Heineken’s latest invention isn’t a drink, but it does help you savour one.

Introducing The Flipper, a playful but pointed piece of pub tech that puts your phone on ice the moment things start to get social. The AI-powered phone case flips your screen face-down the instant it hears the word “cheers,” nudging us to ditch the scroll and dial up the connection.

It’s a smart response to a not-so-smart habit. With nearly half of us (47%) still glued to our screens during social occasions, Heineken’s tapping into something deeper than a gimmick, it’s serving up a cultural intervention. One that says: your pint deserves your presence. Your mates do too.

Because in an age of ‘phubbing’ and endless feeds, the most refreshing thing might just be real eye contact. So next round, leave the doomscroll at the door. Lift your glass. Flip the phone. Feel the moment.