The Daily Valet. - 12/3/20, Thursday

✔️ Bring on the Booze

December 03, 2020

Thursday, December 3rd Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

I think I need to restock the bar cart before the weekend.

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s Big Story

We’re Bringing the Booze Home

The U.S. is on track to be the biggest alcohol e-commerce market

America is now on track to become the world’s largest online alcohol market by 2021. According to Forbes, China currently holds that title, where booze has been available online for several years. But the growth rate in the U.S. is showing impressive momentum.

Why? Well, it turns out I’m not the only one getting weekly Drizly deliveries. The stats are pretty impressive: As the coronavirus began spreading across the U.S. earlier this year, total e-commerce penetration experienced 10 years of growth in just three months’ time.

Turns out, an ugly election mixed with a global pandemic and looming holidays is good for business. And now it’s even easier than ever to get bottles brought right to your door.

According to a new report from market research firm IWSR, which provides insights on the alcoholic beverage market, online sales of alcohol in the U.S. are expected to grow by more than 80% this year.

So what are people ordering in? According to sales data, wine makes up 54% of all online alcohol sales. Beer, cider and the emerging ready-to-drink canned cocktail sales are expected to grow rapidly over the new five years, however.

And if you’re wondering just how big this market is ... IWSR reports that alcohol e-commerce sales in America will approach $5.6 billion in 2020, up from about $3 billion last year. That’s just online sales, mind you.

↦ FYI: Want to cut back on holiday boozing? Men's Health suggests hacking your biology and provides some tips on how to do just that.

Record Deaths. Again.

We also hit 100,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations

The total number of coronavirus deaths reported in a single day set a new record on Wednesday. The high point was back in the Spring with 2,752 deaths on April 15. Yesterday, it was at least 2,760. And hospitalizations also reached an all-time high, reports CNN.

“If you tell me the hospitalizations are up this week, I'll tell you that several weeks down the road, the deaths will be up,” Dr. Jeremy Faust, a Boston emergency medicine physician told the New York Times.

And the consequences of the Thanksgiving travel season haven't fully appeared yet. “Today's arguably the first day of clean, good data post-holiday,” journalist Garrett Graff tweeted, “and it is stunningly bad. America has missed its chance to avert an epic tragedy.”

CDC Director, Dr. Robert Redfield, urged us all to take precautions as the country deals with a healthcare system strained to the point of collapse. “The reality is that December, January and February are going to be rough times,” he told a livestream Wednesday. “I actually believe they're going to be the most difficult time in the public health history of this nation.”

↦ Meanwhile: Former Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton volunteer to get the coming vaccine on TV to prove it's safe.

Voter Turnout Surged Far and Wide

The numbers increased in every state

It's been exactly one month since Election Night. And while the election is in the rearview mirror of almost everyone besides President Trump and his most committed followers, some interesting data is now starting to come in.

For example, the 2020 presidential election set a participation record, with more than 157 million people casting their ballots. Turnout increased in every state and in 98% of the nation's counties.

According to an analysis of the NBC News election results, Hawaii and Vermont saw the biggest increase in turnout compared to 2016. Other states that had significant increases in turnout included Washington, Montana, Oregon and California, where participation among the voting eligible population rose by more than 10 points.

There wasn't that much split-ticket voting either, according to FiveThirtyEight. Only a tiny fraction of Biden voters cast a vote for anyone but Democrats in the Senate. And, it turns out, even though Democrats lost seats in the lower chamber, there were very few people who voted for opposite parties for president and House.

↦ FYI: On Tuesday, the Trump campaign filed a lawsuit to reverse Wisconsin's election certification. But even without the state's 10 electors, Biden would have 26 more electoral votes than what is needed to win the presidency.

Of All the Things You Can Buy at Costco ...

You can now buy a private jet membership

If anyone's looking for gift ideas for your favorite newsletter writer ... I'm just gonna leave this here: Costco is now selling private jet memberships. Yes, America's favorite warehouse store really does have everything.

According to By the Way, you’ll find them tucked under the electronics section of Costco’s website, or in store on the wall of gift cards.

The jets aren’t powered by Costco but by private jet charter company Wheels Up. At $17,499.99, the year's membership isn't actually discounted but Costco does throw in a $3,500 Shop Card, plus a $4,000 flight credit with your purchase.

Traveling by private jet is becoming increasingly attractive for travelers, reports Travel + Leisure. The private access makes it easier to social distance and stricter health and safety protocols are put in place to keep everyone healthy.

↦ Meanwhile: Airlines in the U.S. can now ban emotional support animals from riding with you on flights.

In Other News

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

Affordable vintage Rolexes

The best books of the year

The McRib’s sporadic schedule

Time for Speed

Ralph Lauren is in a vehicular state of mind

This is just a cool watch you should know about. On Wednesday, the brand announced a new addition to its automotive collection: The new Ralph Lauren Automotive Chronograph. Available in either bare stainless steel or with a black finish, this sturdy chronograph continues the line's formation around the spirit and aesthetic of many of the designer's favorite cars.

The hand-cut amboyna burl wood dial emulates the legendary Bugatti's steering wheel, while Super-LumiNova Arabic numerals on the matte black dial calls to mind the dashboard's gauges.

According to Hodinkee, the design team deserves credit for making something that (1) doesn't look like everyone else's automotive-themed watches and (2) doesn't look like a Rolex Daytona. And under the hood? A manual-winding movement made in Switzerland by Jaeger-LeCoultre. Not bad, right?

↦ DIG DEEPER: Examining why Ralph Lauren never goes out of style.

Special Promotion

Gifts for the Guy Who Has Everything

Browsing through Uncrate Supply is a bit like strolling through James Bond’s Q Branch. The items are well built, some might be a bit dangerous but nearly everything has a luxurious polish to it. Which is why this is the ideal store to find something for the hard-to-impress gentleman. And as an added bonus, get 20% off today only w/code VALET20.