酎ハイ

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 酎ハイ, read ちゅうはい, combines 酎 from shochu 焼酎 with ハイ, shortened from English highball, as a drink name.
• Basic usage: It denotes an alcoholic highball mixing a shochu-type spirit with soda or flavoring, as in 柑橘味の酎ハイ.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Tone and register
  • The base spirit and alcohol content can vary by product; it is an alcoholic drink, not a soft drink.