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Tag: alcohol

  • What About A Cannabis Cocktail/ Holiday Party

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    Hosting a winter gathering? What about a cannabis cocktail/holiday party. It is the chic, hangover-free way to celebrate.

    As the holidays approach, dinner parties and happy hours begin filling the calendar — often with a predictable lineup of wine, cocktails, and morning-after regrets. But this year, a new trend is quietly taking over living rooms and lounges. What about a cannabis  cocktail/ holiday party? For adults looking to unwind without the hangover, low-dose cannabis beverages and mocktails are becoming the chic, health-conscious alternative to alcohol.

    RELATED: The History Of The Cocktail Party

    Think of it as an elevated gathering — literally. Instead of traditional cocktails, hosts are serving beautifully crafted “cannacocktails,” blending sparkling juices, herbal infusions, and precisely dosed cannabis tinctures or ready-to-pour THC/CBD beverages. The result? A relaxed, social buzz that’s mellow rather than messy, perfect for those who want to enjoy the season without derailing their wellness goals.

    “With so many people cutting back on alcohol or exploring the sober-curious movement, cannabis drinks offer a modern middle ground,” says Seattle mixologist Jordan Leary, who specializes in non-alcoholic bar programs. “They still feel indulgent and festive, but you stay clear-headed and connected.”

    Low dose is the key, most cannabis beverages today range from 2 to 5 milligrams of THC, about the equivalent of a single glass of wine in social effect. Many also include CBD for balance, producing a light body relaxation without impairing focus or energy. They’re now available in elegant packaging from brands like Cann, Wunder, and Artet, all designed for adults who appreciate design, flavor, and mindfulness.

    RELATED: Making Your Cannabis Dollars Stretch During The Shutdown

    Hosting your own cannabis cocktail party is simpler than it sounds. The key is intentional pairing and pacing:

    • Offer a mix of infused and non-infused mocktails so guests can choose their comfort level.
    • Start with lower-dose drinks (2–3 mg THC) and wait at least 45 minutes before offering refills.
    • Pair beverages with light bites — think charcuterie, roasted nuts, or spiced popcorn — to balance flavors and absorption.
    • Set a cozy vibe: soft lighting, seasonal playlists, and clear labeling for all drinks.

    And of course, safety first. Guests should plan transportation in advance, and anyone trying cannabis beverages for the first time should start low and go slow.

    Beyond just being a novelty, the cannabis cocktail party reflects a broader shift toward intentional celebration. People are rethinking how they socialize, and cannabis offers an inclusive, modern way to connect.

    So this holiday season, trade in the eggnog for an elderflower THC spritz, or a CBD ginger fizz. Your guests will thank you in the morning.

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    Sarah Johns

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  • San Diego police announce plans for DUI checkpoint on Thursday night

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    A DUI checkpoint in San Diego. (File photo courtesy of the San Diego Police Department)

    The San Diego Police Department announced plans for a DUI checkpoint somewhere in the city limits on Thursday night.

    Officers will be stopping drivers from 10 p.m. Thursday to 3 a.m. Friday to check for alcohol or marijuana impairment as well as proper licensing.

    Police said the checkpoint location will be chosen based on a history of past DUI crashes and arrests.

    Checkpoints like this are often announced in advance, with the department noting, “The primary purpose of checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired.”

    Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.

    Funding for Thursday’s checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.


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  • Another Benefit for Cannabis Users

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    Joining thousands of mom-and-pop businesses and American households, cannabis is another industry hit hard by the shutdown

    As more Americans reexamine their relationship with alcohol, a growing number are discovering another benefit from cannabis users.  The green plant might offer a surprising nighttime benefit — better, more restful sleep. While both substances can make you feel relaxed, the way they affect your body and brain overnight couldn’t be more different. For many users, the difference is showing up as deeper sleep, clearer mornings, and better mental health overall.

    RELATED: Making Your Cannabis Dollars Stretch During The Shutdown

    When you drink alcohol, it can initially make you drowsy and help you fall asleep faster. But studies show alcohol disrupts normal sleep cycles — particularly the REM (rapid eye movement) stage vital for memory, mood, and brain restoration. As alcohol is metabolized, it can cause restless tossing, dehydration, and frequent awakenings throughout the night. The result? You might “sleep” for eight hours but wake up feeling like you barely rested.

    Cannabis, on the other hand, tends to work differently. Certain cannabinoids, particularly THC and CBD, interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system — the network that regulates stress, pain, and sleep. THC can help shorten the time it takes to fall asleep and extend deep, slow-wave sleep, the stage associated with physical repair. Meanwhile, CBD, the non-intoxicating compound, can ease anxiety and reduce nighttime rumination, two of the biggest barriers to drifting off. Unlike alcohol, cannabis does not interrupt REM sleep in the same way, and users often report waking up feeling more refreshed and alert.

    Of course, not all strains or consumption methods affect sleep equally. Heavy THC use or stimulating sativa strains may have the opposite effect, increasing alertness or vivid dreams. Experts recommend lower doses and indica-dominant or balanced strains for bedtime.

    RELATED: The Feds Foul Play Around Cannabis

    The growing interest in cannabis as an alcohol alternative ties into a broader trend: the prioritization of mental wellness and recovery. Quality sleep is foundational to health — it improves immune function, mood regulation, memory, and even metabolism. When people trade late-night drinks for mindful cannabis use, they may not only avoid the hangover but gain one of life’s most underrated luxuries: truly restorative rest.

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    Amy Hansen

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  • Police: Child airlifted after electric bike collides with van at Melbourne intersection

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    A child was seriously injured Wednesday afternoon after the electric dirt bike they were riding collided with a van at a Melbourne intersection.Melbourne police responded to the crash involving a 2001 Chrysler van and an electric dirt bike at approximately 4:17 p.m. at the intersection of Wickham Road and Lake Washington Road.The child riding the electric dirt bike sustained serious bodily injuries and was airlifted to Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando. A landing zone was established at a nearby golf course for the transport. The child is currently being treated.According to the initial investigation, the electric dirt bike was traveling west on Lake Washington, west of Wickham, when the Chrysler van, leaving a parking lot on the northwest corner of the intersection, attempted to travel east on Lake Washington.The van pulled out in front of the dirt bike, causing the bike to strike the driver’s side of the van.Police said alcohol and drugs do not appear to be factors in the crash. The Melbourne Police Department’s Traffic Enforcement Unit is investigating the incident.Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Traffic Enforcement Unit Officer Costello at (321) 616-6027 or anonymously through Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477) or www.crimeline.org.

