Whether coffee or chocolate, pizza or pencils, connoisseurship has become a pastime for the masses. But if anyone can become a connoisseur of anything, will the concept lose its mystique?

People in India drink to get buzzed. Strong beer, with an alcohol content above 5%, accounted for 83% of all beer sold in 2012 – with that figure expected to rise to 90% by 2019. Tuborg Booster Strong fruit flavoured beer wants to quench the thirst of this growing market.

Brits are drinking less – a drop of 16% from 2004 to 2012 – and even 16- to 24-year-olds aren’t bingeing like they once did. Rather than boozing at the pub, they're pouring a perfect pint at home. But why have drinking habits changed? What does it mean for pubs and beer brands?

The information age has bred a new kind of consumer who seeks variety and adventure. From its drinks to its décor, cellar bar Whistling Shop immerses visitors in Old-London heritage while offering a familiar entry point.