Energy + Focus Starter Pack (Gummies)Alcohol Alternatives
Keep the night. Change what is in your hand
The short version
- An alcohol alternative should do one of three jobs. Taste, ritual or feel
- Zero proof drinks cover taste and ritual
- Kava, kanna and functional mushrooms bring a feel of their own
- Kava never goes with alcohol. It replaces it
Somebody at the table orders a soda water with lime. Ten years ago that got a look. Now nobody blinks.
Something shifted. A lot of people still want the bar, the table and the late night. They just want to remember all of it.
So what goes in the glass instead? Here is the honest map.
What the drink was doing
- Taste. Something grown up to sip
- Ritual. The clink. The first pour. The signal that the day is done
- Feel. Shoulders down. Talk flowing
No single swap does all three. The good nights use two.
The alcohol alternatives, one by one
Alcohol free beer and wine. The closest match on taste. Good for a toast. No feel beyond the ritual.
Zero proof spirits and aperitifs. Bitter, herbal, built for a real glass and a big ice cube.
Sparkling water, tea and kombucha. Simple and everywhere. Kombucha can carry a trace of alcohol, so check the bottle.
Kava. A Pacific Island root shared in circles for more than 3,000 years. People describe a relaxed body and easy conversation with a clear head. Kava 101.
Kanna. A South African plant shared after long hunts. Open, warm, close. What is kanna.
Functional mushrooms. Lion's mane, reishi and cordyceps in something made to break and share. Start here.
Side by side
| Taste | Ritual | Feel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol free beer and wine | Yes | Yes | None |
| Zero proof spirits | Yes | Yes | None |
| Sparkling water and tea | Light | Some | None |
| Kava | Earthy on its own | Made for a circle | Relaxed, social |
| Kanna | Mild | Shared | Open, close |
| Functional mushroom chocolate | Dark chocolate | Broken and passed | Depends on the ritual |
For a dry month
- Week one. Stock the fridge before the first Friday. An empty fridge is how dry months end
- Week two. Host. Your table, your rules. Saturday night kava rituals
- Week three. Go out anyway. Order the good zero proof thing
- Week four. Notice the mornings. Decide what stays
The fine print, because we respect you
- Kava and alcohol do not mix. Pick one for the night
- Skip kava with any liver condition
- Kanna does not go with antidepressants. Talk to a physician first
- Pregnant, nursing or on medication? Ask a doctor before trying any of them
- If drinking feels hard to step away from, talk to a doctor. That is what they are there for
The round, reimagined
Bliss Chocolate RitualNoble kava extract, organic 8:1 reishi and L theanine in 58% organic cacaoShop the chocolate
Relaxation Chocolate RitualOrganic kanna extract, organic 8:1 cordyceps and L theanine in 58% organic cacaoShop the chocolate
Every amount and the daily limit are printed on the pack. Lab tested. 100% compostable packaging.
Fast answers
What is the best alternative to alcohol?
It depends on the job. For taste, a zero proof drink. For a social feel, many people reach for kava.
What can I have instead of wine at dinner?
Alcohol free wine or a bitter aperitif in a wine glass. Add a square of chocolate at dessert.
Does kava feel like alcohol?
Not the same. Relaxed and social, with a clear head.
Can I mix kava and alcohol?
No. Pick one.
Are these safe for everyone?
No. Anyone pregnant, nursing, on medication or with a liver condition should talk to a doctor first.
Keep reading
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2002. Consumer advisory on kava containing dietary supplements
- World Health Organization and FAO, 2016. Kava: a review of the safety of traditional and recreational beverage consumption
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
