Alcohol consumption and the Australian way of life have long gone hand-in-hand, as though one needed the other to efficiently wind down after a hard day’s work or have a great time.
But in recent years, the nation’s relationship with drinking alcohol has started to change. Many people are turning away from booze and looking towards non-alcoholic ways to quench a thirst.
According to a national 2019 survey from the , more Australians are giving up alcohol. Between 2016 and 2019, the proportion of people who were ex-drinkers increased from 1.5 million to almost 2 million.
Carolyn Whiteley, co-owner of , a non-alcoholic spirit distillery based in Sydney, has seen the change first-hand as it’s the focus of her business.
“Our love of alcohol is shifting, as many of us realise it's really not serving us well,” Whiteley tells SBS. “[Many of us] want to not only live longer but live better lives so we are questioning alcohol's role in this.”
“...non-alcoholic drinks tend to be about a third lower in calories than the alcoholic variety”.
Reducing or eliminating alcohol from your diet may benefit your health by assisting with weight loss. Whiteley estimates that (in general) “non-alcoholic drinks tend to be about a third lower in calories than the alcoholic variety”. may be a risk factor for obesity in some people who drink excessively.
Greater recognition of our diverse society may also be fuelling the move away from alcohol, as businesses like Whitely's provide beverage alternatives to people who do not drink for religious or cultural reasons.
“Cultural diversity is definitely helping us to change the way we think about the role of alcohol and potentially made us more aware of the need to be inclusive of others who don't drink for whatever reason - religious, traditional or health.
“More importantly, we are realising that you can still celebrate, have fun and connect with others with great non-alcohol alternatives.”
Creative ways to entertain without alcohol
Alcohol-free beer, wine and spirits
The rising trend of people moving away from alcohol has opened up the non-alcoholic drink market. You can now choose from non-alcoholic craft brews and low or non-alcoholic wines, including French sparkling wine or
Then there are non-alcoholic spirits like those offered by Whiteley’s company. Seadrift drinks are kosher approved, distilled using fresh botanicals and made with locally foraged seaweeds.
It’s really easy to make, and looks great in jugs to put down at a BBQ.
Whiteley recommends using Seadrift Coast as a base for mocktails. “One of our best sellers is Freshie 75 - our take on a French 75. It’s made with Seadrift Coast, fresh lemon and non-alcoholic Prosecco wine. Super simple and beautiful balance between sweet and botanical with all the flavour of the juniper and rosemary from the coast, adding layers of complexity to this classic.”
Another simple way to entertain is to make a non-alcoholic mojito. Use Seadrift Classic, sugar syrup, mint leaves and soda. “It’s really easy to make, and looks great in jugs to put down at a BBQ.”
Collagen drinks
If you’re on a health kick and want to try something really different to alcohol, why not opt for a collagen drink?
Collagen elixirs are made from collagen powder added to a smoothie or juice. an Australian-owned keto collagen company, is one company that makes collagen drink powders using hydrolysed collagen, hyaluronic acid and native ingredients like finger lime and Kakadu plum.
to show that collagen drinks may help to improve digestion, enhance the diversity of the gut microbiome, Adding hydrolysed collagen to your drink of choice may increase the protein content of the beverage.
However, more research is needed to show that collagen supplementation through a powdered drink offers benefits over the long term.
Fermented drinks
Fermented drink choices include beet kvass, kombucha, water kefir and real ginger ale. There’s also kombucha tea, which combines tea, sugar, bacteria, yeast. vinegar, B vitamins and a number of other chemical compounds.
Fermented beverages are a valid source of probiotics, which could help to promote overall wellbeing, and relieve digestion issues and inflammation.
Try balancing kombucha with lemonade and ice, or grapefruit juice and simple syrup for a creative entertaining drink. The combinations are as vast as your mixer pantry, so dip into your imagination and experiment.
Tea, of course!
“Australians also have an appreciation for high quality tea with good strength and flavour.” Source: Origin Tea
Co-founder of , Chris Seaton, reminds SBS the transition from alcohol to tea could be an easy one for people who love a tea-based brew.
“Growing up in Singapore, we used to pick up Teh Tarik (a strong brew of black tea blended with condensed milk) from the local corner shop or food stall in the morning,” says Seaton. “Australians also have an appreciation for high-quality tea with good strength and flavour.”
Teas can be drunk warm or iced. Or, as Seaton recommends, tea can be used as a spritzer base. “Swap a wine spritzer or an Aperol spritz for an iced tea spritz.”
You can also try a tea seltzer. “Adding sparkling water to iced tea takes it to a whole new level and makes for a refreshing, and more natural, alternative to alcoholic seltzers in a can.”
