Barhoppers will likely soon be allowed to take drinks out of businesses like Chubby Unicorn and onto the plaza near Mission Ballroom in River North, making it one of the city’s first areas where customers of multiple businesses can mingle with alcoholic drinks in common areas.
Denver officials on Monday took a step toward creating a new “common consumption” area on the northeastern stretch of the River North district, which is part of the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood.
Common consumption areas allow patrons to buy an alcoholic drink from a business and take it into an open area. The proposal for North Wynkoop would include Chubby Unicorn Cantina, The Peach Crease Club and Left Hand RiNo Drinks and Eats.
The three establishments are all housed in a single building just to the southwest of Mission Ballroom. Patrons could take their drinks from the plaza out into the plaza that connects them to Mission Ballroom.
The goal is to “activate that space, bring it to life, and create an entertainment district where people can gather. They can be patrons of multiple different businesses at the same time,” said Alex Jump, who recently co-founded The Peach Crease with her husband, Stuart Jensen.
People could stop by the plaza with drinks “before going to a concert, before they’re headed to the Stock Show perhaps, or … maybe for no other occasion other than they’re just getting together with a large group of friends,” Jump said.
Drinks-to-go will have to be poured in branded disposable cups, which can be done at the request of the customer, Jensen said. The Peach Crease has a dedicated window where staff will serve drinks directly onto the plaza, while other businesses could offer drinks-to-go inside.
Mission Ballroom itself won’t participate, so those concert beers will have to stay in the venue, and vice versa — no alcohol from outside can be brought in.
The Denver City Council on Monday approved the creation of an entertainment district in the area, which allows the city to authorize the common consumption zone. The city council also extended the law authorizing the common consumption areas, which was set to expire. It is now permanent.
Councilmember Darrell Watson sponsored both measures, working with the city’s Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. In a written statement, Watson described common consumption as a way to “support local restaurants, bring more visitors, and make our arts district even more vibrant.”
The city recently established a similar drinking area on 16th Street. But the plan in RiNo would be the first one established by private leaders under the common consumption law, which was established five years ago.
Editor’s note: This article was updated to reflect that the city council also extended the common consumption lawand with comment from Councilmember Darrell Watson.
Abstaining from alcohol for short periods of time — like Dry January — leads to reduced drinking in the long run and various physical and psychological improvements, new research shows.
Researchers at Brown University analyzed 16 studies that evaluated Dry January, the month-long sobriety challenge, and found that participants reported improved sleep, better moods, weight loss, improved concentration and more energy. They continued to drink less alcohol afterward and showed an improved ability to refuse drinks.
Avoiding alcohol for a month also reduces liver fat, improves insulin levels and lowers cancer-related growth factors, Suzanne Colby, one of the study’s authors and a professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences, told the Boston Globe.
Even cutting back on alcohol led to similar benefits, Colby said.
“They still had some reduction in drinking that was sustained and part of that was they still gained confidence for reducing or refusing drinks in social situations, which I think is a big part of the effect: Learning how to navigate socializing without drinking, which can be really challenging to do because they are really intertwined.”
Dry January began in the United Kingdom in 2013. Each year, millions of people participate by vowing to not drink alcohol, or reduce their consumption habits, during January. Participants tend to be younger, female, have higher incomes and a college degree, the Brown University researchers found. Participants also tend to be heavy drinkers.
The analysis, published in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism in September, analyzed data from more than 150,000 Dry January participants, mostly from the U.K.
The Dry January participants that found the greatest success in abstaining from alcohol formally registered on the Dry January campaign website, used guides like the Try Dry app or received daily coaching emails, the study found. The campaign’s success at targeting heavy drinkers — a group difficult to reach through intervention programs — led the researchers to recommend expanding outreach on the benefits of the Dry January and investing in tools that keep participants on track.
“The effort leads to sustained moderation: most participants continue to drink less alcohol rather than increasing consumption afterwards,” Megan Strowger, who led the study as a postdoctoral fellow and now works at the University of Buffalo, said in a press release. “Overall, participating in Dry January allows people to pause, reflect and rethink their relationship with alcohol, including how it affects their social life, mental health and physical health.”
