From Sips to Snacks: Instacart Serves Up Trends on Celebration Staples

Raise a glass—or grab your favorite snack! With summer around the corner, socializing is about to be back in full swing. That’s why we’re excited to introduce Fizz, a new 21+ app that makes drink and snack ordering effortless. To celebrate, we tapped into Instacart purchase trends and Harris Poll survey insights to uncover how every generation—from 21+ Gen Zers to the Silent Generation—stocks up for social events. Let’s dive into the trends shaping fun gatherings!

Snacking in the Spotlight: Shopping Habits for Gatherings 🛒

Given food always brings people together, we were curious how people plan and stock up. Through a nationwide survey of 21+ adults conducted online by The Harris Poll from March 25-27, 2025, 93% of Americans hit the store to stock up on party snacks, while a younger, Gen Z (21-27) demographic is leading the charge in convenience, with 38% opting for same-day delivery to source their friends’ favorite snacks.

When deciding what snacks to contribute to a social gathering, price, popularity and diet are among the top considerations for all generations. Our survey found:

• 56% choose snacks from brands they know people will like.
• 48% prioritize price, ensuring they stay on budget while still showing up with crowd-pleasers.
• 32% say dietary needs are important to them, ensuring there’s something that accounts for everyone's preferences.

When it comes to drink and snack cart pairings, here are some generational trends that stood out according to Instacart data:

• Gen Z (21-27): Gen Z has a love for global flavors, ordering frozen dumplings 43% more often than Millennials and 141% more than Boomers.
• Millennials (28-43): Perhaps including snacks for the whole family to enjoy, Millennials included items like squeeze snack pouches 449% more often than Gen X.
• Gen X (44-59): Classy and thoughtful, Gen X leaned into snack gift baskets and gift boxes, purchasing them 93% more often than Baby Boomers. 
• Baby Boomers (60-78): Boomers have a sweet spot for pairing snacks with drinks, ordering licorice candy 131% more often than Millennials.
• Silent Generation (79-97): The Silent Generation loves dried fruit, putting dried prunes and dried raisins in their carts 1,306% and 113% more often than Millennials, respectively. 

Socializing by the Numbers: Differences Across Generations 🤝

Every generation brings its own vibe to social gatherings, especially when it comes to their drink of choice. From bold new favorites to timeless picks, here’s how each group raises a glass in style, according to Instacart purchase data:

• Gen Z (21-27): Drinks like canned cocktails, hard seltzers, and tequila stole the show, but Gen Zers (21+) also brought global influence to the table with their love of soju. Orders for soju were 345% higher than Millennials, 1,044% higher than Gen X, and 2,277% higher than Boomers.
• Millennials (28-43): Bringing a craft-lover’s vibe to the table, Millennials are all about beer! IPAs, in particular, dominate their orders—68% more often than Gen Z (21+). They’re also champions of non-alcoholic beer, ordering it more frequently than any other generation. When it comes to spirits, they show preference for whiskey favorites like Irish, Rye, and Japanese varieties.
• Gen X (44-59): Red wine dominates Gen X gatherings, as they order Malbec, Tempranillo, Bordeaux Blends, Rhone Blends, and Petite Sirah more often than any other generation. They also have a sparkling streak, ordering Cava 118% more often than Gen Z (21+). 
• Boomers (60-78): Straightforward and nostalgic, Boomers gravitate toward timeless staples like light lagers and unflavored vodka. They also showcase a notable fondness for malt liquor, ordering it 207% more often than Gen Z (21+).
• Silent Generation (79-97): Ordering more vermouth (428% more often than 21+ Gen Z) and gin (110% more often than 21+ Gen Z) than other generations, those in the Silent Generation might have a preference for martinis - with olives or a twist! Balancing things out, they also lead in orders of non-alcoholic wine. 

Timing Matters! ⏰

Every gathering has a rhythm, and our purchase data shows that the time of day says a lot about how each generation socializes according to Instacart purchase data:

• Gen Z (21-27): Known for maximizing the weekend, Gen Zers of legal drinking age have a peak alcohol-ordering time on Friday night between 6 PM and 7 PM, when pre-party energy is in full swing.
• Millennials (28-43): Similar to 21+ Gen Zers, Millennials seem to lean towards evening gatherings, with peak ordering between 5PM and 6PM on Saturdays. 
• Gen X (44-59), Boomers (60-78), and Silent Generation (79-97): These generations typically prioritize earlier ordering times, favoring weekday afternoons or early evenings for get-togethers, peaking at 5 PM for Gen X, 4 PM for Boomers, and 2 PM for Silent Generation. 

