alcopops
alcopops
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "alcopops" is /'ælkɒpɒps/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
al-: /'æl/
-co-: /kɒ/
-pops: /pɒps/
Word Form Variations
Singular: alcopop
Plural: alcopops
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A pre-mixed, typically fruit-flavored alcoholic beverage, often sold in single-serving bottles or cans, that usually has a lower alcohol content than traditional spirits but a higher alcohol content than most beers, and is frequently marketed towards younger drinkers.
Synonyms: flavored alcoholic beverage, ready-to-drink (RTD) alcoholic beverage, cooler (informal, dated), spirit cooler (South Africa)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it describes a specific type of drink. One could consider categories of beverages that are not alcopops, such as: spirits, wine, beer, non-alcoholic drinks.)
Definition 2: (Informal, often used in a collective sense) The category of such beverages as a whole.
Synonyms: flavored malt beverages (U.S.), FABs (abbreviation)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it refers to a category. Similar to Definition 1, one could contrast it with other categories of alcoholic beverages.)
Examples of Use
Newspaper: "Concerns have been raised by health officials over the marketing of alcopops to teenagers, with calls for stricter regulations on their sale." ( The Guardian, January 2024)
Online Publication: "The resurgence of nostalgia for the 90s has seen a surprising comeback for alcopops like Hooch and Smirnoff Ice, now appealing to a new generation of consumers." (VICE, March 2023)
Book (Non-fiction): "The rise of the alcopop in the 1990s marked a significant shift in the alcoholic beverage market, leading to debates about responsible drinking and youth culture." (From a hypothetical book on social history of the 20th century)
Entertainment Medium (TV Show Dialogue): "Remember when we used to sneak alcopops into the school dance? Those were the days." (A character reminiscing in a fictional drama series)
General Public Discourse (Social Media Post): "Just spotted some new crazy-flavored alcopops at the supermarket. Anyone tried them? #drinks #weekendvibes" (A post on X, formerly Twitter, June 2024)
Entertainment Medium (Music Review): "While the band's latest album aims for a mature sound, some critics have likened its production to the sugary appeal of alcopops – easy to consume, but lacking depth." (A music review on Pitchfork, November 2023)
10 Famous Quotes Using Alcopops
"The rise of alcopops in the 90s certainly changed the landscape of youth drinking."
"Some argued that alcopops were simply a gateway to harder spirits, a claim often debated."
"Regulators wrestled with how to classify and control the marketing of alcopops."
"For many, alcopops evoke a sense of nostalgia for their formative years."
"The vibrant colors and sweet flavors of alcopops made them particularly appealing to a younger demographic."
"Debates often centered on whether alcopops encouraged irresponsible consumption habits."
"You wouldn't typically find alcopops on the drinks menu of a sophisticated cocktail bar."
"Despite public health concerns, the market for alcopops has shown remarkable resilience."
"The term "alcopops" itself became synonymous with a certain era of commercialized fun."
"She remembered her first taste of an alcopop, a sugary, effervescent concoction that seemed daring at the time."
Etymology
The word "alcopop" is a blend of two existing words: "alcohol" and "pop." It's what's called a portmanteau, which is a word formed by combining parts of other words and their meanings.
Think of it like this:
"Alco-" comes from "alcohol," referring to the intoxicating substance in the drink.
"-pop" comes from "soda pop," which is a common term for a sweet, fizzy soft drink.
So, "alcopop" literally means an "alcoholic soda pop" or an "alcoholic soft drink."
The first known use of the word "alcopop" appeared in the 1990s. Specifically, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) traces its earliest evidence to 1996, in a publication called the Daily Telegraph (London).
The meaning of the word from its first known use was consistent with how we understand it today: a ready-mixed alcoholic drink that tastes a lot like a soft drink, often being sweet, carbonated, and packaged similarly to non-alcoholic beverages. These drinks became popular because they appealed to younger people who might not enjoy the taste of traditional alcoholic drinks like beer or spirits.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Alcopops
To be on the alcopops: To be drinking alcopops, often implying casual or perhaps excessive consumption.
Alcopop generation: Refers to the demographic, typically younger, who came of age when alcopops were popular.
The alcopop effect: Describes the perceived outcome or influence of alcopops, often in terms of youth drinking patterns or market trends.
Sipping on an alcopop: A simple phrase indicating the act of drinking one of these beverages.
A diet of alcopops and late nights: An idiom describing a lifestyle perceived as unhealthy or hedonistic, similar to "a diet of fast food and TV."
As sweet as an alcopop: An idiom describing something excessively sweet or cloyingly pleasant, similar to "as sweet as candy."
Fizzy like an alcopop: An idiom describing something bubbly or effervescent.
Flavored malt beverage craze: (Using a synonym) Refers to a period of intense popularity for this type of drink.
Ready-to-drink revolution: (Using a synonym) Describes the significant shift in the beverage market brought about by pre-mixed drinks like alcopops.
The cooler crowd: (Using an older, informal synonym for a similar type of drink) Refers to a group of people typically associated with drinking these lighter, pre-mixed alcoholic beverages.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of alcopops from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.