How the restaurant group behind NYC's Carbone is overcoming young people shunning alcohol

mario carbone, ceo of major food group, says younger customers are drinking less but spending more on high-end dining. he told cnbc's "mad money" that health-conscious younger diners are shifting money from alcohol toward "theatrical, experiential fine dining." his restaurants like carbone, torrisi, and parm treat meals as performances — servers make caesar salads tableside, desserts get flambéed in front of guests. the shift is real for alcohol stocks. modelo brewer constellation brands is down 16.8% over the last year. johnnie walker distiller diageo is down 28.9%. carbone called it a pendulum that will swing back and forth, but right now it's working for his model. he said customers who get an "intangible" experience will spend freely. major food group is expanding fast — new locations in mexico city, são paulo, and tokyo, plus a growing consumer products business. the bet is that fewer drinks per table don't matter if the check total keeps rising.