The Sober Revolution: Prioritising Mental Health Through Alcohol-Free Drinks
Statistics show that the number of individuals in the UK who are teetotal (i.e. do not drink alcohol at all) has increased in the past few years. To confirm this, you only need to look at the increased popularity of hashtags such as #sobercurious, #sobersexy and #soberlife. This is not a fad; however, it is driven by something more serious – focusing on better mental health.
Alcohol is a depressant. Drinking too much of it can disrupt the chemical messengers in your brain, affecting your behaviour, feelings and thoughts. We love a G&T or a glass of wine or two here at Citizen Spritz, but we also wanted a drink that could help us drink a little less – all of the flavour but no hangover! So, we developed our range of no-alcohol instant spritzes with complex flavour profiles usually only found in alcoholic drinks.
The impact of alcohol on mental health
According to the NHS, alcohol is “a powerful chemical that can have a wide range of adverse effects on almost every part of your body, including your brain, bones and heart.” Alcohol affects the chemicals in our brains by slowing down how our brain and central nervous system work. These chemical changes can mean that negative feelings start to take over, causing you to feel anxious, angry and even depressed.
Research has shown that about 25% of the 589,000 people in England who are dependent on alcohol are also likely to be receiving mental health medication – primarily for anxiety and depression, but also for bipolar disorder, psychosis and sleep problems.
In contrast, alcohol is often described as the UK’s favourite way to cope with stress and anxiety. A study by Drinkaware, released in 2019, found that 60% of young adults (aged 18-34) believed pressure to drink was common amongst their peers. This figure dropped to 29% of those aged 35-54 and 20% of those aged 55 and over. The research said that most people who gave in to peer pressure and went on to drink regretted it later.
The benefits of alcohol-free drinks for mental health
The non-alcoholic spritz drinks we have created here at Citizen Spritz can provide the same social and psychological benefits as alcohol. Designed to be drunk like a cocktail, with the addition of garnishes like orange slices and so on, so that you don’t feel like you’re missing out – and other people won’t even know you’re drinking a non-alcoholic drink (unless you tell them).
The physical health benefits associated with drinking non-alcoholic drinks are numerous but include:
- A more balanced mood as alcohol is not temporarily boosting the serotonin levels in your bloodstream.
- Better sleep as your blood pressure and heart rate will remain stable when there is no alcohol in your central nervous system.
- Enhanced liver function as your liver is not working to filter the toxins associated with alcohol out of your system.
Tips for incorporating alcohol-free drinks into your life
Citizen Spritz no-alcohol spritzes are so simple to make and tasty to drink; they can be enjoyed whenever you like. Whether you pour yourself one after a long day at work, when socialising with your friends, or even to enjoy the sunset with a loved one, they work whatever the occasion.
To enjoy any of our four launch flavours, add 175ml of cold sparkling water to 25ml of your chosen spritz and enjoy over ice.
A wide range of mental health benefits are associated with choosing alcohol-free drinks over alcoholic drinks. We’re not suggesting you have to give up alcohol completely, but why not prioritise your mental health by choosing a non-alcoholic beverage, like our zero-alcohol spritz, sometimes? We must all care for our mental health, and we would be more than happy to be part of that journey with you.
Practice moderation effortlessly with our flavourful alcohol-free aperitif spritz.
