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Words by George Nash.
January. A time for resolutions, predictions and discussions about exactly how long into the month you can say ‘Happy New Year’ before it gets a bit weird.
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It is also a period for addressing the imbalance brought on by an overly indulgent festive period. A chance to flush out all those extra roast potatoes, after dinner chocolates, and 10am glasses of Prosecco.
For some, that takes the form of a shiny new gym membership. For others, it is proudly adopting the ‘new year, new me’ mantra. But for many people in the UK, abstaining from alcohol for 31 days is their detox of choice, in what has widely become known as Dry January.
And it’s a trend that seems to have caught on in recent years. Recent YouGov data has revealed that 10% of adults in Britain plan to stay off the booze for the first month of 2025, with those in the 18-24 age bracket the most likely to give it a go.
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Overall health improvement, as well as a healthier bank balance, appear to be the primary reasons for ditching the drink. But it also gives people the chance to explore the world of alcohol-free beverages; an opportunity to dip their toe - probably not literally, but each to their own I guess - in a new, non-boozy tipple of choice.
What is the booze alternative that everyone's talking about?
One such option garnering significant attention online is the range of non-alcoholic drinks from Sentia Spirits.
The brainchild of Professor David Nutt - a leader in psychopharmacology, the study of substances that influence mental states - Sentia Spirits are designed to serve as an 'effective alternative to drinking low levels of alcohol'. It promises to deliver that ‘gentle buzz’ of feeling tipsy without the subsequent hangover.
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As someone who, coincidentally, is partial to the gentle buzz of feeling tipsy but much less partial to a hangover, I decided I would be the perfect candidate to give Sentia Spirits a go at a recent get-together with some friends.
I opted for the GABA Gold, a caffeine-free, gluten-free, vegan drink boasting ‘a dynamic fusion of functional botanicals’ which contains hops and schisandra, a fruit-bearing vine used in traditional Chinese medicine.
GABA stands for gamma-aminobutyric acid, a substance that naturally occurs in the body and acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain and nervous system.
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Sentia has been created to mimic the calming effect GABA produces in humans, giving drinkers that ‘sweet spot’ of feeling relaxed and sociable.
The drink claims to give you a ‘calm, lifted mood, and mental balance … bringing warmth and wellness to all your social gatherings.’
What really happened when I tried the non-alcoholic tipple
In all honesty, I was initially skeptical. It all sounded a little too spiritual, like the ramblings of your aunt’s hunky new pilates instructor, who wears a shark-tooth necklace and plays keyboard in an alternative rock band called Synthetic Mammals.
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But I was more than willing to be proven wrong. And what better setting to have my narrow-minded world view expanded than in the company of close pals after a heated game of Catan?
I began by sipping it neat. Personal preference notwithstanding, it’s probably not something I would recommend. As someone with a rather blemished history with sub-par Skittle bombs at University pre-drinks, the citrusy-sweet flavour of the GABA Gold (£32 for 50cl) immediately brought up some long-repressed memories of spinning rooms and pounding headaches.
However, after mixing it with something as simple as tonic water and ice, the taste became far more palatable. And after a few minutes, I began to feel a subtle-but-notable warming buzz; a feeling of comforting relaxation, as if I had just been given a hug by Sulley from Monsters, Inc. while Sir David Attenborough ASMR played in the background.
Several sips later the sensation remained. It didn’t quite give me the urge to oil up the hips and break out some questionable dance moves, or fire up SingStar and belt out my finest rendition of Busted’sYear 3000, but there was a discernible feeling of contentment.
One of my friends agreed. “Not bad at all, I definitely feel a bit more chilled. And there is a surprisingly pleasant depth of flavour, too,” she said.
Another added: “Really nice. I could get very used to that.”
While another gave an equally glowing reference, simply uttering the words “would drink again” between glugs with all the eloquence of someone for whom the use of an adjective and a slap in the face are one and the same.
So would I drink it again?
For me, drinking Sentia Spirits turned out to be a largely pleasant experience. So much so that I’d be keen to try the other flavours in the range, which include GABA Red (spiced berries) and GABA Black (earthy, smoky and bitter).
I found it to be an enjoyable, satisfying beverage that retained many of the same perks as drinking booze but with far fewer cons. Free from the warped sense of reality that can come with a hangover, consider me something of a GABA convert.
Perhaps this really is a case of ‘new year, new me’ after all.
What's in the Sentia Spirits range?
There are currently three different spirits up for grabs online, priced at £32 for a 50cl bottle, and they're each designed for different occasions: Sentia Red, Sentia Black, and Sentia Gold. You can find out what each beverage has been created for below (for US shoppers via Amazon).
- GABA Black: to boost productivity or jumpstart evening plans
- GABA Red: to chill out and unwind
- GABA Gold: to bring warmth and wellness to social gatherings
Visit Sentia Spirits online to find out more.
The best booze alternatives to try now
Best for IPA fans: BERO Variety Pack, £27 (approx)
Tom Holland’s new sober drinks range is a pretty good place to start. The variety pack comes with three booze-free tinnies: Kingston Golden Pils, Edge Hill Hazy IPA, and Noon Wheat. It’s gone down a treat with customers too - just take a look at the five-star reviews if you need convincing.
Best imitation stout: Guinness Zero, £2.83 per can
Guinness fans say this is the closest you’ll get to the real deal - and production of Guinness Zero tripled last year, so you’ll be in good company here.
Best ice-cold lager: Peroni, £4.60 per case
Of course, there was only one place to look. Peroni 0.0% claims to have the flavour of the renowned lager without the booze. It’s only £4.60 for a case, so you’re saving pennies too.
Best IPA variety pack: Lucky Saint, £22 (12 pack)
One of the best non-alcoholic beer brands on the market, Lucky Saint proudly uses centuries-old techniques to create modern beers that give maximum flavour (without the hangover). This pack comes with everything you need to survive Dry Jan: a new Superior Hazy IPA and Superior Unfiltered Lager.
Best real-tasting G&T: Tanqueray Alcohol Free Spirit, £15.90
If your go-to order is a good old G&T, then look no further than Tanqueray. Fans recommend mixing with a mediterranean tonic for best results.
Best booze-free cider: Galipette Brut Dry Cider, £30 per litre
If it’s cider you’re after, then Galipette has hundreds of five-star reviews. One shopper raved: “Wow. This is now my number one alcohol-free cider. I love the balance of sharpness and sweetness which, for me, is spot on.” Sold.
Most impressive rum: Caleño Dark and Spicy, £19
The best alternative to spiced rum? Caleño Dark and Spicy. Crafted from tropical pineapple, fiery ginger, and zesty limes, it’s a punchy flavour that feels like summer.
Topics: Dry January
The LADbible Team