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Here's to a sassy dry January

Cheers to dry January 2022! We've a special reason to celebrate. As it seems January 2022 is set to become the biggest dry January on record.

Which makes a lot of sense. As after months of festivities. January is the perfect time to reset and take a break from all that alcohol. 

It's now easier than ever to participate in dry January. Nowadays there's so much variety in the low and non alcoholic drinks department. With almost all tastes being catered for. 

Why take part in dry January?

Most of us know that alcohol can be dehydrating. Responsible for fat deposits in the body and cellulite. 

Too much booze is known to cause a poor night's sleep - and poor choices. It speeds up the ageing process and can be potentially harmful to the liver. 

As we age. It becomes more and more important to drink in moderation.

 

So this dry January. I've been trying out a zero alcohol cider. Containing 100% organic. Normandy apples. 

Sassy is an orange coloured. Zero alcohol cider. Produced and bottled in France.

Available to order online at maison-sassy.com along with a variety of other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Us Brits love a good tipple. From beers to cocktails. The alcoholic drink industry continues to surprise us. With an impressive and ever growing library of the strong stuff. 

However. The rise of a non-alcoholic drinks market has forever changed the face of the industry. 

An increasing number of people are swapping their regular pint for a non-alcoholic one. Meaning the sale of non-alcoholic beer grew by 58 per cent between 2019 and 2020.

As for alcohol, Beck’s reported a year-on-year decline in sales by 26 per cent in 2019. Along with Carlsberg Pilsner declining by 11 per cent. So why is the UK opting for a soft drink over a sore head?

Personally. I love a tasty soft drink. That's targeted at adults. It's totally different to buying basic soft drinks. Which are a lot less sophisticated. Very sugary and typical in taste.

That's where non-alcoholic wine. Spirits and beers save the day. Satisfying those like me. Who love the taste experience of alcohol. However. Wish to preserve our mental and physical health, by drinking responsibly.

The alcoholic drinks market is booming with a wealth of beer and gin varieties. Popular brands like Gordon's. Bombay Sapphire and Beefeater continue to satisfy the nation’s taste buds. With a variety of stuff drinks. Including rhubarb. Elderflower. Blood orange and ginger. 

However. With reports highlighting a decline in alcoholic drinks sales. Some brands have started to present consumers with dry January approved 'NOLO' (no and low alcohol) alternatives. 

Three Spirit. Seedlip Spice and Amplify Distilled Alcohol-Free Spirits are changing the gin market forever. Each offer a tasty dry January alternative to those who enjoy the sociable aspect of drinks with friends. Minus the next day hangover.

There's even an increase in fancy. Alcohol free bars and restaurants across some parts of the UK. Two of which I've visited here in London. Click the following link to read about my time there : www.gonesunwhere.com/no-low

As for the sale of beers and lagers. Some of the market’s most popular brands have introduced an alcohol-free line of beverages. Beck’s, for example, released Beck’s Blue - an alcoholic-free lager that is fat-free and just 53 calories per 275ml bottle. 

In more recent years, Heineken launched Heineken 0.0 in 2017. For those who regularly opt for the alcohol-free option, you’ll know these drinks taste almost identical to their alcoholic counterpart. Making it easy for even the most sceptical of booze lovers to join in the dry January trend.

According to a 2020 report. The UK is becoming a lot more health-conscious in general. One way this is reflected is through the rise of veganism. With increasing numbers of people reducing animal product consumption. Or swapping to a plant based diet altogether.  

Other than the classic beer and gins that never fail to satisfy the nation. The rise of kombucha is sending waves through the drinks industry. 

Kombucha is another popular alcoholic drink replacement that has seen a growth in sales. This green or black tea infused drink has added strains of healthy bacteria, and is left to ferment. 

It's the fermentation process that's responsible for breaking down sugars into CO2 and alcohol. However, commercial kombucha contain less than 0.5% alcohol.

There's yet another non-alcoholic drink set to make fresh waves in the industry. The humble slushie. Typically associated with childhood summers. Has been repackaged into non-alcoholic-slush options aka frozen cocktails. These drinks present our favourite cocktails. Including strawberry daiquiri. With or without alcohol.

All things considered. It's no surprise that the UK’s perception of alcohol-free drinks is changing. The biggest dry January on record was reported in 2021. With 6.5 million people taking part in the UK. 

So it seems dry January and the demand for no-low drinks isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.