    MELBOURNE, Fla. —

    A child was seriously injured Wednesday afternoon after the electric dirt bike they were riding collided with a van at a Melbourne intersection.

    Melbourne police responded to the crash involving a 2001 Chrysler van and an electric dirt bike at approximately 4:17 p.m. at the intersection of Wickham Road and Lake Washington Road.

    The child riding the electric dirt bike sustained serious bodily injuries and was airlifted to Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando. A landing zone was established at a nearby golf course for the transport. The child is currently being treated.

    According to the initial investigation, the electric dirt bike was traveling west on Lake Washington, west of Wickham, when the Chrysler van, leaving a parking lot on the northwest corner of the intersection, attempted to travel east on Lake Washington.

    The van pulled out in front of the dirt bike, causing the bike to strike the driver’s side of the van.

    Police said alcohol and drugs do not appear to be factors in the crash. The Melbourne Police Department’s Traffic Enforcement Unit is investigating the incident.

    Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Traffic Enforcement Unit Officer Costello at (321) 616-6027 or anonymously through Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477) or www.crimeline.org.

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  • Cannabis Is Another Industry Hit Hard By The Shutdown

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    Joining thousands of mom-and-pop businesses and American households, cannabis is another industry hit hard by the shutdown

    The ongoing federal government shutdown which began October 1, 2025 is reshaping spending behavior in several consumer categories — notably those tied to discretionary goods such as marijuana and alcohol. With paychecks delayed for hundreds of thousands of federal workers, and everyday Americans facing persistent inflation and rising costs, spending is beginning to come under strain. And with thousands of mom and pop businesses, cannabis is another industry hit hard by the shutdown like retail, grocery and dining.

    According to a survey by Ipsos in October 2025, a majority of people at every income level reported cutting back on at least one expense amid economic uncertainty, tariffs and the shutdown. Another data point from TransUnion shows that 52 % of consumers in Q2 2025 reduced discretionary spending — the highest share in months.

    RELATED: Making Your Cannabis Dollars Stretch During The Shutdown

    The shutdown’s direct ripple effect on consumer wallets is real. Roughly 700,000 federal employees are furloughed, and nearly as many working without pay — which means delayed incomes and fewer dollars available for non‑essentials. Even more broadly, the Council of Economic Advisers warns that a month‑long shutdown could reduce U.S. consumer spending by as much as $30 billion.

    For the cannabis industry (medical and recreational both), the implications are significant. While the sector continues to grow in many states, the shutdown is freezing key reform efforts — for example, regulation of hemp‑derived THC and federal policy remains in limbo. Concurrently, budget‑tight consumers are being more selective with how they deploy their discretionary dollars.

    Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Stringer/Getty Images

    While exact national figures for cannabis spending drops during the shutdown are not yet published, the confluence of reduced incomes + high living costs + regulatory uncertainty suggests a tightening belt is very much in play. Retailers and dispensaries in profit‑sensitive markets may feel the pinch first.

    It’s worth emphasising the income angle here. According to data from the Federal Reserve’s Economic Well‑Being of U.S. Households in 2024 report, 39 % of adults live in families with incomes of $100,000 or more. By contrast, the implication is that around 61 % of adults live in households with income under $100K. Those households are less buffered from shocks like a missed paycheck, rising utility bills, or price increases.

    RELATED: The Feds Foul Play Around Cannabis

    On inflation specifically, a note by RBC points out that Americans earning less than $100K have seen grocery prices rise 33 % since 2019, compared to 25 % for those earning more than $150K. In short: the under‑$100K cohort is both larger in number and under more cost‑pressure.

    Given this, it’s no surprise we see signs of belt‑tightening amongst this group. The KPMG Consumer Pulse Survey reports that “consumers expect to spend less across most categories this summer — except increases in groceries and automotive.” KPMG

    For cannabis vendors, this means a shifting consumer base: more value‑seeking, more conservative purchasing, more emphasis on cost‑efficiency (as the Fresh Toast article highlighted). Alcohol spending may also be more vulnerable. While long‑term data show alcohol consumption trending down in some segments, the immediate dynamic here is one of substitution or reduction: when paycheck‑uncertainty and rising rent/food bills dominate, spending on “extras” tends to drop.

    RELATED: Study Reveals Stance By Physicians And Public About Cannabis

    The shutdown exposes a deeper fault‑line: public policy and everyday economic reality are diverging. The Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, has adopted a hardline posture on several fronts — including opposition to major healthcare subsidies, blocking full funding of federal agencies and resisting broader cannabis reform efforts. In doing so he appears detached from both: the majority of Americans who earn under $100K and are scrambling to make ends meet, and the broader public’s shifting views on medical marijuana and hemp reform.

    While polls show majority support for medical cannabis access and broader reform, the GOP Congress remains stalled. That impasse matters because for the cannabis industry — which is still suffering under federal ambiguity — policy action isn’t just nice‑to‑have; it’s a lifeline. The leadership’s lack of responsiveness to that reality sends a signal beyond the Hill: it tells everyday consumers, and businesses, that their pressures may not be fully appreciated by those in power.

    If the shutdown persists, we can expect:

    • Further reductions in discretionary spending among households under $100K as paychecks and benefit flows remain uncertain
    • Slower growth for cannabis retailers in mature markets, a greater emphasis on value plays and lower‑price substitution
    • Elevated risks for the industry as regulatory and policy advances are paused, making cost control and margin optimization more urgent
    • A heightened political risk for leadership whose policy stance appears misaligned with the economic burdens faced by a majority of Americans

    The shutdown isn’t just a headline about federal funding. It is a real‑world brake on consumer spending, a warning sign for lifestyle markets like cannabis and alcohol, and a reminder policy‑making ignoring everyday economic pressures runs the risk of being out of touch.

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    Terry Hacienda

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  • Woman arrested after alleged violent outburst at Tewksbury Market Basket

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    TEWKSBURY — A Tewksbury woman is facing a slew of charges after allegedly unleashing chaos at the Market Basket on Main Street by assaulting employees and police officers before vandalizing her holding cell.

    According to the Tewksbury Police, 54-year-old Kristin Hartman drove drunk to the store on Tuesday, allegedly shoving staff, ramming a shopping cart into an employee, and hitting and kicking officers during her arrest. Once in custody, police said Hartman intentionally vomited on the cell floor and attempted to clog the toilet using her prison-issued shoes and a roll of toilet paper.