Americans have shown a growing wariness to drink alcohol as its health implications have become more publicized. A Gallup poll released in August found that 54% of adults say they drink alcohol. That’s the lowest reported percentage since 1939.
In January, the U.S. surgeon general published an advisory report that linked alcohol use to seven types of cancer. A study published in Marchsuggested alcohol consumption at any level increases the risk of dementia.
For people interested in eliminating alcohol consumption,experts recommend tracking one’s progress, participating in a social environment that supports the goal of staying sober or trying “Damp January,” which consists of cutting back on drinking rather than giving it up entirely.
“There is so much more support for living an alcohol-free lifestyle now,” Colby said in the press release. “It is more socially acceptable than ever to be ‘sober curious’ or alcohol free. Social norms have shifted, in part with the help of influencers on social media sharing the benefits of sobriety and reducing the stigma of not drinking.”
A woman has gone viral on TikTok after sharing how a man sent her a drink at the bar. But this wasn’t any ordinary drink: it was a “sip” of another patron’s order.
The TikTok, which has amassed 547,300 views, consists of a photo of a reddish liquid in a shot glass with on-screen text reading: “This is a first: a man had the bartender send me a sip of his drink instead of buying me one.”
TikToker Ansa Edim (@ansa_____) then added in the description: “Times are tough. It made me low key smile/chuckle though so good for him I guess?”
In the comments, viewers couldn’t get over the bartender actually agreeing to do this. “And the bartender did it?!” one asked. “As a bartender that is WILD,” another added. While a third wrote, “What in the food safety violation was the bartender thinking?”
On a more general note, commenters couldn’t get over the audacity. “How does this idea even come to someone’s head?” a fourth commenter queried.
“This man will definitely be asking you what you bring to the table,” a fifth noted. Elsewhere, a sixth admitted, “With Covid, the flu, etc going on. I would of cursed the man and the bartender out politely.”
However, there was one comment that was so egregious, it caused Edim to make a follow-up video. The comment read: “I swear y’all never happy. Y’all ladies stay in our plates and drink. By giving you a sip of his drink he just told you that he sees a future with you, he’s caring, and he’s willing to share. Y’all just ungrateful.”
In response to this, Edim provided a more detailed account of what happened, noting that her main issue with this gesture is that he never asked her before doing it and didn’t take her preferences into account.
“This is the problem with men who think this way,” she told the commenter. “You gave me a sip of your drink and im supposed to be like ‘Omg thank you’.” Edim didn’t immediately respond to The Mary Sue’s request for comment via TikTok comment and contact form.
Should you share a drink with strangers?
In an article for Huffpost, Mayo Clinic pathologist and clinical microbiologist Dr Bobbi Pritt explained that sharing your drink with someone, even a “sip,” can be bad for you.
“There’s a whole bunch of different types of microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Some of them can survive in saliva,” she explained.
Some of these microbes, she said, could also be found on the surface of the cup or on a straw.
Based on her account, it seems like her drink wasn’t touched before the TikToker got her “sip,” but even so, it’s a health and safety risk that could’ve been avoided.
Charlotte is an internet culture writer with bylines in Insider, VICE, Glamour, The Independent, and more. She holds a Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from City St George’s, University of London.
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.
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.
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.
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.
River North, especially the area surrounding Hubbard Street, is one of Downtown Chicago’s busiest neighborhoods at night. Tourists and locals alike fill the bars, clubs, and restaurants with herds weaving in and out of traffic crawling to their next destination.
The neighborhood’s latest addition is a joint venture between former Chicago Bulls star Jimmy Butler, country singer-songwriter Chase Rice, and former Chicago Bear Roquan Smith. The trio has opened the third location of Welcome to the Farm, a country music venue and club with locations in St. Petersburg, Florida and Cleveland. The celebrities are backed by Forward Hospitality Group, a Cleveland outfit that owns Good Night John Boy in West Loop. Fans of Barstool Sports may know one of the principals at Forward, Dante Deiana. Deiana’s a DJ and writer for the infamous media company.
