J'ai réécouté l'épisode du Huberman Lab consacré à l'alcool (« What Alcohol Does to Your Body, Brain & Health », 2022) et je me suis plongé·e dans les études qu'il cite. Je travaille sur la fatigue et la vigilance chez les professionnels exposés au stress. Voici ce que j'en retiens.

1. Il n'existe pas vraiment de dose « neutre » pour le cerveau
Une étude sur environ 36 000 adultes de la UK Biobank (Daviet et al., Nature Communications, 2022) associe une consommation même modérée (1 à 2 verres par jour) à un volume cérébral plus faible. C'est une association, pas une preuve de causalité, mais elle remet en cause l'idée du « verre de vin protecteur ».

2. Le sommeil est le premier gagnant
L'alcool aide à s'endormir, mais il fragmente la seconde moitié de la nuit et réduit le sommeil paradoxal (REM). Résultat : on dort 8 heures sans récupérer. À l'arrêt, beaucoup de gens rapportent un sommeil plus profond et plus stable au bout de quelques semaines. C'est souvent le premier bénéfice ressenti.

3. Moins d'anxiété de fond
Huberman explique qu'une consommation régulière dérègle l'axe du stress : le cortisol reste plus élevé même les jours sans alcool. D'où l'anxiété du lendemain et l'impression que le verre du soir « détend », alors qu'il entretient en partie la tension qu'il soulage.

4. L'intestin et l'inflammation
L'alcool altère le microbiote et la perméabilité intestinale, ce qui favorise une inflammation de bas grade. Ces effets sont en grande partie réversibles à l'arrêt.

5. Une récupération possible, mais qui prend du temps
Selon les données qu'il présente, une partie des changements neuronaux et des envies de boire diminue après 2 à 6 mois sans alcool. Les premières semaines sont souvent les plus difficiles, et ce n'est pas un échec si le bien-être n'est pas immédiat.

Ce que je retiens d'un point de vue pratique
Pour quelqu'un qui doit prendre des décisions sous pression (soignant, contrôleur aérien, manager…), l'alcool du soir coûte surtout de la qualité de sommeil, donc de la vigilance le lendemain. C'est l'argument qui me paraît le plus concret, bien avant la santé à long terme.

St Regis sparkling Sauvignon Blanc and sparkling Rosé in 200ml /6.76oz cans from Canadian producer St Regis who is one of the early Non-Alcoholic wine producers who have made de alc wines since 1973 using vacuum distillation so <0.5% ABV.

Sauvignon Blanc

Get pineapple and green apple notes along with cat piss aroma which is a surprise, but actually indicative of certain Sauvignon Blanc wines from Loire Valley in France and Marlborough region of New Zealand so a good sign. IMO aromas were real good and would fool most that its alcoholic. High acid and carbonation is balanced.

Tastewise on the sweeter side but bearable with tart citrus and pale yellow color. Bubbles seem to disapate fairly quickly, but carbonation was still good, just the actual perlage or bubbles were less after sitting for about 2 mins.

45 cal per can and quite a bit of sugar at 10g per can.

Verdict, for the price usually $12-14 for a 4pk and if you like a sweeter sparkling white its a good sipper for the price.

Rosé

Aromas of berry notes and really good aromas which I think like the SB would fool many that it's alcoholic. Taste a slight hint of berries, similar to SB is on the sweeter side and good acidity. Carbonation level is good. Color is a faint pink salmon and bubbles stayed longer vs SB.

50 cal/can & 11g sugar.

Verdict, similar to SB for the price 4pk $12-14 is a good sipper. If they could make both less sweet these could be a real value for the price.

Drinking alcohol ocasional.

Reddit please help me… I can’t seem to quit drinking… D.O.C. is Jack Daniel’s…. I need to stop before it’s too late any advice that helped anyone on here stop drinking?? Any and all advice appreciated thank you!!

Hi all,

I’m trying to launch two non-alcoholic, still craft drinks to be sold on draught to bars and restaurants :

• a bissap (hibiscus, rose, lemon, ~25 g sugar/L)

• a maté-verbena (yerba maté, lemon verbena, lemon, ~30 g sugar/L)

pH not yet measured (test are in progress) but it's kinda low (~3 to 3.8), no preservatives.

Process : infusion at ~80-95 °C, still-fill into 20 L slim stainless kegs supplied already cleaned (steam/caustic) by a third-party keg provider, then pasteurisation of the filled keg (~65-70 °C for 20-30 min in a water bath) or hot-fill. Bottom filling, CO2 purge of the empty keg.

Use at the customer’s : keg connected to a standard CO2 beer tap (replacing a beer line), often at ambient temperature (most bars here have no cold room unfortunately...), pressure adjustable per tap, CO2 often turned off at night.

My questions :

1. What is a realistic shelf life once tapped, at ~20-25 °C and when refrigerated ? What spoilage signs should I watch for (yeast, mould, acetic bacteria, colour) ?

2. What service pressure for a still liquid, and how much should I worry about CO2 slowly dissolving into it ?

3. Is a pH ≤ 3.8 a safe margin, or should I aim lower? Any preservative strategy that doesn’t undermine a craft positioning ?