    Hartman was arraigned on Wednesday in Lowell District Court before Judge John Coffey on two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, operating under the influence of alcohol, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon — identified as a shod foot and a shopping cart — vandalizing property, and assault and battery.

    Hartman was released on her own recognizance with the condition she stay away from the Tewksbury Market Basket, have no contact with the victims in the case, and abstain from alcohol.

    According to court documents, Hartman has not been assigned an attorney. A call placed to the phone number listed in court records was answered by a woman who, when asked if she was Hartman, responded by asking who was calling. After The Sun identified itself, the call abruptly ended.

    Police said in an incident report that officers responded to the Market Basket at 1900 Main St. shortly before noon after receiving reports of a woman — later identified as Hartman —  yelling and swearing at staff. While approaching Hartman inside the store, police said they witnessed a 36-year-old Market Basket employee push her to the ground. Hartman got back up and was shouting, drawing the attention of nearby shoppers.

    Officers escorted Hartman outside where she said she had been assaulted by a store employee. Police said in their report that she smelled strongly of alcohol, describing “a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her breath while interacting with her in the open air.” They also said they observed her eyes were glassy and bloodshot, and her speech was slurred.

    The 36-year-old Market Basket employee told police that Hartman had hurled derogatory insults at her “for no apparent reason.” Police said the employee added that Hartman “pushed her first and she defended herself and pushed Kristin back.” A witness later corroborated the employee’s account, according to the report, stating that Hartman was yelling in the employee’s face before shoving her.

    A store manager also told police that earlier in the incident, Hartman, who showed several signs of intoxication, had allegedly shoved her shopping cart into another employee in one of the aisles and was yelling at him for no apparent reason.

    Neither employee was injured during the incident.

    During the chaos, police said they learned that Hartman also yelled numerous profanities at an 86-year-old employee.

    While officers were still gathering information inside the store, Hartman’s alleged disturbance continued outside.

    According to the report, she was shouting expletives at police while on the sidewalk, telling one officer, “I hope you die.” Police said Hartman then got into the officer’s face and swung her arm, striking him on the left arm while yelling, “Don’t touch me (expletive),” despite the officer stating he had not made physical contact with her prior to that moment.

    As a result of the alleged assault, police said they instructed Hartman to place her hands behind her back, but she resisted, attempting to pull away as a crowd of onlookers gathered in the busy parking lot. While officers were placing her into a cruiser, Hartman allegedly kicked an officer in the leg with what police described as a hiking boot. During this struggle, police said she also threatened to kill an officer’s family.

    The disruption continued at the police station, where Hartman allegedly caused issues during booking. Police said she “was screaming for no legitimate purpose, was yelling obscenities and required multiple different officers to be present,” according to the police report.

    While in her holding cell, police said that Hartman told an officer, “If you keep me in here, I’m going to puke all over your floor,” followed by, “Enjoy cleaning it up.”

    Police said Hartman placed her prison-issued footwear and a roll of toilet paper into the toilet and attempted to flush the items. She also allegedly induced vomiting by placing her fingers down her throat.

    Officers took photos of the aftermath and noted in their report that the cell was littered with a roll of wet toilet paper on the floor, several empty water bottles, two vomit-soaked blankets, and vomit spread across the floor.

    As part of the investigation, surveillance footage reviewed by police showed Hartman driving to a nearby liquor store shortly before the incident at the grocery store. According to a store manager interviewed by police, she purchased a bottle of Tito’s vodka and returned to her vehicle. Police said the footage captured Hartman “slightly staggering” as she walked to and from the store, before driving to Market Basket.

    Hartman is scheduled to return to court for a pretrial hearing on Nov. 21.

    Follow Aaron Curtis on X @aselahcurtis, or on Bluesky @aaronscurtis.bsky.social.

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    Aaron Curtis

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  • The Inconsistency About Cannabis And Guns

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    Exploring the inconsistency about cannabis and guns, where freedom for firearms clashes with outdated marijuana laws

    In the ongoing culture‑war of American politics, few issues highlight the contradictions within the conservative, pro‑Second Amendment world quite like the pairing of gun ownership and marijuana use. the inconsistency about cannabis and guns makes for odd political alliances.

    On the one hand, many on the Right argue vigorously that the individual right to keep and bear arms must be protected from government infringement. Yet on the other, that same political cohort often supports strict federal prohibitions preventing lawful — and even state‑legal — cannabis users from purchasing firearms. By contrast, alcohol use, which is legal nationwide, is rarely treated as a disqualifier for gun ownership despite strong associations with firearm violence. That contrast raises questions about consistency, principle and policy.

    RELATED: Immersive Events Redefine Millennial Nights

    Here are some of the relevant statistics:

    • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in 2024 about 22.3 % of Americans aged 12 or older (roughly 64.2 million people) reported past‑year marijuana use.

    • Meanwhile, alcohol remains more widely used: in 2024, approximately 134.3 million Americans aged 12 or older reported past‑month alcohol use.

    • On firearms and substance risk: Alcohol misuse is documented to elevate the risk of firearm injury or death through homicide, suicide or unintended injury. For example, one advocacy page reports that alcohol misuse accounts for more than 140,000 deaths annually in the U.S. and that introducing firearms to alcohol‑misuse situations increases serious injury or death risk.

    Photo by Claire Anderson via Unsplash

    • By contrast, cannabis incident data tied to firearms (for example, use of marijuana plus gun‑possession) are far less publicly quantified, though one Hawaii report found that of some 23,528 firearm permit applications, 519 (~ 2.2 %) were denied — and of those, 211 (~ 40.7 %) were due to the applicant’s status as a medical‑marijuana patient.

    What emerges: legal alcohol is widespread, common among gun‑owners, and strongly implicated in firearm‑related violence; cannabis is increasingly used, often legal at the state level, but its users are often precluded from gun rights under federal law.

    At the federal level, under the Gun Control Act of 1968, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3) prohibits any person who is an “unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance” from possessing a firearm. Because cannabis remains a Schedule I controlled substance federally, state legal‑use does not override the restriction.

    In recent years, courts have challenged this blanket prohibition. For example:

    • The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has held that applying § 922(g)(3) to someone who uses marijuana but isn’t intoxicated at the moment may violate the standard set in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022) because firearm regulations must be consistent with historical traditions.

    • The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in August 2025 that medical‑marijuana users in Florida had plausibly alleged that the federal prohibition violated their Second Amendment rights.

    • And the Supreme Court of the United States has agreed to review whether regular marijuana users can legally own guns, with arguments expected in early 2026.