The Bears might actually be worth watching in 2024. Probably.
Spare ribs, pulled turkey, brisket, and short ribs are on the menu.
Smoked brisket nachos
The space’s retractable roof remains.
They’ve remodeled the former Fremont, keeping the retractable roof and modernizing the space which has a stage for small concerts and room for 300. They’ll offer bottle service late into the night. But for folks into food, country music often goes well with smoked meats, and on the restaurant side they’ll serve brisket nachos, smoked chicken wings, pulled pork sandwiches (a Cuban served Miami style also uses the pork), plus spare ribs, short ribs, turkey, and sausage. Fried chicken and tenders are on the menu, as well. Forward Executive Chef Raheem Sealey debuted the menu in Florida at Drinking Pig BBQ, and now he brings his meats and treats up north.
Does this follow U.S. Flag Code? Well, the DQ sign doesn’t object.
Bowls, like this one with crispy cauliflower, are also available as lighter options.
The buttermilk-brined fried chicken sandwich.
Butler, a perennial All-Star, also played in Minnesota and Philadelphia before finding at home with the Miami Heat. He his own coffee company. He launched BIGFACE in 2020 during the pandemic, when the NBA brought all its playoff teams to Orlando, Florida to limit travel and the spread of COVID. The Bubble and its restrictions made it hard for players and coaches to find a good cup of coffee, so Butler seized the opportunity. For the first time ever, customers will be able to taste BIGFACE drinks in a restaurant setting. A news release touts “new specialty coffee products from Butler’s coffee brand BIGFACE that are available to consume while taking in the scene.”
Check out the space and some of the menu items below.
Welcome to the Farm, 15 W. Illinois Street, (312) 833-2080, open noon on weekdays, and 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday; kitchen open until 1 a.m.
Through Sunday night, the inaugural Spirit of Japan Festival is happening in Sakura Square. The event showcases Japanese food, spirits and — the star of the show — sake.
We met with the event’s sake sommelier, known as a kikisake-shi in Japanese, ahead of the event.
It’s not wine, it’s not liquor and it’s not beer — but the fermentation process is closest to that of beer.
Any array of sake bottles, including Heavensake’s “Sake Baby!” and “Junmai 12,” as well as a few rare two bottles from master sake sommelier Adam Boggeri’s personal collection. Aug. 23, 2024.Lauren Antonoff Hart
By law, all sake in Japan can only have four ingredients, with the caveat that a fifth is sometimes allowed.
“Sake can only have rice, water, koji mold, and yeast,” Boggeri explained. The fifth ingredient is jozo, a brewer’s alcohol. It’s like Everclear or moonshine — strong and tasteless.
The purpose of including jozo is not to make the sake stronger, it’s to clarify the flavors in the brew.
Let’s talk classifications and types of sake.
The two classifications that sake falls under are “premium” and “table.” If you’re drinking sake in America, it’s most likely a premium brand. Table sake is kind of like the Carlo Rossi wine (very cheap and comes in a jug) of sake, Boggeri explained. It can have additional ingredients and is lower quality.
If we’re talking premium sake (which, for the rest of this article, we will be) there are two predominant types: junmai and ginjo.
Boggeri said his pro tip for beginners is to focus on those two words.
Junmai means pure rice and “ it’s going to be savory, lactic, umami, grainy, funky, earthy, those kind of notes.”
On the other end of the spectrum, ginjo means tropical fruit and “that’s what you get your fruity, your floral and your herbal” flavors.
Master sake sommelier Adam Boggeri opens a bottle of Heavensake’s “Junmai Daiginjo Orange.” Aug. 23, 2024.Lauren Antonoff Hart
“There’s a saying that every bottle has four different sake in it,” Boggeri added. There’s “like 20 minutes out of the fridge room temp, cool room temp, warm room temp and hot, like a cup of tea.”
At each temperature, the sake will taste different. “If you have a sake you don’t really like, try a different temperature. If a [food] pairing doesn’t work, try a different temperature.”
‘Comparing it to wine is probably the easiest way to do it.’
