Say cheers to new products!

An alcohol spiking kit, wine that turns into a sorbet when frozen and a single serving of wine sold in a plastic wine glass are just a few of the latest global consumer offerings identified by Product Launch Analytics by Datamonitor, which provides information about newly launched consumer packaged goods from around the world.

The spiking kit, launched in the US, claims to turn any juice into alcohol within 48 hours. The kit includes a fermenting mixture which is added to juice with consumers being able to control the taste as the longer it is left, the dryer the taste becomes.

A range of wine sold in individual plastic wine glasses has been launched in the UK. This packaging stands out on the shelf as most single serve drinks currently come in a carton or a pouch. With environmental concerns high on the global agenda, manufacturers will be keen to see if this is a success.

Wine that turns into a sorbet has hit shelves in the US. The BonBlaze wine is sold in the ambient section and is designed to be frozen at home. It has a similar alcohol content to wine, at 12.5 per cent, includes real fruit, and comes in natural cranberry or blueberry variants.

Cesar Pereira, research manager at Product Launch Analytics, says, ''Economic pressures have meant that consumers want more from non essential items like alcohol. To encourage shoppers to part with their cash, manufactures are launching products like the 'spiking kit' which allows people to potentially save money by making their own alcohol.

"It will therefore be interesting to see how this may develop both in the alcohol industry and other 'non essential' consumer goods like confectionery and soft drinks.''