Delivery, Rewards, and Splitting the Tab Made Simple 💳

While gatherings are about connecting with friends, the logistics—like splitting the bill—can sometimes add stress. According to our Instacart/Harris Poll survey data, just over 1 in 4 Gen Zers (26%) of legal drinking age said the headache of splitting the check is one of their biggest frustrations when planning a social event. They’re not alone: 50% of Americans who dislike dividing the bill say it’s because it doesn't always feel fair to split evenly when budgets or orders differ. Additionally, our survey insights show that 32% of Gen Zers of legal drinking age said that coordinating food and drink preferences is among their pet peeves for party planning, making it resoundingly clear that convenience is key.

With this consumer sentiment in mind, solutions that offer flat-rate delivery fees and group ordering and payment solutions shine. 55% of Gen Zers of legal drinking age said high delivery fees are their biggest concerns for same-day alcohol delivery—yet they’re enticed by services offering rewards or benefits. For example, 84% of Gen Zers of legal drinking age (compared to 64% of all Americans) would be more likely to order from drink and snack delivery apps with rewards programs over those that do not. With perks like Snack Bucks, a $5 flat delivery fee, and a pay-for-what-you-add approach, planning for a party through an app like Fizz has never been easier.

Staying on Trend: Espressotinis! ☕🍸

Ready to keep the party going and stay energized? Enter the Espressotini! This buzzy blend of vodka and coffee liqueur isn’t new, but it’s entrenched itself as a star of social gatherings and social media. Our purchase data shows that this isn’t just a photogenic cocktail–it’s a growing trend! Between 2022 and 2024, the share of alcohol orders that included the ingredients for an Espressotini (vodka and coffee liquor) grew by 27%, showing steady momentum year after year.

Methodology: Instacart calculated the share of orders that contained at least one coffee liqueur item and one vodka item, and then calculated the percentage growth from each year from 2022 to 2024.

The Sips and Snacks That Define Gatherings 🥨

What’s a drink without the perfect snack? Instacart data revealed which food categories are most likely paired with each type of alcohol. Here are a five standout combos that any host can take inspiration from:

• Canned Cocktails: Effortlessly trendy and perfect for a sunny happy hour, these paired perfectly with fresh fruit and vegetable trays, salsas, and deli platters. A wedge of lime and ice cubes made this pairing even zestier!
• Light Lager: What’s a good summer barbeque without some beer? Ice cubes, yellow mustard, shelf stable dips, deli party trays, and potato salad were most likely to be purchased with these hoppy options. 
• Cabernet Sauvignon: The ultimate wine night centerpiece, this wine took center stage when paired with brie, cheese platters, and savory accents like rosemary, thyme, and beef broth. 
• Vodka: With cocktails in mind, ice cubes, and crushed ice were the top two items paired with carts containing vodka. Leaning into its versatility, orders were also likely to include canned cherries, tri-tip roast, or artichokes. 
• Champagne: Known for celebrations, it’s no surprise that this sparkling favorite was paired with elegant options like caviar and brie. Adding a festive touch, black-eyed peas—a classic New Year’s tradition—were also closely tied to Champagne orders, along with party staples like fresh fruit and veggie trays and deli platters.

Takeaways to Toast To 🥂

As we approach sunnier days, the takeaways from these trends offer a guide to hosting gatherings that are fun and festive:

• Variety matters. Try to include non-alcoholic options that shine just as brightly as their boozy counterparts, within your hosting spread.
• Streamline hosting. Apps like Fizz, with group-ordering perks, serve as an important tool to reduce that pre-party stress.
• Think about your pairings. Every drink needs a good snack! The right pairing can elevate an ordinary moment into a memorable one. 
• Embrace bold trends. Explore creative drink options like Espressotinis or culturally-inspired sips such as soju to create unique, conversation-worthy moments.

Cheers to more unforgettable gatherings, perfect pairings, and warm summer evenings ahead! 🥂

** Survey Method:

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Instacart from March 25-27, 2025, among 2,000 adults ages 21 and older. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.7 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact press@instacart.com.