristic most tasters were looking for from this style of drink.

Can you taste the alcohol in Mike’s Hard Lemonade?

14. Strawberry – Mike’s Hard Lemonade Mike’s Hard Strawberry is kinda like the Peloton treadmill of drinks, meaning that, before you do anything, make absolutely sure no children will be putting their hands near it. Because this stuff doesn’t even taste like alcohol, as it turns out.

• Instead, it tastes like strawberry soda.
• Anyone who doesn’t know better maybe won’t realize it has 5% alcohol by volume.
• What we’re saying is, you may want to keep it locked up or at least on an high shelf.
• Saying it tastes like strawberry soda is actually a little inaccurate because, after a few sips, you do indeed start to realize that there’s some malt beverage in here amongst all the cloying sweetness of the strawberry lemonade.

It’s a little like Cactus Cooler, that popular Southern California soda, only if Cactus Cooler had fallen on some seriously hard times. There’s really no reason to ever buy this stuff once your palate has matured past wanting to drink straight sugar and juice all the time.

Is Mike’s Hard a beer or seltzer?

Mike’s Hard Lemonade Seltzer is the Full Flavor Hard Lemonade Seltzer with 100 Calories, 1g Sugar, 5.0% ABV, and is Gluten Free. The Variety Pack includes four refreshing flavors: Lemon, Strawberry, Mango, and Pineapple. Mike’s Hard Lemonade Seltzer is the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness.

Is Mike’s Hard vodka or beer?

America’s Fastest-Growing Beer Brand, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, To Refocus On 25-29 Year Old Males If you’re a male under 30, get ready to hear a new message: drinking is fun, Won’t make you popular with women, won’t slake your thirst, won’t remind you of lazing on a remote beach, just fun,

• Technically, Mike’s is a malt beverage like beer.
• But then, so are Smirnoff Ice and Skyy Blue, leveraging the name of their hard-liquor parents to cover up the fact that they’re only 5% alcohol.
• When Mike’s was launched in Canada, almost 30 years ago, it really did use vodka.
• But the US market is fraught with booby traps designed to hobble the sales of beverage alcohol, and it just made more sense for Mike’s, once it decided to court drinkers south of the 49th parallel, to use un flavored malt liquor as the base for its signature Hard Lemonade.

It was part of an explosive new category called FMB, flavored malt beverages, which originated in the 1990s. Producers realized that a malt-based beverage, regardless of flavor, was taxed at the same rate as beer (five cents for a 12-ounce can or bottle), whereas wine coolers would pay double that rate and spirit-based beverages a much as ten times that rate (depending on the percentage of alcohol).

1. Well, Mike’s has had great success.
2. The original plan had them set up a headquarters in Seattle, to take advantage of the pool of creative talent; now they’re in Chicago for logistical reasons.
3. They’re also up to a dozen flavors, and the Mike’s Hard Lemonade brand has doubled its business since 2009.
4. It was the fastest-growing “beer” company in the country last year, according to the Chicago-based research firm IRI.

On Monday the company announced it would pivot its marketing efforts. Now that it has developed a strong following among its original target audience of casual drinkers, says VP Marketing Sanjiv Gajiwala, Mike’s will hyper-focus on the highly sought-after “millennial males” in the 25-29 year age group.

1. In its new campaign, Mike’s will shift the creative content from “celebrating the occasion” with Mike’s Hard Lemonade to the emotion (“pure happiness”) that the consumer will feel when drinking it.
2. The slogan will be Mike’s Hard Lemonade lets people “Drink on the Bright Side.” Gajiwala said the rational was that “We’re living in a time full of a lot of negativity, and lemonade is an inherently happy flavor.” From there, the conclusion was: it’s silly to think about sad people drinking Mike’s.

“Mike’s is the only brand in alcohol beverage that is exclusively about happiness,” Gajiwala said in an email statement. “By owning the happy feeling you experience when drinking a hard lemonade, we’re having a conversation and an interaction with our consumers that’s relevant to them.” Four new, 15-second spots were produced by The Annex in Chicago, a shop “powered by” the Havas agency.

How much alcohol is in a 24 oz Mike’s Harder lemonade?

Can 8% ABV.