Boggeri said sake can seem intimidating because of the unfamiliar terms and Japanese characters on the bottles. But he assured “it really is the easiest thing to taste.”
“Wine is very hard to learn how to taste in the beginning, and then it’s kind of easy to master,” Boggeri said. “With wine you have so much wine-ness to it that a lot of people are like, ‘Oh, do you taste chocolate?’ And it’s like, ‘No, I just taste wine.’”
“With sake. It’s kind of the opposite. As soon as you open sake, you will taste apple, pear, melon, things like that, they’ll slap you right away.”
Boggeri teaches sake tasting using a sheet of terms called a lexicon.
“I use a sheet that has things like apple, pear, banana. If you have that kind of list in front of you, when you go to taste something you can go, ‘Do I taste apple? Yes or no? Do I taste pear? Yes or no?’”
Boggeri said he grew up 20 minutes outside of Napa, California, so he’s deeply familiar with wine culture. But he said it always baffled him.
“I hated going places where it was like, ‘Oh, it tastes like moss on a northern slope at 9 a.m. in the summer.’ And it’s like, ‘No, I don’t know what deer hoof tastes like. I don’t know what things like that are.”
With sake, Boggeri said, “There is no — I don’t want to say snobbery, because I don’t want to bash the wine people — but there’s no extra complexity.”
How to pour and drink sake — the polite way.
“The Japanese are very big on showing appreciation and showing how grateful they are for your business,” Boggeri explained. “In Japan, they’ll fill your cup as high as they can. That’s the big thing, get it as high as possible. If they really want to just wax how much they’re happy you’re here, they will overflow the cup.”
That’s when a masu, or box-shaped cup, comes into play. If you put a small sake glass in a masu, you can pour the cup ‘til it overfloweth, without wasting sake.
(Fun fact: masu cups weren’t originally designed for drinking. They are traditional measuring cups that mete a single-person portion of rice. But we’ll save the history lesson for sake 201.)
Master sake sommelier Adam Boggeri pours a taste of Heavensake’s “Junmai Daiginjo Noir.” Aug. 23, 2024.Lauren Antonoff Hart
A bamboo masu cup with a s tasting glass inside. Aug. 23, 2024.Lauren Antonoff Hart
Boggeri said there are two sake-drinking traditions, one long-standing and one more modern.
Let’s start with the long-standing.
“Japanese culture is very hierarchical. It’s very much — if dad brings a friend over, the youngest child will pour,” Boggeri explained. The hierarchy goes up by age and gender, prioritizing elders and men.
But no matter who is in the room, “you don’t pour for yourself. The person below you pours for you.”
Now, the more modern etiquette.
“There’s a Japanese saying that ‘The nail that sticks up the most gets hammered first,’” Boggeri said. “That’s taught a lot to Japanese kids” and permeates throughout the culture. Then, as people enter the workforce, “they’re told, ‘Keep your head down, don’t make a name for yourself,’ that kind of thing. So the Japanese can be very reserved in social settings.”
Enter: the small cups.
“You cannot pour for yourself, and if you don’t have a big glass, you’re not going to get very far,” Boggeri said. So if you drink the sake the waiter poured for you, what do you do?
“The Japanese aren’t going to look at you and say, ‘Hey, can you pour me some?’ That’s rude. So they’ll do something like, ‘Oh, that was delicious!’ (wink wink, nudge nudge).”
“So what it does is kind of cool,” Boggeri said. It “really forces social interaction, and that’s what makes it truly a social lubricant.”
Myth-busting and FAQ with the master sommelier.
How many master-level sake sommeliers are there?
“There are about four or five in the US and about 30 or 33 globally.”
What food should you pair with sake?
Sake is the best alcohol to pair with Japanese food, but Japanese food isn’t the best food to pair with sake.
“Pizza, actually, is the universal pairing because it fits perfectly with everything in the world of sake.”
Sake’s four main flavors are: grain, acid, lactic and umami.
“That’s your crust, your sauce, your cheese, your meat.”
Is hot sake lower quality?
“Popular myth: hot sake is bad. Totally untrue.”
Is sake popular in Japan?