    Thus, the legal collision is clear: dozens of states permit adult‑use or medical cannabis; federal law bans gun ownership by cannabis users; and courts are now reconsidering the constitutional footing of that ban.

    RELATED: The Connection Between Country Music And Cannabis

    From the vantage of many conservative advocates, gun rights are sacrosanct: the individual right to own firearms for self‑defense, deterrence of tyranny, and personal liberty. Meanwhile, proponents of cannabis reform argue that legal adult‑use meets the same liberty standard — and yet those who support gun rights often also support or accept federal cannabis prohibition that strips gun rights from users, even when state‑legal.

    The contradictory posture arises when one considers: if gun ownership is a fundamental individual right irrespective of political views, why exclude lawful adults simply because they also use cannabis? Especially when alcohol use, far more prevalent and demonstrably tied to firearm violence, does not (in most cases) lead to automatic loss of gun rights. That asymmetry suggests an underlying value‑judgment: alcohol is socially accepted (and taxed) despite risk; cannabis is socially stigmatized even as laws evolve. The Right’s selective focus — defending guns fiercely while accepting restrictions for cannabis users — raises questions about consistency of principle.

    This contradiction has real‑world consequences: legal ambiguity for millions of Americans, a patchwork of state laws vs. federal restrictions, and potential erosion of trust in institutions when liberty claims are applied unevenly. For the Right’s long‑term credibility on individual rights, the question becomes: can you credibly champion “freedom to keep and bear arms” while endorsing a regime that denies that freedom to law‑abiding adults because of a behavior (cannabis use) that’s legal in many states?

    In short: to claim consistency, the pro‑gun conservative movement must either defend gun rights across the board(including for cannabis users) or explain why this particular group is different. Until then, the contrast between alcohol, cannabis, and firearms under the law remains a striking example of “rights for some, restrictions for others.”

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    Terry Hacienda

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  • Arrest log

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    The following arrests were made recently by local police departments. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Massachusetts’ privacy law prevents police from releasing information involving domestic and sexual violence arrests with the goal to protect the alleged victims.

    LOWELL

    • Cyrinus Morris, 56, 17 Equestrian Lane, Lowell; public drinking.

    NASHUA, N.H.

    • Andrew Gordon Cannon, 28, no fixed address; disorderly conduct.

    • Jaden Peter Davies, 21, 254 Greenville Road, Mason, N.H.; two counts of traffic control device violation, disobeying an officer, reckless operation of motor vehicle, lane control violation, two counts of failure to use required turn signal, yellow/solid line violation.

    • Luis Antonio Fernandez Feliciano, 47, 31 Vine St., Nashua; violation of protective order, theft of services ($0-$1,000), two counts of stalking.

    • Jennifer Smith, 41, no fixed address; stalking.

    • Jacob Kenney, 33, no fixed address; theft by unauthorized taking ($0-$1,000).

    • Paul Nolin, 69, 12 Hunters Lane, Nashua; theft by deception ($0-$1,000).

    • Hannah Michelle Britton, 33, no fixed address; disorderly conduct, criminal trespass, resisting arrest/detention.

    • John Scott Thomas Jr., 32, 133 Ash St., Nashua; disorderly conduct.

    • Inmer Carrillo-Flores, 27, 31 Salvail Court, Apt. 203, Nashua; driving motor vehicle after license revocation/suspension.

    • Kathleen Elizabeth Carroll, 30, 14 Auburn St., Apt. E, Nashua; nonappearance in court.

    • Michael Lavoie, 56, no fixed address; disorderly conduct, criminal trespass.

    • Anthony Watson, 43, 202 Webster St., Apt. B, Hudson, N.H.; disorderly conduct, traffic control device violation, simple assault.

    • Johnny Rivera-Montalvo, 51, 273 Main St., Spencer; two counts of simple assault, three counts of criminal mischief, warrant.

    • Denis Velez, 44, no fixed address; theft by unauthorized taking ($0-$1,000).

    • Faith Stanley, 23, 6 Autumn Leaf Drive, Apt. 13, Nashua; two counts of simple assault.

    • Nathaniel Weddle, 36, no fixed address; warrant.

    • Warren Arthur Curtis III, 24, Manchester, N.H.; driving under influence.

    • Dagoberto Vasquez Bamaca, 20, 11 Lock St., Nashua; transporting alcohol or marijuana by minor, operation of motor vehicle without valid license.

    • Alexandria Iannotti, 28, no fixed address; nonappearance in court.

    • Tyler Downs, 31, 29 Cheyenne Drive, Nashua; simple assault.

    • Matthew Dozibrin, 52, 2 Quincy St., Nashua; warrant.

    • Michael William Bedard, 39, 5 Shedds Ave., Nashua; six counts of simple assault.

    • Rasmei Ung-Cora Flores, 45, 13 South St., Nashua; driving under influence.

    • Matthew Brian Young, 33, 10 Winchester St., Nashua; out of town warrant, disobeying an officer, three counts of lane control device, three counts of failure to use required turn signal, two counts of reckless operation of motor vehicle, four counts of traffic control device violation.

    • Luis Carlos Pacheco, 37, no fixed address; driving motor vehicle after license revocation/suspension, suspension of vehicle registration.

    WILMINGTON

    • Giancarlo Danao Ybanez, 38, 165 Pleasant St., Apt. 101, Cambridge; uninsured motor vehicle, unregistered motor vehicle.

    • Carlos Mendez, 33, 463 Eastern Ave., Apt. 3C, Lynn; unlicensed operation of motor vehicle, failure to stop/yield, no or expired inspection/sticker.

    • Thomas Doyle IV, 40, 59 North St., Wilmington; malicious destruction of property (less than $1,200), threatening to commit crime.

    • Liam Patrick O’Brien, 41, 1037 Main St., Apt. 1, Woburn; operation under influence of alcohol, possession of open container of alcohol in motor vehicle.

    • Eneias Silva, 50, 20 Locust St., Apt. 102, Medford; speeding in violation of special regulation, operation of motor vehicle with suspended license.

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  • 5 Healthy Habits To Reduce Your Risk Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

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  • Ja Rule celebrates new whiskey venture Amber & Opal in New York City | amNewYork

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    Ja Rule celebrated the launch of his new whiskey venture, Amber & Opal.

    Photos by Stolen Heart Media

    Ja Rule hosted his Cocktails & Conversations at Amali NYC, celebrating his latest venture, a whiskey brand called Amber & Opal. 

