Give me a break
We all greet the new year in our own unique ways, so I will spare you the evangelizing about my own personal goals. More universal is the notion that the new year is a great opportunity to restructure or reimagine a relationship to booze. Drinking alcohol is delicious, tons of fun, and fully baked into our collective social structure. At the same time, alcohol boasts nearly no benefits when viewed from a health perspective.
The last two years have seen a surprising explosion of non-alc options in the market. Things have changed since I spied a 6-pack of St. Pauli Girl NA in my parents fridge twenty years ago; a sober friend brought them for a dinner party and they lived in the fridge in our garage for 10 years before they were thrown away, or consumed.
What I’ve noticed is more and more people are exploring a lifestyle with less booze. Anecdotally, nearly all of my immediate social circle seem to be rethinking their relationship with drinking. While no one has given it up, plenty are cutting back and leaning into alternatives - weed gummies all around!
The options below are brands and styles I enjoy at home throughout the year. A few years ago my wife and I made a decision to not drink at home unless we were entertaining. Short of a few random exceptions, we’ve stuck to it. That little decision felt monumental at the time, but now it’s just what we do. It led down a path of some other really amazing decisions around health, and in 2024, I’ve never felt better. At cocktail hour, we’ll reach for one of these, happily.
Perhaps you’ll find yourself doing the same. If not, no sweat. Be easy, and happy new year.
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