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Trump’s Economy Is Forcing Adults to Go Back to Pregaming College Style

Smuggling mini bottles into events is back too.

Working professionals are being forced to return to their college pregaming ways as President Donald Trump’s policies have driven up prices. With the cost of everything from groceries to gas to cocktails climbing, adults have returned to the time-honored collegiate ritual of saving money by downing a few drinks at home before going out. A survey by consumer insight platform Zappi found that one-third of people who’d had drinks in the past three months now say they pre-drink to avoid higher prices at venues. Drinkers are also trading tips on ways to sneak mini bottles of alcohol into events, and brands have taken notice by offering more options in 50mL containers. At ALB Vodka, sales of airplane-sized mini bottles more than tripled in the first quarter compared with the same period last year, significantly outselling the larger sizes. And instead of enjoying a nightcap at a bar, some drinkers have taken to “post-gaming,” or gathering at a friend’s place for the final drink of the night.