“Let’s go for drinks?” – so goes the siren call of countless millennials while arranging weekend plans. I am among this demographic, whose main social activity consists of eating and drinking, though Mintel reports that around a third of people aged 18 to 24 do not drink alcohol at all. Their influence, alongside a growing awareness surrounding the deleterious effects of alcohol on our physical and mental health, are two reasons the trillion-dollar non-alcoholic drinks industry is expected to grow by over four per cent annually in the next five years.
As a woman in my early 30s – with a penchant for the occasional gin and tonic or two – I’m now aware that even moderate alcohol intake is linked to countless diseases, impacting our hormones and “disrupting the gut’s intestinal barrier integrity and microbiome, which can increase inflammation, and impact our fertility and emotional wellbeing”, explains Rhian Stephenson, nutritionist and founder of Artah. “Women who have three alcoholic drinks a week also have a 15 per cent higher risk of breast cancer, compared to women who don’t drink at all.”
It’s sobering stuff – quite literally. But on a quest to cut down, I discovered a world of delicious drinks that don’t just forgo alcohol, but also boast ingredients that actively enhance our wellbeing. These include nootropics (for cognitive health), adaptogens (to reduce stress) and ferments (for gut health), which is why they’re named “functional drinks” within industry circles. They work hard to improve our health – all we have to do is drink them.
Founded in 2019 by Olivia Ferdi and her now husband Daniel Khoury, Trip is one of the fastest-growing soft-drink companies in the UK – one brightly coloured can is sold every second, and it’s no surprise. “The number one reason people drink alcohol is to relax,” Ferdi explains. “If you are looking for a drink that doesn’t contain alcohol, but you still want to chill out, Trip offers a number of health benefits, and still feels like a treat.”
The majority of Trip’s drinks harness the therapeutic properties of CBD (which has been shown to relax us during times of stress), alongside other beneficial botanicals, such as ginger, turmeric, chamomile, lion’s mane, ashwagandha and magnesium, which work synergistically to “take the edge off” within 10 and 20 minutes of drinking a can, while also offering anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. “You feel like you’ve unwound, your to-do list becomes less of a focus and you’re more in the moment,” adds Ferdi. “Our mission is to create moments of calm in the everyday chaos.” Trip is also served in Soho House and Annabel’s private members club in London – the peach ginger blend is a nightly treat of mine, plus it’s worth noting that all of these drinks contain much less (and in some cases no) sugar compared to supermarket drinks.
If it’s your gut health you’d like to nourish, then there’s a drink for that too. Momo’s raw and unfiltered kombuchas are available in pubs and bars, and are fermented, meaning they’re packed full of microbes, which nourish the diversity of the gut microbiome. “Our gut microbiome is like a pharmacy, which produces thousands of different chemicals that are vital for healthy functioning,” explains Josh Puddle, cofounder of the brand. “They are crucial for our immune system, which is key for fighting ageing, cancer, infections and allergies, plus it’s important to stress that depression and anxiety are intrinsically linked to the quality of our gut microflora. Kombucha is also rich in polyphenols, which has been described as rocket fuel for our microbes.”
Studies have shown that the more fermented foods we eat, the better our overall health – just be sure to avoid most commercial kombuchas to reap the benefits. “If it doesn’t need to be stored in the fridge, the microbes won’t be alive and will have either been pasteurised, sterile filtered or brewed from a vinegar concentrate, which removes all the microbes,” says Puddle. “Sticking to organic is better for you and the environment too.”
You know it’s a popular category when A-listers are getting involved. While Kendall Jenner and Beyoncé are channelling their efforts into alcohol brands (tequila and whisky, respectively), Bella Hadid joined forces with Jen Batchelor in 2018 to launch Kin Euphorics. Each can houses a tonic full of adaptogens, nootropics and other botanicals that – according to the brand’s tagline – are all about “easing into a higher state without drugs or alcohol”. The latest blend, Luna Morada, promises to support the liver and digestive system thanks to detoxifying ingredients including milk thistle, purple maize and wormwood. Others, such as Lightwave, utilise reishi mushroom, l-tryptophan and l-theanine to promote a deep, restful sleep and alleviate worries.
Hadid is regularly seen posing with hers in rather bucolic scenes on social media, which has drawn further attraction to the category. “It’s all about tuning into how you really feel,” says Batchelor. “The belief that a glass of red wine is the key to health is fading, functional drinks are the future.” Cheers to that.
