Get Tipsy Without Alcohol!?

Now that we’ve reached an era where computers are stealing everyone’s jobs, it’s hard not to succumb to the sweet embrace of alcohol.

That being said, the sober curious movement has more members than ever before, and it seems that the younger generations aren’t as open to weekly hangovers as millennials were.

Long gone are the days of coming to work on a Monday morning fighting off what could only be described as the worst headache anyone’s ever had.

Instead, young people are getting their buzz on without ever cracking open a cold one, at least in the more traditional sense.

This new generation of beverages promises all the ups without any of the negatives standard alcoholic drinks come with, and there’s no real downside to giving them a shot.

Mood-adjusting drinks

Ever heard of study drugs?

They’re supposed to boost one’s focus and have become popular with university students in the early 2010s, and it seems they’ve evolved into something entirely different.

Unlike your run-of-the-mill IPA, which’ll get you walking funny after only 2 pints, these carefully crafted drinks are so much more than just alcohol.

By combining botanicals, adaptogens, and nootropics, a new form of „buzz” has been created, allowing one to remain calm and focused while also promising a good night’s sleep.

On top of this, the beverages are advertised as being capable of delivering some level of a psychedelic high, and while this may affect its legality should the product ever become mainstream, it’s definitely a step in the right direction.

Harry Cooke, the founder of Collider drinks stated that the main problem everyone faces when trying to mimic an alcoholic beverage is the flavour.

However, his company took a step away from all that, and decided to focus on the experience you get from booze instead, and with so many compounds that generate similar results, it was the only logical path to take.

Cooke even goes as far as to claim that within the next 5 years, more than half of all the non-alcoholic options out there will have some sort of mood-adjusting components in them. 

Three spirit

A bit of an older brand in this market, Three Spirit was founded by Dash Lilley back in 2018, making them among the first to popularize adaptogen drinks.

These plant and herb extracts have been found to reduce stress and fatigue, which is often what people who drink alcohol are actually looking for.

Lilley essentially cornered the market and presented a new product, one that could be enjoyed even by those who choose to stay away from alcohol.

Ever since then, Three Spirit has been pumping out quality products, year after year, each with its own unique spin on getting a „buzz” while remaining alcohol-free.

Amass

Unlike Collider and Three Spirit, Amass’ founder Morgan McLachlan took on a more „punk rock” approach to distilling alcohol-free beverages.

By experimenting with various herbs and plants, she created her signature Riverine gin blend, incorporating more than 25 different botanicals.

If you look at the ingredient list on Amass’ products you’ll find it’s packed with various roots, peels, and herbs with medicinal and psychedelic properties.

From lion’s mane mushrooms to sarsaparilla, McLachlan has tried it all, and she claims that her Riverine gin may just be one of the more complex alcohol-free alternatives out there. 

Sentia

Put together by brilliant neuropsychopharmacologist Prof. David Nutt, Sentia spirits embody decades of research in the field of alcohol-free beverages.

With his extensive knowledge of how the human brain works, Nutt created a spirit that calms the brain and gives your central nervous system a time-out.

According to the brand, this feeling of relaxation comes immediately after only a few drinks, and it perfectly replicates that sense of having sat down after standing for hours on end that alcohol provides.

The tasting notes of Gaba Black are those of spiced pepper, which provides the beverage with an earthy aroma and a smoky finish, perfect for anyone who’s a fan of good liquor.

Unfortunately, it pales in comparison to other drinks on the market when it comes to effectiveness, so steer clear unless you’re a big fan of Nutt’s work.

Conclusion

Having tasted a great deal of non-alcoholic drinks that promise to deliver a buzz, it’s safe to say that there’s a new kid on the block in the alcohol industry.

There’s no doubt that these drinks will grow in popularity over the coming years, and if Gen Z continues its trend of straying further away from alcohol and conventional drugs, brands like Collider and Three Spirit could pave the way for hundreds of others looking to make a name for themselves.

In general, it provides the same feeling alcohol does, albeit a bit slower, but once you realize you won’t be waking up tomorrow wishing last night had never happened, it suddenly doesn’t seem all that bad.

That being said, there’s little regulation on these substances, and we have yet to see a professional tell us just how much ashwagandha is too much for you, or if it’s even good for you.

Time will tell, and as these brands make their way onto the market, the FDA will find a niche to place them in.

No matter how you look at it, the adaptogen trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon, and you’d be doing yourself a favor if you stayed ahead of the curve.