“It’s booming everywhere else, but it’s actually kind of dying in Japan. It’s like brandy in America. There was a time when our grandparents drank brandy every night. Nobody does that anymore. It’s kind of considered the old person thing.”
How’s the hangover?
“Sake hangovers are a little less common, or at least a little more gentle, because the enzymes that are in there to break down the alcohol, you’re then drinking them with the alcohol and so it helps your body break the alcohol down faster and cleaner.”
What’s the literal translation of ‘kanpai’? *
*We stumped the sake master! Then we looked it up, together.
“It means ‘dry cup.’ It’s the act of emptying your cup during a toast. The symbolism behind it, of emptying your cup, is to show good health and happiness.”
Boggeri, armed with this new knowledge, said he’d still recommend sipping and enjoying your sake, not shooting it. But to each their own.
How to try sake during and after Denver’s Spirit of Japan Festival.
This weekend, the Spirit of Japan festival takes place in Sakura Square in LoDo from Friday night through Sunday afternoon. If you attend the festival, organizers say, please get a ride and drink responsibly.
At Spirit of Japan, sake from all parts of Japan will be showcased. “We’re looking at 60 to 100 different bottles,” Boggeri said.
And if you can’t make it to Spirit of Japan, or you’re craving more sake in your life, here are Boggeri’s Denver recommendations:
“Liquor-store-wise, my top two are Molly’s Spirits and H Mart. H Mart has probably the best selection .… Just after them, I would put Mr. B’s Wine and Spirits and Clark’s Market in Lowry.”
“Restaurant-wise, Glo Noodle House is awesome because they have a solid selection with some of the most unique choices. They also have great food and the nicest staff,” Boggeri said. “Along with that are some semi-obvious ones I like: Temaki Den, Bao Brewhouse, Jinya Ramen Bar, Sushi Ronin and Uchi.”
Boaters enjoy time on the water near Ramsey Creek County Park at Lake Norman, NC.
Dillon Deaton
ddeaton@charlotteobserver.com
Boating season has arrived in North Carolina, with many already hitting the water to beat the heat.
Having a beer on the lake is common during those 90-degree days, but it can also be dangerous.
Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, and it was listed as the leading factor in 16% of deaths in 2022, according to the most recent report from the U.S. Coast Guard.
Luckily, North Carolina has laws that protect people on the water.
Here’s what to know about the state’s boating while under the influence laws.
What are the laws on drinking + boating in NC for drivers & passengers?
According to state law, it is illegal to operate a boat “while under the influence of an impairing substance” or “in a reckless or negligent manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person.”
Similar to driving statutes, a person is in violation of the law “after having consumed sufficient alcohol that the person has, at any relevant time after the boating, an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more,” the law says.
While it is against the law to drive a boat while impaired, it is legal for passengers to consume alcohol while on a boat, according to Glover Law Firm, a firm based in eastern North Carolina.
Boaters enjoy time on the water near Ramsey Creek County Park at Lake Norman, NC. Dillon Deaton ddeaton@charlotteobserver.com
What happens if you break the law?
Violations of North Carolina’s BWI law are a class two misdemeanors, according to the law
If convicted, you could be fined a minimum of $250, the law says.
People who are found guilty of breaking the law could also face up to 60 days in jail or probation, according to NC-based Wentz Law Firm.
Do you need a license to drive a boat in NC?
You don’t need a license to drive a boat in North Carolina.
However, any person born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, must complete a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators-approved boating education course before operating a boat with 10 horsepower or greater, according to state law.
Boating education courses can be completed in-person or online. There is no minimum age requirement, but the course is taught at a sixth-grade level, and a written exam must be completed to pass the class, NCWRC says.
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Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.
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What is your favorite summer cocktail, wine, beer, or other libation? Do you drink the same thing year-round, or do sunny, warm days make you think of different drinks?
For my $.02… I’m not a huge wine person, but something about spring (and only spring) says rosé to me… but if I’m at a restaurant offering a frosé in the summer, I may indulge. When I’m drinking wine a nice white definitely feels more summery than red. Except for Beaujolais, which for some reason I always associate with “fancy picnic wine,” and maybe Lambrusco or sangria.
