Americans drinking tequila in protest of President Trump, report claims

Tequila has replaced other liquors as the popular drink of choice

Tequila sales continue to increase

No longer relegated to rounds of party shots, tequila is having a moment in the spotlight as the new drink of choice for those with a refined palette - and strong political opinions.

According to the Distilled Spirits Council, sales of the blue agave-based drink have risen 121 per cent since 2002.

One reason behind the increase is because the rich and famous have adopted the liquor as their go-to drink.

George Clooney, Justin Timberlake and P Diddy are well-known fans of the drink, having created their very own brands - and others have caught on as well.

On the Oscars red carpet, Helen Mirren downed a shot of tequila and wellness-obsessed Gwyneth Paltrow even promotes the alcohol for its lack of gluten and minimal caloric content.

While tequila is delicious, the underlying reason the liquor may be seeing a rise in popularity could have to do with the divisive speech of the President of the United States.

According to the New York Times: “For some people, drinking tequila, a type of mescal made from the blue agave plant in specific regions of Mexico - as well as other kinds of mescal - is even a way to signal dissent from the presidency of Donald Trump, who has made a border wall between the United States and Mexico a priority.”

For John Rexer, founder of Ilegal Mezcal, Trump’s campaign led him to create a line of Donald Trump-themed merchandise - which he has used to fundraise for various organisations focused on education, undocumented youth and immigration reform, women’s reproductive rights, wildlife animal protection, and LGBT advocacy.

Rexer also held a drinking protest, “A Shot at Donald,” which donated $2 for every photo of an Ilegal bottle alongside the hashtag #AShotAtDonald.

And bars across the nation have responded to the president’s views with cocktails that protest in a subtle way.

Americans may be consuming tequila in protest of the president (Getty)

For The Standard Hotel in New York City, this meant introducing “the #resist as a cocktail to support the campaign that promotes justice and equality.” Speaking to SuperCall, Ashley Santoro, regional beverage director for The Standard said: “We’ve dedicated a lot of energy in supporting and partnering with spirits brands that have a political voice and donate a portion of their revenue to charities that have been victim to some of the recent (un)developments.”

The ever-increasing tequila consumption comes as tequila brands have expressed worry about the potential negative impacts a poor relationship with the United States can have on their sales.

But by consuming the liquor proudly and heavily, Americans seem to be showing their support for Mexico - and their favourite imported beverage.