Hold the hangover

Wine time has become the latest wellness trend as low and no alcohol drinks help us reimagine the meaning of happy hour.

Change is brewing in our drinking habits, with conscious consumption at the forefront for many. We’re drinking less, but better. And bar menus increasingly feature alcohol-free options to rival even the fanciest alcoholic concoctions. Hold the hangover, folks. Going alcohol free is the latest trend.

The figures back it up – according to La Trobe University’s Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, the number of younger Australians who don’t drink has doubled in the past 20 years, while data from Endeavour Group, the parent company of BWS and Dan Murphy’s, shows that sales of non-alcoholic drinks at its stores increased by more than 83 percent in just one year. This is not a trend that’s going away anytime soon. In fact, non-alcoholic wine is Australia’s fastest growing drinks category.

“The alcohol-free trend is part of a bigger health and wellness trend,” says Irene Falcone, founder of Australia’s first alcohol-free bottle shop, Sans Drinks, based in Sydney’s Northern Beaches. “Over the last decade, we’ve become more aware of what goes in and on our bodies. We’ve taken toxins out of our cosmetics, we’ve taken artificial colours and flavours out of our diets, we’ve swapped soft drinks for green smoothies – it was only a matter of time before we also cut back on alcohol. It’s the logical next step in any wellness journey.”

The ever-increasing range of non-alcoholic drinks – including beers, wines, and spirits – can benefit everyone, from those who choose full sobriety through to those who are simply saying no to excessive drinking. The idea of being labelled a ‘drinker’ or ‘non-drinker’ is outdated, and many people are finding a more comfortable middle ground. That could mean swapping out their midweek glass of wine with an alcohol-free alternative, choosing to drink a combination of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, or questioning why they feel the need to have a drink in the first place.

THE BOOZE-FREE BOOM

When it comes to both quality and quantity, Irene says the non-alcoholic offering has improved significantly over the past couple of years. “When I first stopped drinking alcohol, just over two years ago, I went into a bottle shop to pick up some alcohol-free beers,” she says. “When I asked where the alcohol-free section was, the person behind the counter looked at me like I was crazy. I knew straight away that there was a need for a store that specialises in high-quality, grown-up drinks that happen to be alcohol-free.”

Irene adds new products to the Sans Drinks online store every week and says there is an alcohol-free alternative for pretty much every alcoholic drink you can think of. “It’s also worth noting that these drinks are really good,” she adds. “The days of alcohol-free wine tasting like grape juice are long gone!” Irene explains that recent innovation means wine makers can remove alcohol without damaging the taste and aroma, resulting in alcohol-free wine that actually tastes like wine.

When Brunswick Aces, Australia’s first non-alcoholic bar, opened in 2020, it had already been distilling its own sapiir for three years. This is now served at their Melbourne venue alongside about 100 non-alcoholic beers, wines, cocktails, and mixed drinks. “Overall, as the market is so young and sober drinkers have been starved for choice and quality for so long, everything new they can try is popular as soon as we list it,” says cofounder and CEO Stephen Lawrence, who adds that the cocktail list is the favourite among their patrons. “We’ve seen people getting adventurous at home, so cocktail recipes and kits are also proving popular for those that like to get creative.”

FOMO NO MORE

Aware of the lack of traditional bars and restaurants that cater to abstainers, moderators, and the sober-curious, Stephen says that by offering a space to those who need it, they hope to further normalise moderation. “COVID-19 gave us the opportunity to reflect on what we wanted to offer to people as life returned to normal,” he says. “With the statistics clearly showing people had been drinking too much, we made the assumption that there would be a swing back to more balance.”

Catie Fry, the founder and master distiller of Gold Coast distillery Clovendoe, agrees that mindful drinking is on the rise. She began producing a range of non-alcoholic botanical spirits after a couple of long stints of having to abstain from alcohol due to pregnancies and breastfeeding. “I created them out of a desire to put an end to the dull, often childish drink offerings for those not drinking,” she says. “Often it is the FOMO feeling that gets in the way or makes it incredibly hard to abstain.”

Catie points out that, with more and more people choosing to reduce their intake or forgo alcohol all together, they also want better options. “They want flavour, they want adventure and sophistication, and most importantly, they no longer wish to hang out in FOMO land,” she says. “Pairing a refined, well-crafted, zero-proof spirit with soda water, tonic, or a delicate mixer, finished with a fresh garnish in a fancy glass – now the non-drinkers can smugly sip away at the bar, too.”

WE’LL DRINK TO THAT!

“There is no question that alcohol is bad news for our heath,” says Irene. “Study after study confirms this. On top of being free from alcohol, alcohol-free drinks can improve sleep, digestion, mood, and even sex.” Lots of alcohol-free drinks have added health benefits, says Irene. One of her favourites, Wild Life Botanicals, is a sparkling wine that is infused with vitamins, minerals, and botanicals, each chosen for their health-giving properties.

Stephen agrees there are many benefits to choosing alcohol-free, even if it’s just to cut back. “Brunswick Aces doesn’t preach total sobriety, we’re very much for moderation and what works for the individual,” he says. “For those that do choose sobriety, there are distinct benefits to physical wellness, more energy, better sleep, and healthier skin.”

Stephen adds that our mental health can also see improvements, with better memory, focus, and critical thinking just the start. “Many of our bar patrons share their stories with us and they are overwhelmingly positive, from those who stop using alcohol to cope with their emotions and use our space to reconnect with friends, to former addicts regaining control of their relationship with alcohol,” he says. “We’re proud to be part of our community’s journeys to happier lives.”

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