In terms of cocktails, I love a dirty gin martini and will drink that year round; ditto for an old-fashioned. But if there’s a Bee’s Knees on the cocktail menu or another fun drink involving lemon, elderflower, or honey syrup, those will often get me also.
My Favorite Low- and Non-Alcoholic Summer Drinks
As far as other libations go, I’ve never been a huge fan of lemonade (despite my love for lemon, go figure). I’m more likely to grab a lemonade-flavored seltzer or a kombucha than a lemonade. I have been getting into mocktails in recent years, and I really like some of the lighter nonalcoholic beers from Athletic Brewing or BrewDog, and Clausthaler makes an amazing grapefruit-flavored mocktail if you can find it. (I also like Fever Tree’s grapefruit soda.)
When I’m feeling extra fancy, I still love to make the grapefruit-elderflower mocktail I shared in our roundup of 10 great mocktails for Dry January… If I’m OK with having a low alcohol drink I’ll sometimes add just a splash of St. Germain to seltzer. We’re starting to get into a few of the lower-alcohol things like spiked seltzers, spiked kombucha, and ranch water, but we’re just starting because it took me a while to get over my Zima/”wine cooler” memories. I’d love to know if you have favorites.
(I also still make “unicorn juice” — hat tip to the readers for that one!)
Readers, how about you: What are your favorite summer drinks like cocktails, wine, beer, and other libations? (What are your favorite seltzers, readers? I’m pretty loyal to Spindrift, especially since you can often find it on sale in large quantities, but I know that brands like Poland Spring and La Croix have a bunch of fun seasonal flavors also…)
PROVIDENCE, RI—While visiting a hometown friend at Brown University, college sophomore Caleb Martin was reportedly shocked Monday to discover that other schools have traditions where they drink to excess. “It’s as if they stole the idea directly from our own lineage at Tufts, right down to the whole concept of consuming alcoholic beverages to the point of inebriation, and then just claimed it was their own,” said the visibly stunned Martin, shaking his head in disbelief while listing off the eerie similarities to his own school’s cherished rituals of drinking a significant amount of cheap beer and hard liquor over the course of a weekend. “Yes, they drink Hamm’s here, whereas we tend to favor Keystone Light. But the fundamentals are really surprisingly similar. Ultimately, though, it seems like their tradition is just as ingrained as our own, and in fact might date back decades earlier. What an odd coincidence.” Martin added that thankfully his school would always be able to distinguish itself with its unique drinking game, which involved throwing ping-pong balls into red Solo cups.
I know it’s not really a big feat but I’ve not gone a full week without drinking in about 2 months. I’m shooting to stay sober all of January, and maybe February too. So far, so good. Will see how it goes but I kinda wanted to tell someone because I’m proud of myself
After a holiday season spent indulging and imbibing many social drinkers welcome the tradition of Dry or Damp January, where you abstain from or cut back on alcohol for a full month as a way of resetting your relationship with it in the new year.
Many who try the 31-day challenge find it becomes easier with time to adopt a low or no-alcohol lifestyle as a result. Whether you’re looking to cut back on the booze to avoid hangovers, save money, or improve your health overall, there are likely some added benefits you haven’t considered that might just make you consider giving it up for good.
Here are some of the major benefits of cutting out alcohol, according to experts.
1. Your sleep may improve
It might come as a shock to those who look forward to a night cap as a way to drift to sleep, but alcohol acts more like a tranquilizer, knocking you out but not giving you true sleep.
In fact, studies show that even a low amount of alcohol—less than one drink for women and less than two for men—can negatively impact sleep quality.
“There are four stages of sleep and stages 3 and 4 are most important,” says Louisa Nicola, a neurophysiologist and advisor with Momentous where she uses science-backed strategies to help athletes and investors reach peak performance.
Nicola says it’s during the third stage of sleep, known as deep sleep, that you release growth hormones and testosterone and activate the glymphatic system which is the brain’s waste clearance system.
“When you drink alcohol, you are sedating yourself. So you are blocking these stages of sleep,” Nicola says.
