Opinion | Why alcoholic drinks still have a special place in many people’s lives despite the rise in alcohol-free beers, wines, cocktails and spirits

Non-alcoholic drinks are everywhere, disguised as the real thing. This assumes we imbibe to look like we belong, but there’s more to drinking than that

Alcohol releases endorphins and aids group interaction, and there’s craftsmanship to appreciate in wine and whisky. That’s why they won’t go out of fashion

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A group of people enjoying a tipple. Non-alcoholic drinks are ‘in’, but does this mean real wine and cocktails are on their way out? Photo: Getty Images

Victoria Chow

Published: 4:45pm, 4 Nov 2022

You’ve noticed the trend – the no-ABV cocktails, non-alcoholic beers, faux spirits … It’s now cool to be sober, and the numbers don’t lie. There has been a 506 per cent growth in the non-alcoholic beverages market in the last seven years alone.

After all the sober-October preaching last month, I’m here to argue why alcohol still very much has a special place in our lives and will never be “out”.

The new wave of non-alcoholic drinks always tout their ability to help you “fit in” at a bar or a party when you’re not imbibing – the cans look just like beer cans, the bottles look just like wine bottles, and that Seedlip mocktail sure looks just like a gin and tonic.

That assumes that the only reason we drink is to look like we belong, so let’s address a few other reasons we booze in the first place … (Before I start, I’d like to note that choosing not to drink alcohol is obviously a personal decision, and there should never be a need to explain yourself.)

Staying sober is becoming increasingly trendy, but alcohol will surely never lose its utility as a social lubricant. Photo: Getty Images

Biologically, we drink to feel good! Endorphins, a natural opiate, are released when we drink. Our prefrontal cortexes are also suppressed, putting us in a trusting, open, childlike state.

I don’t know about you, but that state is elusive these days. With endless news on death/doom/disaster, on top of social media always making us feel a little bit inadequate, it is a welcome mental respite.