When you think of drinking, what comes to mind? Is it beer? Wine? Vodka? While each of these drinks has their own merits, they all share one unfortunate characteristic: they are all high in alcohol. Drinking alcohol can have positive effects. It lowers stress, reduces anxiety, and helps build trust between people. However, it also has some negative side effects.
If you are trying to avoid alcohol, then we have the perfect solutions for you! Check out our article on healthy alternatives to alcohol – there are plenty of tasty and refreshing non-alcoholic drinks that you can try instead!
It’s not uncommon for people to drink too much alcohol at any given time. However, drinking too much on a regular basis can have serious negative effects on your overall health and well-being.
What are the exciting and healthy alternatives to alcohol?
People want beverages that keep them interested, taste good, and make them feel at ease when they're out with friends or at a bar. Here are a few ideas if you're someone who sometimes finds yourself in a situation where you want to order something other than alcohol but you don't want to be stuck with a soft drink in your hand or deal with friends and colleagues asking 'What's wrong?' ‘Are you pregnant?’or 'Are you driving tonight?'
1. KOMBUCHA
Kombucha is a fermented and lightly sparkling tea made from black or green tea and a sprinkling of bacteria. It has become a favourite with consumers who want something healthy but 'grown-up' in taste. Because it is not sugar-based, it has become increasingly popular with young consumers, particularly in cities like London and other major centres where progressive bars and restaurants have realised its 'cool' potential. It has gained a growing cult following because of its probiotic and antioxidant properties, which numerous producers and advocates tout.
2. ALCOHOL-FREE SPARKLING WINE
The beer sector and alcohol sector have recognised the importance of creating alcohol-free alternatives to their most popular items for some time now. Alcohol-free beers now look just like their alcoholic counterparts, and there is a booming market for botanical blends and herbal elixirs as a substitute for gin and other spirits.
Unfortunately, non-alcoholic wine has historically been poorly made with sub-quality wine and design, meaning many consumers have not considered it as an alternative to the real thing. Until now.
London-based wine company Thomson & Scott has just released Noughty, an organic, vegan, and non-alcoholic sparkling wine that is low in sugar and produced from organically grown grapes in southern Spain. Noughty is a crisp white wine that is carefully de-alcoholised to preserve its wine flavour and great drinking experience. It is created in the traditional method, but then carefully de-alcoholised to preserve its flavour and pleasant drinking experience.
This alcohol-free wine is suitable for any occasion and may be displayed on the dining table or bar top.
3. SPARKLING JUICES
The same fermentation process used to make sparkling wine and Prosecco can also be used to make sparkling fruit juices, making them a great alternative.
Non-alcoholic alternatives to wine, known as shrubs (drinking vinegars), can be just what wine lovers are seeking for. Because they are composed of fruit, herbs, and apple cider vinegar, they have a wide variety of flavours and are therefore acidic.
4. ALCOHOL-FREE BEER
Beer sales of its alcohol-free (0.5% ABV) and low-alcohol varieties have increased significantly over the last few years. Many of the big brands have urged consumers to choose 'lite' versions of favourites in order to curb 'beer bellies' and reduce regular alcohol consumption.
More craft beer producers have identified a growing demand for premium alcohol-free beers over the last few years, particularly among younger consumers seeking trendy, responsible brands with a focus on purity. Brewdog and Big Drop are two examples of brands that have benefitted from this.
5. MOCKTAILS (otherwise known as non-alcoholic cocktails)
An iced non-alcoholic cocktail is referred to by Escoffier as a mocktail, which is a non-alcoholic cocktail without liquor made with juices, sodas, and other nonalcoholic ingredients to provide a variety of flavours.
Restaurants usually make non-alcoholic cocktails fresh at the bar, rather than using a pre-bottled mixture or other ready-to-drink drinks.
Today's mocktails are just as sophisticated as their alcoholic counterparts, using a variety of ingredients to cover a variety of flavours and colours, garnishes included.
Mixologists are now seeking to include alcohol-free effervescence in drinks like the French 75, the Pornstar Martini, and the traditional Champagne cocktail, thanks to Thomson & Scott Noughty non-alcoholic sparkling wine.
6. ALCOHOL-FREE GIN OR SPIRIT ALTERNATIVES
Despite the fact that the sale of gin is soaring, the manufacturers acknowledge that alcohol consumption among gin drinkers has hit an all-time low, as clean eating becomes ever more important.
Juniper-based spirits such as gin that are free of alcohol are produced by steaming botanical elements such as coriander, cardamom, Persian dried lime, Sicilian lemon peel, and liquorice.
Rosmarinus officinalis, lippia citriodora, rosa, and helichrysum italicum are just some of the botanicals that may be used to create it. They are distilled individually and then mixed.
What’s the alternative to drinking alcohol to relax?
Because it is a part of everyday social situations, many people consume alcohol to relax or relieve stress. Health professionals are increasingly concerned about the long-term negative effects of this habit. Even if it is consumed in small quantities, alcohol consumption daily can result in substantial amounts over the course of a week.
Of course, there are numerous alternatives to drinking to relieve stress. Aerobic activities, such as walking, running, jogging, cycling, swimming, gardening, and sports, are one time-honored option.
There are also other options such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, and body scanning. This approach combines focused breathing with gradual, deliberate muscle relaxation.
What are the dangers of drinking too much alcohol?
There is a widely held belief that light to moderate drinking offers some degree of protection against heart disease. While this appears to be true in some cases, the benefits are likely due to other lifestyle factors rather than the alcohol consumption alone.
Over time, consuming too much alcohol can have destructive consequences to the body and mind. It may improve some mental faculties, but it may harm others if consumed excessively over time. In fact, drinking too much alcohol can significantly increase your risk of many life-threatening diseases and conditions. The excess consumption of ethanol has been linked with damaging effects on almost every organ in your body, especially the liver and brain. Even a single binge episode of heavy drinking can lead to lasting changes in brain chemistry and require weeks or months to return back to normal. Poor decision-making and bad judgment are common consequences of over-drinking, in addition to the next day's hangover.
Many people think of partying as synonymous with consuming alcohol, but this attitude is rapidly diminishing. People want to consume healthier foods, as a result of their own health, the environment, and animal welfare. This trend is also moving into the beverages business. People want purer beverages, less sugar, less alcohol, and more transparency about what is in their glass.
Future Outlook
Across the population, alcohol consumption will certainly decrease in the coming years for various reasons. Consumers are switching to new lifestyles, and the alcohol industry is realising that individuals want to find alternative methods to alcohol in order to relax, socialise, and have fun.
Whether you consume a lot or a little, it's critical to balance variety and moderation in your life. Choices on the grocery store shelves and in bars and restaurants will increase in the coming years. Whether you like to sip alcohol moderately or discover this burgeoning world of alcohol-free alternatives, moderation is our mantra.