On the No & Low Alcohol Revolution, the Future of Social Drinking and The Driest Event of The Year.
For years, I have been fascinated by the No & Low Alcohol drinks movement. As someone who has been completely steeped in alcohol since my teens – both socially and professionally – whose mortgage, career and entire lifestyle frankly depend on people enjoying wine and other drinks in relatively decent quantities, I am not an obvious candidate for someone wanting to lead the No & Low revolution. Yet here I am.
The thing I love most about alcohol is its ability to bring us together. To toast the end of the day, or the beginning of the evening, by sharing a round or two with friends. The social signal a glass of wine sends – let’s switch off, catch up, and actually spend time together. The other thing I love is its ability to be transportive – to evoke emotions and memories, to speak of its place, its culture. All that.
Until recently, I didn’t think non-alcoholic drinks could match that. Historically, they have felt a bit ‘safe’, a bit dull, a bit second-rate compared to ‘the real thing’. They never carried the ‘adult’ character and quality I wanted. They felt a bit goodie-two-shoes compared to booze… But in the past five years, both for telly and other work, I’ve tasted more and more modern non-alcoholic drinks brands, innovating in their respective categories, and I’ve noticed a dramatic evolution in quality and diversity in the category. We now have non-alcoholic products available with all these desired attributes, ready to explore.
They feel grown up, high-quality and you swiftly forget they aren’t alcoholic, so you don’t feel left out from the party, as you did before.
The occasions I have found myself enjoying non-alcoholic drinks have grown, and now, my drinking landscape is quite different to that of even a year or two ago. I still go out as often, stay out as late and have as many hilarious, passionate conversations about nothing much, as I did before, but now it often doesn’t come with the hangover.
Great non-alcoholic drinks have total balance, incorporating acidity, texture, aromatic elements and more to give you a complete flavour journey.
Like great wine, or beer, they evolve on the palate and feel complete. They don’t all use sugar to broaden the palate either; many are remarkably dry. And while many of the most exciting are just ‘their own cool thing’, the ‘replica’ non-alcoholic products like beers, wines and spirits have rocketed in quality too. We are living in a golden era for great non-alcoholic drinks that are close to indistinguishable from their alcoholic counterparts. Beer certainly has hit that point. Non-alcoholic wines and spirits are harder categories to perfect, but there are brands today that are closing that gap dramatically.
We get told that it’s the younger generations drinking less, driving the innovation and demand for better non-alcoholic drinks options, and in part that’s true. Technology and health consciousness combine to reduce the occasions many younger people feel alcohol fits within their social lives, but, many of us who have grown up with alcohol as part of our social lifestyle are increasingly wanting to moderate our intake too. Whether that’s part of a consistent lifestyle, or for a few days off in the week, or even just between alcoholic drinks on a night out! Whatever it may be, none-of-us are keen to settle for something less exciting. This increased interest from all of us, resulting in greater spend in the non-alcoholic space, is literally driving the growth and innovation that is giving us better options. It’s a virtuous cycle – so if you want it, keep drinking it!
So, I’m a huge advocate for alcohol, in the right quantity and right time as a social lubricant – but personally, right now, I’m even more excited by the opportunity ‘not drinking’ presents us in 2025. It feels like a new frontier of socialising. I love the idea that these drinks are for everyone, to be used however you want – it certainly isn’t about being completely teetotal, unless you want to be. Whatever your interest in the No & Low category, I want to get everyone as excited by the quality of products available today. They should have a regular space on your drinks trolley!
So, I’ve put on Parched – The Driest Event of the Year. Taking place in Farringdon, London (1 hour direct from Brighton by train, the venue is a five-minute walk from Farringdon station) on Wednesday, 8th October. It will be the UK’s largest non-alcoholic drinks tasting ever, with over 100 products to taste and try out. You’ll meet the producers and learn about every conceivable style of non-alcoholic drink through a casual, walk-around tasting. Being a Sussex local, I wanted to showcase Brighton’s incredible hospitality scene too, so you’ll find Alistair Bell of Apiary (and some to-be-announced other big-name local bartenders too!) manning the Cocktail Lounge bar, mixing non-alcoholic cocktails to change your perception of how great mixed non-alcoholic drinks can be. You’ll also have Michael Bremner of Canopy (previously 64 Degrees) making bar snacks for tables in the Cocktail Lounge. Plus, a self-pour draught beer wall hosted by my little brother Will, Head Brewer at the brilliant Gun Brewery in Chiddingly. All this is included in the ticket price.
Use the code ‘PARCHED25HALF’ for 50% off the ticket price. Book here.
Some recommended Non-Alcoholic Drinks Brands to get you started (all will be at Parched)
Nolia Pale Ale NOLIA 0.5% Alcohol Free IPA – Beak Brewery
Extraordinary 0.5% ABV beer from the legends at Lewes brewery Beak. This is full-textured, beautifully balanced, brightly hopped, hazy pale ale in classic Beak style. Selling out constantly – seek it out!
Bolle Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine 0.5% /
Blanc de Blancs Alcohol-Free Sparkling Wine – Bolle Drinks – Bolle Drinks Limited
One of the very best non-alcoholic sparkling wines available in the UK. Italian Bolle make a great range of still and sparkling wines – dealcoholised via cutting-edge vacuum distillation and finished with a secondary fermentation, à la Champagne. This is fresh, textural and lingers long. It’s excellent.
Sentia Spirits Sentia Spirits – 0% ABV, Alcohol Free Functional Botanical Drink
A range of alcohol free, ‘functional’ spirits created by Professor David Nutt. They use botanical blends of natural plants and other ingredients to boost your mood, giving you a buzz without the booze. They also taste great and have huge application in cocktails.
INTUNE CBD Explore INTUNE’s CBD Soda Collection – INTUNE CBD SODA
Very well sourced, and transparent CBD soft drinks, registered with the FSA. These are high-quality soft drinks, each with 10mg of CBD to give you a calming sensation as you drink them. Great flavours, ideal grab-and-go but also great as the backbone of CBD Spritz style drinks.