    Amber & Opal is a honey botanical rye, coined as the new standard in sophisticated spirits. Guests enjoyed a cocktail hour with light bites and signature cocktails, including the Amber Rush and an Old Fashioned, both crafted with Amber & Opal. 

    The evening transitioned into an intimate, southern-inspired autumn dinner, where Ja Rule led a toast: “May your life be like Italian bread, long and full of dough.”

    Photo by Stolen Heart Media
    Photo by Stolen Heart Media

    The dinner was prepared by Chef Shannon, who crafted the meal specifically for this intimate evening. “It was a pleasure creating this menu. It was something different, out of the ordinary, so it was exciting,” she said. 

    The spread included a spicy feta and smoked trout spread, baby romaine for an appetizer, porchetta and short rib for the entrée, and was topped off with a slice of pecan pie cake featuring an Amber & Opal caramel glaze. 

    Before the night ended, Ja Rule announced his upcoming bar takeover tour across the country. He will throw parties in hotels, bars, and restaurants to promote the spirit. He encouraged any interested vendors to join the fun by contacting him via email at orders@amberopalspirits.com.

    Photo by Stolen Heart Media
    Photo by Stolen Heart Media

    Photo by Stolen Heart Media
    Photo by Stolen Heart Media
    Photo by Stolen Heart Media

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    By Kylo Basnight

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  • Drinking This Daily Increases Liver Cancer Risk By 85% (Nope, Not Alcohol)

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    It’s also associated with chronic liver disease, according to research.

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  • Golf And Drinking Are America’s Favorite Duo

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    Autumn Is in the air and cuffing season is around the corner – can cannabis help?

    Golf has long had a reputation as a gentleman’s game — quiet, slow, and, for some, a little too proper. But lately, something’s changed out on the fairways. Golf is getting younger, looser, and a lot more social. Today, golf and drinking are America’s favorite duo.

    RELATED: The Science Behind Cannabis And Happiness

    According to the National Golf Foundation, participation in the sport has grown steadily since the pandemic, with more than 26 million Americans hitting the links in 2024 — the highest number in two decades. What’s more surprising is who is showing up. Millennials and Gen Z now make up nearly half of all golfers, drawn by the sport’s mix of sunshine, leisure, and, increasingly, lifestyle appeal. For many, golf isn’t just about chasing par — it’s about the vibe.

    States who drink the most on the golf course

    And nothing fuels that vibe quite like the drinks cart.

    The “19th hole” — the clubhouse bar — has been a staple since the game’s early days in Scotland, when rounds often ended with a whisky toast. But the modern drinks cart, trundling between holes with coolers of beer, seltzers, and cocktails, emerged in the mid-20th century. Country clubs realized that golfers didn’t want to wait until the end of the round to unwind — they wanted the bar to come to them. By the 1970s, the mobile bar-on-wheels had become a defining feature of American golf culture.

    Today’s carts are often mini craft bars, stocked with canned cocktails, local brews, and even espresso martinis. Some courses — especially resort and public ones — now market their “signature cart drinks” as part of the experience. Social media has only amplified the trend, with golfers posting videos of their “cart girl” cameos, boozy birdies, and “swing juice” rituals.

    RELATED: Celebrate With These Simple Classic Cocktails

    Critics might argue that mixing alcohol with a precision sport is a contradiction. But for many, that’s the point. The rise of casual nine-hole rounds, music-playing carts, and golf simulators at bars like Topgolf and Five Iron Golf has blurred the line between sport and social outing.

    In short, golf has become less country club and more clubhouse party. Whether you’re there for the swing or the seltzer, it’s clear: golf’s new golden age comes with a buzz — on and off the course.

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    Anthony Washington

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  • Tennessee alcohol wholesalers are grabbing control of the state’s hemp market

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    Few things are more difficult to eradicate in our system of modern governance than a government-sanctioned monopoly or oligopoly. A recently passed bill in Tennessee, which will allow the state’s alcohol wholesalers to take over hemp distribution in the state, shows that these monopolies are not only difficult to eliminate but also often attempt to expand their reach.    

    The new law sets up a distribution system for hemp—which was legalized at the federal level in the 2018 Farm Bill—that mirrors the notorious three-tier system for alcohol distribution, which requires producers, wholesalers, and retailers to be legally separate entities. The three-tier system restricts producers and suppliers from selling directly to their customers and mandates that they work through a wholesaler to reach the market. This allows wholesalers to operate as functional monopolies or oligopolies in certain parts of states where only one or two wholesalers operate.

    The law, which takes effect on January 1, 2026, also requires all wholesalers and retailers of hemp products to maintain a physical presence within the state. Out-of-state hemp suppliers will be prohibited from engaging in direct-to-consumer shipping to customers in Tennessee, and instead will be forced to work through the state’s wholesaler and retailer tiers. While in-state Tennessee hemp suppliers cannot ship their products to Tennesseans either, they are able to sell on-site directly to their customers, providing a workaround to avoid the three-tier system.

    Cornbread Hemp, a Kentucky hemp supplier that recorded $1 million in Tennessee-based sales last year, is challenging the new law in federal court. Cornbread Hemp argues that Tennessee’s law unconstitutionally discriminates against out-of-state competitors in favor of in-state businesses, which is a violation of the Constitution’s Dormant Commerce Clause.

    Supreme Court observers will recognize how closely the case mirrors Tennessee Wine and Spirits Retailers Association v. Thomas (2019). In the case, the majority struck down Tennessee’s requirement that applicants for alcohol wholesaling or retailing licenses must have resided in the state for over two years, finding it to be unconstitutional discrimination against out-of-state economic interests.

    Tennessee’s constitutional rationale for residency requirements in the hemp context is even weaker than with alcohol. The main constitutional defense in support of residency requirements for alcohol is that the 21st Amendment, which repealed Prohibition, devolved alcohol regulation back down to the state and local level. States, therefore, argue that the Constitution’s recognition of state power in the alcohol arena should inoculate residency clauses from Dormant Commerce Clause challenges. While some lower courts have continued to buy this argument, the Supreme Court has refused to go along in recent decades.

    As liquor attorney Sean O’Leary notes, the 21st Amendment allows a discriminatory state law in the alcohol context to face a lower level of constitutional scrutiny than a non-alcohol law. The argument essentially boils down to: Alcohol is uniquely treated under the U.S. Constitution. Hemp has no corollary to the 21st Amendment, meaning a discriminatory hemp law will face a higher level of constitutional scrutiny.

