In the caffeine-buzzed heart of New Haven, where college kids and coders mingle over cold brews, a new kind of fizz is bubbling up—one that hits softer than whiskey but smoother than water.
David Salinas, the guy who once helped wire the city’s tech scene, has pivoted from apps to apples. His latest project? Hi! People, a hemp-infused seltzer that delivers a subtle, sociable high without the hangover.
The Tech Guy Goes Tonic
Salinas earned his startup stripes co-founding the creative agency Digital Surgeons and the innovation hub known as The District. But while his peers were building apps and pitching seed rounds, he was quietly brewing something more… effervescent.
Each can of Hi! People contains 3 milligrams of hemp-derived THC and 3 milligrams of CBG, the cannabinoid that’s been called “the mother of all cannabinoids.” Translation: you won’t end up couch-locked, just a little more likely to text your mom that you love her.
He first dipped into the cannabis world through inhalable THC products in Massachusetts, but noticed a shift. “People still want to socialize,” he said, “they just don’t want to smoke or wake up feeling like they licked a sandpaper taco.” (Okay, that last part’s not a direct quote—but it’s the vibe.)
A Sobering Reality Check
Salinas is tapping into something real. Only about 54% of U.S. adults say they drink alcohol these days—the lowest number since before your grandparents’ grandparents started sneaking gin in teacups. The hangover is out. Functional fun is in.
His bet: the next generation won’t order shots—they’ll crack open a chilled can of Hi! People and toast to tomorrow’s productivity.
Farm-to-Fizz Flavors
The lineup reads more like a craft cocktail menu than a corner-store seltzer shelf:
- Grapefruit Blood Orange & Cardamom
- Tart Blueberry Lemon & Vanilla
- Connecticut Honey Crisp with Ginger Twist
That last one’s made with real Honey Crisp apples pressed at Beardsley Orchard & Cidery in Shelton, because apparently, even your buzz needs to be locally sourced now.
Distribution is starting small—just a few stores around Connecticut, about 15 and counting—but the ambition is carbonated. Salinas wants Hi! People on shelves everywhere beer once ruled.
The Culture Shift
Let’s face it—booze had a good run. But society’s getting wiser (or at least trying to). We’ve traded smoke breaks for sparkling water, and now that sparkling water is getting you slightly baked.
It’s not just a new product—it’s a mood, a movement, maybe even a manifesto: hangout culture without hangovers.
The Buzz Behind the Bubbles
So yeah, it’s still New Haven. It’s still a tech guy chasing the next big thing. Only this time, instead of trying to disrupt the internet, he’s trying to disrupt happy hour.
And honestly? If the revolution comes in a chilled can with a whisper of ginger and a wink of THC… we’ll drink to that.
Dabbin-Dad Newsroom
