Alcohol-free drink that makes you feel tipsy
If you are trying Dry January but miss a slight buzz, this drink might be for you.
Alcohol-free drinks have become more popular over the last few years as sobriety has become a more typical lifestyle choice.
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It's not just those who might have a problem with controlling their booze intake that are choosing sobriety, but more young people are also opting for a healthier, alcohol-free lifestyle.
Being sober isn't always easy.
If you have decided to participate in Dry January this year, you might experience FOMO (fear of missing out) when you hang out in a bar or club.
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It can be quite isolating to be the only one not tipsy or drunk, or you might just miss the taste of an ice-cold beer on a hot day.
Many alcohol companies have developed alcohol-free versions; even Guinness has released a 0% brew.
One brand has reached a whole new level with its alcohol-free drink.
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Sentia Spirits is a 0% alcoholic drink that does not just taste like an alcoholic beverage but will also give you the same effects.
David Nutt is a neuropsychopharmacologist at Imperial College London and co-founder of GABA Labs and is one of the geniuses behind this drink.
He has long been toying with the idea of a synthetic drink that mimics the exact effects of alcohol without the debilitating hangovers.
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In 2021, GABA Labs launched Sentia Spirits after developing a molecule that would do the job.
Sentia Spirits are the world's first plant-based, botanical-powered spirits that have 0% ABV (alcohol by volume) and it also makes you feel tipsy!
It’s a drink that is based on the science of alcohol, particularly the low doses of alcohol that relax you and make you more sociable.
How does it work?
Sentia is a 'GABA spirit'. GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain that produces a calming effect.
When drinking alcohol, the alcohol molecules bind to the GABA receptors, enhancing the relaxing and sedative effects of GABA.
We’ve spent years researching the biochemistry of herbs to find ones which contain GABA molecules, and also those which have a track record of producing relaxation and calming effects.
Nutt says that he and his team have developed an effective alternative to consuming low levels of alcohol by combining various GABA-enhancing and GABA-promoting herbs and botanicals.
If you decide to sip some Sentia, you'll soon be spilling secrets and giggling like a classic tipsy drinker.
They currently produce two spirits, Sentia red and black. The two drinks feature different herbs and a core GABA ingredient, making Sentia red more suited to a Wednesday nightcap and Sentia black for parties and social occasions.
Does it work for everyone?
It depends on people’s varying sensitivity. There is evidence that your GABA system becomes a bit less sensitive when you drink a lot of alcohol, and if you’re a heavy drinker, to be honest, you may not get much of an effect at all.
According to The Independent, Sentia is not the ultimate, complete goal as it's only a step towards finding a GABA-enhancing ingredient that mimics the positive effects of alcohol.
Nutt says that a molecule called alcarelle is the future, as it can hopefully one day be licensed to drinks companies and be added to non-alocholic beers, wines and other spirits.
That’s a big challenge. We’ve made molecules that perform that function but we haven’t yet optimised the one we want to take through to food and safety testing.
By 2026, GABA Labs are hoping to complete the FDA testing of the alcarelle molecule in the US and have it available to purchase by 2027.
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Main image courtesy of AFP