Quitting drinking is a life-changing step for many people, but it can also be difficult. The Dry January or Sober October challenge may help you embrace non-alcoholic options, but making them a year-round practice requires some focus and suitable alternatives. Restaurants and bars in the U.S. and around the world are starting to capture the sober and the sober-curious crowd. In fact, in 2024, 61 percent of Gen Zers said they plan to reduce their alcohol intake, compared to 40 percent in 2023. According to research by NCSolutions. The survey found that almost half of millennials said they plan to drink less alcohol by 2024, a 26% increase from last year.
A scroll through social media confirms that many people are interested in drinking less, but many servers and bartenders remain perplexed by guests asking about non-alcoholic wines or alternative cocktails. It seems that. (PSA: Don't say mocktail. The term is used to refer to fakes, but some people find it derogatory and disrespectful to sober people.) (We feel that this suggests that the N/A cocktail is a lesser version of an established drink.)
“People are becoming more comfortable with non-alcoholic options and naturally expect more diverse and unique choices,” says bar manager Davide Segat. Nomad Hotel he told the Observer in London. “We're seeing people becoming more knowledgeable about the products on the market and developing their own favorites. We're also seeing people becoming more conscious about their drinking. Some regulars alternate between stirring and non-alcoholic cocktails for balance and more enjoyment.”
Alcoholic beverages offer the potential for conversation, but they also serve a practical function, especially during meals. A glass of wine, beer, or Negroni has a bitter, dry taste that balances the dish and cleanses the palate. It's not a good idea to drink sodas or juices that are too sweet, or non-alcoholic mojitos. As the hospitality industry becomes more accepting of sober and sober-minded drinkers, what to order, how to order it, and how to stock your home bar without compromising flavor. You'll have to navigate a bit to find out.
find your reason
In addition to drinking problems, there are many reasons why people decide to quit drinking, including health concerns, health conditions, and pregnancy. The “reason” is usually personal and does not necessarily mean the person is an alcoholic or problem drinker. Anyone interested in exploring a sober or sober-curious lifestyle must determine how quitting drinking will impact their life.
Master mixologist at Wynn Resorts Wynn Las Vegas“The Drink Well Program,” he told the Observer. “I don't think feeling great and drinking great booze are necessarily mutually exclusive. Personally, I've been sober for seven years, and I still create cocktail experiences and… I wake up every day excited to try new spirits and create trends within the industry.”
After you stop drinking or finish Dry January, Segat recommends taking a mental note of how you're feeling and moving forward with it. “You can safely guess [you] “I see some positive changes,” he says of trends like Dry January. “The main benefits include increased productivity, better sleep, mental clarity, focus, and more energy. And, 'If you feel better in so many ways, why not keep going?'” I will ask.”
Mr. Abe Zarate (Sommelier) modern In New York City, the benefits feel endless. The important things include saving money and not having a hangover. A good starting point is to reevaluate your relationship with alcohol. “We may have assumed that alcohol was something that would give us qualities, but without alcohol, the moments of clarity that often make us uncomfortable are the ones we actually crave.” “It gives you an opportunity to dig deeper. It's never just about the drinks,” Zarate says.
stay social
Switching to sobriety doesn't mean you stop drinking or going out, it just means changing what you drink while you're drinking. Whether you're attending a concert, going on a night out on the town, or having dinner with a group of friends, there are ways to feel included without having to drink. For example, when Zarate stopped drinking, he focused on taking small shifts instead of just staying home to avoid social situations.
“I knew I would end up in an environment with materials, and I didn't want to be forever afraid of materials,” he says. “For these reasons, I decided not to change my lifestyle. I simply changed the drinks I had, and now I am more considerate of the people I share the same space with.” is not so much about avoiding alcohol as it is about becoming increasingly accustomed to the strangeness and awkwardness of emotions and social dynamics.”
For Segatto, going out without alcohol can actually be a more positive experience. What is his main tip? “Don't worry too much. You can still go out and socialize. Your friends will be happy to see you making healthy choices and taking care of yourself, and they'll probably You will. There's a lot of stigma about going out sober, and that worry probably comes from you.”
People may be surprised at how much they can enjoy a night out without drinking, he added. It's a “better connection with people,” Segat said, adding: “You don't have to drink too much and regret your stupid choices.”