    Now alcohol wholesalers—already a government-sanctioned oligopoly or monopoly in many locales—are trying to expand their control beyond alcohol. The new law makes this power grab particularly blatant, since it moves hemp from under the purview of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

    In fact, this change was made “at the behest of the wholesaler lobby,” O’Leary notes. “The wholesaler’s goal is to mandate a three-tier system where they get a piece of the action.” He predicts that, given the power of the alcohol wholesaler lobby in state capitals across America, more state legislatures will be following Tennessee’s lead.

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    C. Jarrett Dieterle

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  • This Unexpected Brand Just Beat Out Budweiser, Modelo, and Coors for America’s Favorite Beer

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    “Light and refreshing.”
    READ MORE…

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    Alexandra Foster

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  • Tariffs are starting to crush America’s small liquor businesses

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    The alcohol industry recently dodged an attempt to smuggle a neo-Prohibitionist agenda into the U.S. Dietary Guidelines revisions. While the industry was able to breathe a sigh of relief thanks to this rule, its reprieve has been short-lived: President Donald Trump’s tariff policies have started to hammer the industry once again.

    On August 1, a 15 percent tariff went into effect on most European goods imported to America. Despite some initial hope that alcohol might be spared as part of a Trump-E.U. trade deal, the tariff remains in effect for booze, and it’s U.S. small businesses that are bearing some of the highest costs.

    During the first Trump administration, alcohol producers were hit hard by Trump’s tariff policies, facing price increases on beer cans (from the aluminum tariffs) as well as painful retaliatory tariffs from other countries that targeted American alcohol. So far, the second Trump presidency appears to promise more of the same.  

    With the tariffs now officially in effect, small- and medium-sized wineries in California are reporting price increases on key input materials, including glass, corks, and barrels. The day after the tariffs took effect, Dresser Winery in Paso Robles, California, was informed by its Portugal-based cork maker that cork prices would increase by 15 percent—the manufacturer offered to pay 2 percent of the cost increase, leaving the winery to cover the remaining 13 percent.

    Dresser Winery also sources its glass abroad, either from China or Mexico, and its barrels come from France or Hungary. As the winery’s owner Kory Burke pointed out to The Columbian, simply swapping these goods for American-made products is far from simple. American glass bottles are expensive and harder to find, while American-made oak barrels would noticeably alter the flavor profile of the wine. Another California winery reported that the tariffs will raise their production costs by 50 cents per bottle.

    The impact on the alcohol industry started being felt even before the tariffs officially went into effect, with prominent bourbon brands such as Brown-Forman (owner of Jack Daniel’s and Woodford Reserve), Wild Turkey, and Bulleit all experiencing drops in bourbon sales over the summer in anticipation of the tariffs, partly due to export markets becoming more politically fraught. And none of this even includes the decision by Canada earlier this year to yank all U.S. alcohol from the shelves of its municipal-run liquor stores, which resulted in devastating sales declines for U.S. booze in Canada. (In 2024, Canada was the second-largest export market for American spirits.)

    There are also lesser-known effects that are starting to have an impact. As Kevin D. Williamson noted recently in The Washington Post, the American three-tier system of alcohol distribution presents particular challenges for the industry when it comes to weathering tariffs. American alcohol distributors—who operate as a government-mandated middleman between producers and consumers—often derive higher profit margins on wines coming from countries like France and Italy.

    As Williamson puts it, these imported wines help “sustain the distribution ecosystem that lower-margin U.S. producers rely on to get their products to market,” which means that “European imports don’t just compete with U.S.-made wines—they effectively subsidize their distribution.” Williamson goes on to quote an alcohol distributor who derives 75 percent of its profits from European wine. “We need French, Spanish and Italian wines to make our business work,” said Harry Root, co-founder of the South Carolina and Alabama distributor Grassroots Wine. “Remove any piece of the puzzle, and the whole thing doesn’t work.”

    The cost of tariffs on the alcohol industry is no longer merely speculative. “It has real impacts,” Burke said. “We’ve thought deeply about selling our property. We’ve thought deeply about…charging double our price for our bottle.”

    As has been the theme of Trump’s trade war, in the end, it’s American businesses and consumers that suffer.

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    C. Jarrett Dieterle

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  • At least 19 people die after drinking tainted liquor in Russia, officials say

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    At least 19 people have died this month of suspected alcohol poisoning in Russia’s western Leningrad region, local officials said Friday.

    Incidents of mass deaths from drinking cheap homemade alcohol substitutes are not uncommon in Russia, which has been blighted by high levels of alcoholism for years.

    The regional government’s press service said in a statement that “19 deaths after alcohol consumption were recorded in the Slantsy District in September.”

    It added that eight cases had so far been “laboratory-confirmed as methanol poisoning.”

    Investigators said they had detained a man and a woman after prosecutors opened a criminal case to probe “the poisoning of several residents of the Slantsy District with counterfeit alcohol.”

    Earlier this week, prosecutors sentenced two people to almost a decade in prison for manufacturing and selling a counterfeit cider drink that killed 50 people in 2023.

    Members of the Russian Investigative Committee investigate a factory where the alcohol-containing drink called “Mister Cider”, which caused poisonings and deaths, was produced, in Samara, Russia, in this picture released June 5, 2023. 

    Investigative Committee of Russia for the Samara Region/Handout via REUTERS


    And in 2016, more than 60 people died in Irkutsk in Siberia after drinking contraband bath oil that contained methanol.  

    Russia toughened its legislation after that incident, but cheap homemade spirits using alcohol substitutes remain widely available, particularly in rural areas with low standards of living and where the price of vodka is prohibitively high.

    Tainted alcohol has also had deadly consequences in other countries in recent months. 

    In May, more than 20 people died in India after drinking tainted liquor. Nine people were in custody, police said.

    In January, 23 people died in Turkey in 48 hours after drinking tainted alcohol.

    In November 2024, six tourists died in Laos from suspected methanol poisoning, state media reported.

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  • Arrest log

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    The following arrests were made recently by local police departments. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Massachusetts’ privacy law prevents police from releasing information involving domestic and sexual violence arrests with the goal to protect the alleged victims.

    LOWELL

    • Sanina Sang, 21, 9 Kimball Ave., Lowell; warrant (motor vehicle charges).

    • Sameer Abdu, 22, 353 Stevens St., First Floor, Lowell; disorderly conduct.

    • Neftaly Nunez De La Cruz, 37, 37 Bodwell St., Lawrence; fugitive from justice, warrant (failure to appear for jury duty).