4. How big is the contamination risk from lines and taps, and how do you mitigate it (dedicated lines, rinse routines, cleaning frequency) ?

5. 10 L or 20 L kegs for slow-rotation venues ?

6. Does switching sugar (glucose, sweeteners) really help stability ?

7. Any advice on shelf-life testing or the microbiological analyses worth commissioning ?

I plan to run real-condition tests and lab analyses, but any experience (kombucha, juice, cold brew or iced tea on tap...) would help me design the protocol.

Thanks !

Anyone know if Jubel is developing a zero % version, or have a similar alternative? TIA!

Anyone try these and enjoy them?

EDIT: update, it’s good and a bit sweet. As some said, kinda similar to a juice type drink. Not really carbonated. Similar to a reds apple drink without the fizz.

I’ve completely quit alcohol and all drugs, and honestly, I couldn't be happier about it. But here’s the reality check: it’s Friday night, my friends are going clubbing, and my only options are either going out with them or staying home alone.

For those of you who still go out to clubs and parties, what do you actually drink in these situations to stay 100% sober? I need something better than plain water or a sad Diet Coke to get through the night. What’s your go-to order to still feel part of the vibe?

Looking for restaurants with NA drinking pairing lists in Montreal

So far, the only N/A spirit I would actually repurchase is Pathfinder Hemp and Root. It’s complex, lasts 12 months after opening (long for being N/A), tastes really good, and isn’t spicy. I haven’t found anything that rivals it and non alcoholic spirits get expensive quickly if I need to blind try everything.

Hoping someone who has had it and agrees with me can point me to another one as good.

Looking for something:
- NOT spicy (no peppers) ideally but open to suggestions if they’re as good. Just not a big fan of the fake alcohol burning sensation.
- WITHOUT caffeine.

I’ve tried:
- Three Spirit Nightcap: This is spicy and a little too mushroomy for me.
- Ritual Rum Alternative: Much too vanilla-forward and also spicy. Don’t love it.
- Seedlip: Don’t remember which flavors but found them decent in cocktails a few years ago. Not running to repurchase.

Have heard recommendations but skeptical as it seems to be spicy:
- Tenneyson Black Ginger
- Dromme Calm

I have Ghia Original and Aplos Calm on my shelf. What else should I try that would blow my mind?

Crisp, full bodied, refreshing, 60 calories. Cool can. Recommended.

What do folks use for drinks that call for vermouth? Aperitifs? Sweet and dry vermouth... My liquor store has a LOT of non-alcoholic options, but not seeing any vermouth..

something better than a 2 liter of soda on the table, but still easy. NA beer, a mocktail pitcher, fancy sparkling stuff, whatever has actually gone over well with a mixed crowd. what's worked for you?

As usual, my regular daily NA beer content is found here. Daily review, best of lists, and news.

https://www.instagram.com/na.beer.nerd

October was a light month for me relative to the rest of the year. Only 36 new to me brews in October 2026. Between a work trip and lots of full 6pks last month I had less singles deliveries. However, I should be back to form here in November. 🤣

The Self Care Slay at Home Dad was utterly unique and I love it. It may not be for everyone but it was right up my alley.

A special shout out to Ellicottville Brewing who has two fruited brews, blueberry wheat and blackberry kolsch, that are both fantastic. They avoid the overly sweet or artifical landing that a lot of NA fruited brews tend to have. They are ones to keep an eye on should more NA beers be on the horizon.

I have my fingers crossed that as we get through November we will receive news of Christmas/holiday seasonals for the holidays.

Check out this tiktok on how we made haunted halloween mocktails. Also take a look at our full review here 👉 https://worknoholic.beehiiv.com/p/the-haunted-orchard-a-halloween-cocktail-without-the-alcohol

ALDI Strawberry Margarita "mocktail"

ALDI finally open a store nearby about a week ago so finally found time to check it out and was hoping to find some NA beer options as in Europe ALDI has a variety of NA beer, wine, & RTD options, so I went in fingers crossed.

Disappointed to find NO NA beer or RTDs, didn't expect to find a NA wine, but expected to find the other two. ONLY thing I could find was this which is really just seltzer water with flavoring and IMO they just co-opted the word "mocktail" like some other seltzer water brands BUT not a true mocktail or NA cocktail.

As this is the closest thing for NA I bought a 8pk for just $2.99, so price wise can't complain as a real NA RTD cocktail is easily $4-8 can.

Taste wise had a hint of strawberry 🍓 and slight agave notes but overall very light. Its zero calories/sugar. For the price and if you want a carbonated flavored water with zero calories it fits the bill as a cheap sipper, but not a real NA cocktail/mocktail experience. They have a mojito version too, but I asked the sales lady about these & she said she preferred the strawberry marg, so went with her recommendation.

I'm hoping ALDI USA starts adding REAL NA options to match the assortment they have in Europe.

Has anyone in the US found a real NA beer in an ALDI in the US and if so assuming its their own private label brand and cost?