Know the alternatives
Of course, non-drinkers can also visit upscale cocktail bars where bartenders like Segatto and Boarini create unique, balanced drinks that just happen to be alcohol-free. His NoMad in London offers a full menu of non-alcoholic cocktails across its two bars. But many other spots, especially outside metropolitan areas and some parts of Europe and America that are very attached to drinking, have yet to fully catch up with this trend. When you ask for a non-alcoholic drink menu, you're usually given a list of sodas. Or that horrible non-alcoholic mojito (which is actually just an overpriced soda!). If you don't want to stick around,
“With so many creative ingredients coming out, I usually like to look over the cocktail menu first and try to break down the clever n/a [cocktail]while utilizing ingredients that I know and enjoy in the bar.” boarini suggests. “for example, [if I’m] Noting a spicy cucumber margarita and a tiki cocktail with pink guava juice on the menu, I decided to ask the bartender to create a non-alcoholic spicy tropical margarita using pink guava juice. Masu. Bartenders enjoy being creative, and being able to voice the flavors and styles you enjoy will help the bartender curate something unique for you. ”
Zarate encourages bartenders to make recommendations, but he's also a fan of simple N/A drinks. “I love tonic
And if your options suck, speak up. “Be sure to request it,” Segat says. “The more questions people ask, the more likely professional bartenders and owners will understand that there is a greater demand and respond to it.”
Stock up your home bar
Your home bar doesn't have to be filled only with whiskey and tequila. These days, there are more and more options for non-alcoholic spirits on the market, many of which can be used to recreate classic cocktails or create new ones.
“A good cocktail is completely subjective, so I always encourage people to identify what they enjoy drinking, understand the DNA of a cocktail, and find non-alcoholic alternatives to help them do that. “I encourage people to find ways to imitate it,” Borini says. “Right now, what I'm passionate about is Lyre's Non-Alcoholic Classico Sparkling Wine, it tastes exactly like champagne and is very nostalgic. I love drinking it straight from a cold glass or making a N/A spritz. Italian Spritz non-alcoholic aperitif”
Other popular alternative brands include Seedlip, Pentyre, Spiritless Kentucky 74, Monday, Ritual, Everleaf, Optimist Botanicals, Philia, and Wilfred. But you don't have to invest in non-alcoholic spirits to make delicious cocktails at home, Segat says. He suggests “increasing the variety of teas you make at home” to make it easier to mix drinks. “Tea is one of the tastiest and most versatile of his N/A drinks out there,” says Segat. “It's very easy to make and there are a lot of flavors to choose from, and you can adapt based on those.”
When it comes to non-alcoholic beer, the world is right for your taste. Not so much for non-alcoholic wine. But thankfully, that list continues to grow. Zarate's favorite is Thomson & Scott Naughty Sparkling Rose. He also recommends trying Leitz's Einzwei Zero, Surely Sparkling Selbach Osterfankerwurz Zero, and white wine alternatives. proxy.
embrace evolution
Most importantly, don't get carried away trying to recreate exactly the alcoholic beverage you once loved. Being sober means finding new favorites and enjoying fresh options like Kombucha Sparkling Wine and his creative N/A Spritz.
“There are a lot of great products on the market, but [oftentimes] We think of a great non-alcoholic product as something that tricks people into thinking it's 'the real deal,''' Zarate explains. “I see real progress in the N/A category as the entire focus shifts to creating high-quality beverages that simply taste good, whether they are reminiscent of wine or not. The demand is already there. It exists.”
“We are in an exciting time where there are many innovative non-alcoholic spirits that mimic the flavors of gin, tequila, amaro, vermouth, wine, champagne and more,” Borini added. “Paired with craft elixirs such as fermented kombucha and tepache, flavored sodas and tonics, herbs, black teas, chisane, and innovative garnishes, non-alcoholic beverages have the hallmarks of mixology culture, yet are sophisticated, refined, and It allows us to create a robust flavor experience, expressing flavor while telling a story.”
While more and more people are considering quitting alcohol or cutting down on alcohol consumption for a variety of reasons, it's clear that the hospitality industry still has some catching up to do (well, when it comes to using the word mocktail). But every step toward becoming more accepting of people who don't drink is a positive one.