general reluctance of consumers to open their wallets due to higher interest rates and lingering inflation.

Article also mentions ppl dont have the money to eat at restaurants. Ppl probably are drinking at home with alcohol bought at corned stores

Probably not, but the drinking is a cultural thing, meaning it’s social pressure to go out drinking with your coworkers and boss. I see no reason to believe they’d start drinking at home alone (outside of alcohol addiction).