For ages, society has considered alcohol a way to take the edge off. To some it’s much more than a drink; it’s a conversation starter and liquid courage.
On HBO’s cult classic “Sex And The City,” Carrie Bradshaw’s signature cocktail, the cosmopolitan, was all the rage. If it wasn’t a cigarette in Bradshaw’s hand, it was a martini glass.
But what if Bradshaw’s cocktail was less vodka and more cranberry? Maybe she wouldn’t have run back to her toxic on-again, off-again boyfriend Mr. Big.
Mocktails are not just having a moment; they’ve become a permanent alternative.
A vast array of non-alcoholic options are available. Recess, Ritual and Spindrift canned mocktails are a few. Brands like Poppi and Olipop also make for great potential non-alcoholic substitutions.
Those nights of your head falling into a toilet bowl can be over. With a community of mocktail enthusiasts on social media, you can find delicious recipes with a simple scroll. Nutritional consultant, natural chef and content creator Blair Horton shares all things wellness including mocktail recipes on her Instagram holisticrendezvous.
Horton’s mocktails aren’t just pretty to look at; they have various health benefits.
“I feel like mocktails for a while were just seen as fruit juice and sparkling water or a lot of sugar and soda,” said Horton. “But I really focus on how to make this something that’s beneficial for our bodies and also has a depth of flavor, more similar to a cocktail at a fancy bar or something.”
Every activity doesn’t require booze. Trust me, sober nights can be eventful too.
I’m not one to shame or pass judgment on anyone who drinks alcohol, as long as you can hold your liquor. However, in college I’ve witnessed so many unfortunate events like drunken injuries and even a scary case or two of alcohol poisoning.
I think it’s refreshing to see my friends and peers not relying on alcohol to make a night out exciting.
Generation Z and millennials are the face of the mocktail movement. Drinking culture is becoming less and less attractive due to the harmful mental and physical effects.
According to “Forbes” magazine “Gen z drink on average 20% less than the previous generation”.
Don’t let your sober friends take a seat on the sidelines just because they opt out of alcohol. While college bars are still playing catch up, restaurants see the surge of mocktails as an opportunity to curate well crafted alternatives that taste and look just as good as the original cocktails. So consider a restaurant bar for a night out.
Some people let alcohol control their entire mood. They can only be the life of the party with a drink in hand or need a round of shots to be a good conversationalist.
The mocktail movement is an opportunity for those who hide behind alcohol to develop a personality without it. Unfortunately alcohol is used as a crutch way too often. It’s one thing to enjoy a cocktail every now and then versus reenacting the “Hangover”.
You’re not a prude because you prefer a mocktail over a traditional cocktail. At the end of the day it’s all about knowing your limits and choosing accordingly.
I’ve definitely had nights out where people assume my group has had our fair share of alcohol because we’re having such a good time dancing and enjoying the vibes when in reality most of us are not consuming any alcohol at all, we just know how to have hangover free fun.
Nobody wants to babysit wasted friends, it’s not just annoying it’s potentially dangerous.
More than a few people have admitted that they’ve developed an unhealthy relationship with alcohol since starting college which has led to their growing interest in mocktails.
As we approach football season full of tailgating and nights in tiger stadium, think about filling those coolers with delicious zero proof options alongside your twisted teas so the party never ends.
Ava Francis is a 22-year-old journalism major from New Orleans residing in Texas.