    • Jennifer Toupin, 51, 1 Danforce Road, Apt. 21, Nashua, N.H.; warrant (failure to appear for fraud), courtesy booking (U.S. Park Police).

    • Winner Mandeni, 22, 190 First St., Apt. A, Lowell; indecent assault and battery on person 14 years or older.

    • Morselle Simmons, 20, 3 Ardell St., Lowell; assault and battery with dangerous weapon causing severe bodily injury (knife).

    • Dennis Foster, 46, homeless; possession of Class E drug, possession of Class B drug with intent to distribute, possession of Class A drug with intent to distribute.

    • Kinh Do, 49, 176B Kinsley St., Nashua, N.H.; warrants (motor vehicle charges, suspended license).

    • Roland Rodriguez Jr., 34, 256 Market St., No. 115, Lowell; warrant (operation of motor vehicle with suspended license).

    • Carmen Ortiz, 36, 34 Hurd St., Lowell; warrant (failure to appear for assault and battery on disabled/person over 60).

    • Jahiem Smith, 18, 43 Exeter St., Lowell; warrant (failure to stop for police).

    • Amanda Bellan, 29, homeless; warrant (destruction of property).

    • Kenthynia Saintil, 19, 125 Dover St., Lowell; operating motor vehicle without license.

    • Tanisha Gray, 39, 186 Market St., Apt. 5, Lowell; public drinking.

    • Thubalethu Mnyama, 41, 10 Cottage Ave., Nashua, N.H.; public drinking.

    • Franklyn Liranzo, 46, 15 Chippewa St., Third Floor, Lowell; wanton destruction of property.

    • Andrews Lanzarin, 42, no fixed address; trespassing.

    • Jason Kasilowski, 49, homeless; trespassing.

    • Michael Carroll, 50, 201 Middlesex St., Lowell; unlawful camping on public property, violation of bylaws/ordinances (knife).

    • Jason Ribeiro, 36, 9 Fort Hill Ave., Third Floor, Lowell; receive/buy/possess/conceal stolen motor vehicle.

    • Danny Santos, 36, 4 Hill Ave., Lowell; warrant (failure to appear for use of motor vehicle without authority).

    • Roeun Peov, 69, 43 Summer St., Apt. 219, Lowell; public drinking.

    • Jason Ferrer, 44, 25 Common Ave., Lowell; public drinking.

    • Alana Guarini, 21, homeless; assault with dangerous weapon (frying pan), warrants (larceny of motor vehicle, failure to appear for operating motor vehicle under influence).

    • Miguel Rivera, 34, 158 Concord Road, Billerica; operating motor vehicle after license suspension.

    • Catherine Doyle, 49, homeless; warrant (failure to appear for trespassing).

    • James Bowman, 64, homeless; warrants (failure to appear for two counts of larceny under $1,200, shoplifting by asportation, breaking and entering vehicle at nighttime).

    WESTFORD

    • Freddie Serrano, 58, King Street, Littleton; carrying dangerous weapon, two bicycle violations (false name, wrong side of roadway).

    WILMINGTON

    • Michael Adam Holden, 36, 2111 Avalon Drive, Wilmington; uninsured motor vehicle, unregistered motor vehicle.

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    Staff Report

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  • Alcohol escapes a government crackdown—for now

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    Just over a year ago, I wrote about the bureaucratic machinations in the U.S. attempting to import an anti-alcohol agenda into the government’s 2025 Dietary Guidelines. Now, it appears that alcohol has officially escaped the government’s wrath—at least for another half-decade.

    The U.S. dietary guidelines are revised every five years, with the latest revision expected this year. The lead-up to the revision unfolds over several years, and recommendations for safe drinking levels are traditionally included alongside food in the final guidance. For decades, the guidelines have held that men can safely consume up to two alcoholic drinks a day and women one. But myriad sources from inside the federal government were reporting that the new guidelines were planning to include a declaration that “no amount of alcohol is acceptable for a healthy lifestyle.” (This was a standard imported from the World Health Organization, which declared in 2023 that “no amount of alcohol is safe”). 

    This news supercharged a long-simmering debate over whether alcohol is good or bad (or simply medium) for you. Researchers have become increasingly split over this issue, with some sharing evidence that moderate alcohol consumption reduces overall mortality rates, while others point to studies finding a link between alcohol and cancer. Regardless of the science, however, the process through which the government was attempting to arrive at a “no safe level” declaration for alcohol was deeply alarming.

    The dietary guidelines revisions are spearheaded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Biden-era HHS delegated the alcohol issue to the little-known Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD).

    ICCPUD’s marching orders were to issue a report on the health impacts of drinking, but it turned out ICCPUD had stacked its deck. Reports started coming out that at least half of the six-person research panel not only had well-publicized anti-alcohol stances but also didn’t even reside in the United States. The decision over whether alcohol would be deemed safe or not was being put in the hands of a group of biased international academics who were essentially accountable to no one. (Several commentators have also pointed out that ICCPUD, whose putative focus is supposed to be underage drinking, was being put in charge of determining adult drinking recommendations.)

    A potential “no safe level” declaration was particularly worrisome for the alcohol industry, since perceptions about the health impact of alcohol have already been trending negatively among younger demographics, a trend that would likely accelerate if the U.S. government were to state that no amount of alcohol is safe to drink. Attorney Sean O’Leary noted that such a declaration would also be likely to trigger a wave of Tobacco-style class action lawsuits against the drinks industry.

    Congress—surprisingly—reacted to this backdoor attempt to smuggle a neo-prohibitionist agenda into the American dietary guidelines by playing a decently effective watchdog role. It first tasked the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to prepare a separate report on the health effects of drinking, which concluded that while moderate drinking raises the risk of certain types of cancer, it reduces all-cause mortality by decreasing the risk of heart disease.

    The remaining elephant in the room, however, was how President Donald Trump’s administration would handle the ICCPUD draft report that it inherited from the Biden administration. All eyes were on the new HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., famously a teetotaler, but he was silent about how the 2025 Dietary Guidelines would address alcohol.

    At long last, in early September, the House Appropriations Committee announced it was planning to defund ICCPUD, followed by news that ICCPUD’s draft report would no longer play a role in the 2025 guidelines revisions. It now appears that the alternative NASEM report will inform the new guidelines, although it’s not even certain that the guidelines will mention alcohol at all anymore (RFK Jr. has previously suggested that the 2025 Guidelines would be a mere 4 pages long, down from 160 pages in 2020).

    In the end, this counts as a narrow escape for the alcohol industry and U.S. drinkers. The science of drinking will likely be debated for years to come, but at the very least, the process should be allowed to play out in public view.

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    C. Jarrett Dieterle

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  • Why the F**k to Hangovers Get Worse?!

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    We all have a memory of that one hangover that damn-near sent you to another realm. That’s typically followed by the memories of the days where you could drink a helluva lot more and feel fresh as a daisy the next day.

    So, why exactly do hangovers get worse as we age?! It’s something that I desperately need to know, for… science reasons.

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    Hendy

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  • Why Lewis Hamilton Is Racing Into the $1.3+ Trillion Non-Alcoholic Beverage Market | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    I’ve written several articles about the rise of non-alcoholic (NA) beverages, from Dry January to the “sober curious” movement that’s gone from niche to mainstream. While I still enjoy a craft cocktail with my husband once in a while, alcohol rarely fits into my routine.

    I enjoy alternatives that feel intentional, functional and are crafted with purpose. What I don’t enjoy is paying $15 for a mocktail that turns out to be little more than lemonade in a fancy glass.

    That’s why brands like Almave stand out to me. The NA space isn’t just about abstaining anymore; it’s about reimagining the social ritual of drinking with authenticity, culture and innovation. Almave, a premium non-alcoholic agave spirit co-founded by seven-time Formula 1 champion Sir Lewis Hamilton, is a fascinating new product in this market.

    As the most decorated Formula One driver in history, Lewis Hamilton stopped drinking alcohol in 2023 to better align his health with the demands of his rigorous training schedule. The 40-year-old racer said that alcohol distracted him from operating at his full athletic and mental potential, often leaving him to “suffer for several days” after a big night out.

    That decision was not about missing out — it was about showing up stronger. It’s also exactly what paved the way for Almave: a spirit that honors the ritual without compromising performance.

    Related: Embrace a Healthier Summer With These Non-Alcoholic Beverages

    Hamilton had long enjoyed tequila in social settings, but once alcohol was off the table, he felt limited by the lack of premium, authentic NA alternatives.

    “Ordering a ginger beer felt underwhelming,” he said. He envisioned a non-alcoholic tequila that respected the craft of Mexico’s agave tradition, and that idea eventually led him to Casa Lumbre, a Mexico-based spirits house known for its innovation.

    He flew to Mexico City to meet Master Distiller Iván Saldaña, a biochemist and agave expert. Hamilton immersed himself in the fields and distilleries of Jalisco, learning the cultivation and distillation process firsthand.

    Together, they created Almave: a line of spirits made from blue agave, distilled with tradition and expertise, but free of alcohol. Hamilton explained to me during an interview that he admired the commitment and authenticity of Saldaña. “I knew I wanted to be a part of this and I wanted to learn from Iván and really be a part of the process.”

    Image Credit: Almave

    Today, Almave offers Ambar, Blanco and its latest release, Almave Humo, a smoky, mezcal-inspired NA spirit that brings complexity and depth to cocktails. I recently tried Humo and while I wouldn’t tell my friends that it tastes like mezcal, I would use it for a refreshing mocktail.

    Hamilton insists that Almave isn’t a celebrity vanity project. “We respect the craft and traditions of Mexico, using time-honored methods perfected over generations,” he said. That authenticity has resonated.

    • Almave has grown 35,000 Instagram followers since June 2024.
    • It sees an 8.3% engagement rate on TikTok – double the industry average.
    • Its launch reels have topped 10 million organic views.
    • Returning customers, though just 17% of the base, generate more than a third of total revenue.

    In a crowded NA space, those numbers speak to both curiosity and loyalty.

    Almave is only one part of Hamilton’s expanding entrepreneurial portfolio. His ventures consistently reflect purpose, lifestyle and innovation. Hamilton had been linked to Neat Burger, a global vegan burger chain (backed by Leonardo DiCaprio) that focused on sustainability but recently voluntarily liquidated.

    He also joined the ownership group of the Denver Broncos in 2022, and has a production company, Dawn Apollo Films, with Brad Pitt, under which they recently co-produced the F1 movie starring Brad Pitt. Hamilton also recently became a global Lululemon ambassador. Authenticity, innovation and values that align with his personal brand are woven throughout these ventures and Almave was the natural next step.

    Related: I Work Nearly 50+ Hours a Week and Rarely Feel Tired

    I relate to Hamilton’s pivot. I live and breathe health and wellness, but not in an extreme way. For me, the fundamentals — nutrition, hydration, sleep, movement and community — are what matter most. Everything else, from supplements to wearables to biohacks, are simply tools to help optimize and refine wellbeing.

    From a growth and economic viewpoint, Hamilton isn’t the only celebrity leaning into this trend. Bella Hadid co-founded Kin Euphorics, Katy Perry launched De Soi and Blake Lively created Betty Buzz and Betty Booze. Each brings its own twist, but what unites them is a recognition that consumers want sophisticated, intentional options when they’re not drinking. The global NA beverage market is projected to surpass $30 billion by 2030, fueled by younger consumers, health-conscious professionals and savvier audiences who desire both performance and pleasure.

    Related: Dry January? His Non-Alcoholic Side Hustle Made $50 Million+

    From integrating adaptogens to promoting healthier habits, I appreciate when brands in the NA space deliver more than just sugar in a sleek bottle. Almave feels elevated, authentic and celebratory. It acknowledges that rituals matter, but more important, that wellness matters. With Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel, Almave is proving to be a brand with speed, authenticity and staying power.

    Almave Blanco shines in a spicy mezcal margarita. Here’s my go-to recipe:

    Almave Spicy Mezcal Margarita

    • 2 oz Almave Humo
    • 1 oz fresh lime juice
    • 0.5 oz agave syrup (or less to taste)
    • 2 slices jalapeño
    • Tajín for rim

    I’ve written several articles about the rise of non-alcoholic (NA) beverages, from Dry January to the “sober curious” movement that’s gone from niche to mainstream. While I still enjoy a craft cocktail with my husband once in a while, alcohol rarely fits into my routine.

    I enjoy alternatives that feel intentional, functional and are crafted with purpose. What I don’t enjoy is paying $15 for a mocktail that turns out to be little more than lemonade in a fancy glass.

    That’s why brands like Almave stand out to me. The NA space isn’t just about abstaining anymore; it’s about reimagining the social ritual of drinking with authenticity, culture and innovation. Almave, a premium non-alcoholic agave spirit co-founded by seven-time Formula 1 champion Sir Lewis Hamilton, is a fascinating new product in this market.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

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    Elisette Carlson

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