2. You’ll perform better mentally
With improved sleep, comes improved mood, focus and energy. When you block REM sleep, stage four sleep, your emotions can be disrupted.
“You’re going to have a short fuse, you’re going to be more angry, you’re going to be more sad and the way you respond to people is going to be less emotionally intelligent,” Nicola adds.
Long term, excessive drinking also raises the odds of developing dementia.
“(Alcohol) is going in and obliterating the brain cells,” Nicola says.
This kind of deterioration is responsible for disease like Alzheimer’s, which we can lower the risk for when we cut down on heavy drinking.
3. You’ll reduce your risk of cancer and other diseases
Heavy drinking not only increases your risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, it also raises your risk of cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But even one drink a day, considered moderate drinking, increases your risk for certain types of cancer.
What’s more, alcohol contributes to more than 200 diseases, including in the liver, pancreas, and heart.
4. You may improve your fertility
Regular heavy drinking can affect both male and female fertility: In men, excessive alcohol can lower testosterone levels, cause impotence, and affect sperm production. In women, it can affect the menstrual cycle, ovulation, and hormone levels.
Some studies indicate that fertility can recover in men and women by abstaining from alcohol for three months.
5. You might lose extra weight
Many report a drop in weight after removing the empty calories consumed when drinking. Alcohol, like other foods and drinks that are high in sugar, can not only add unwanted pounds, but may also contribute to the accumulation of belly fat, which is associated with heart disease and diabetes.
“Forty percent of our users see weight loss; they lose 5 to 10 pounds just because of cutting back the first three months,” says Vedant Pradeep, cofounder and CEO of Reframe, an alcohol reduction app, created in partnership with Emory and Harvard University.
6. Your mental health could improve
Many who consume alcohol do so to cope with stress, anxiety and depression, but experts say this is counterintuitive and that drinking can increase these symptoms.
“Alcohol is used to help or try to regulate the nervous system when it’s used to soothe anxiety and depression, but we’re learning there are other ways to soothe our nervous system,” says Stacy Thiry, a licensed therapist with Grow Therapy who specializes in addiction/substance abuse.
When we stop drinking, we remove the substance responsible for many of our mood cycles. As a result, Thiry says many report improved relationships with family members, less risk taking behavior, better energy and health, and the ability to work out.
You might not think consuming alcohol is affecting your personal relationships or daily life until you take a harder look, Thiry says.
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it is weekend for the big celebrations – ring out the old and ring in the new! Men, and especially women, will imbibe with a little something special over the weekend. Champagne is the drink of choice for a practical historical reason. When bubbles started being bottled and sold to the masses in the 1880s, it was marketed as an aspirational beverage. Most non-nobles could only afford champagne on special occasions, and chose New Year’s Eve as the night to get it to manifest riches and fulfilled aspirations in the year to come. This year, celebrate with these simple classic cocktails which use your favorite alcohol and add a little extra to the occasion.
Find a good bottle and be prepared to have a good time!
Ingredients
3ouncesbrandy
4ouncesof Triple Sec, Cointreau or Grand Marnier
1bottlechampagne or prosecco
Create
Set out four champagne flutes
Pour ¾ ounce of brandy into the bottom of each glass.
Pour an ounce of Triple Sec or Cointreau into each glass over the brandy. Do not stir.
Top up with champagne.
Use the leftover bubbles to make another round!
Photo by Flickr user mariobonifacio
Rose Kennedy
This cocktail is names after the Jackie Kennedy’s mother in law. The family matriarch was a fan. This cocktail is also the grandmother of the New England highballs family of drinks that includes the Cape Codand the Cosmopolitan.
Ingredients
2 parts vodka
3 part sparkling water
1 splash cranberry juice
Create
Create in a tall or short glass over ice, stir and garnish with a lime wedge
Nothing says old school sophistication like a Manhattan. Emerging in the 1860s-1870s, the Manhattan is regarded as the first “modern cocktail” due to the inclusion of an aromatised and fortified wine in the shape of vermouth
ingredients
2 ounces rye whiskey
¾ ounce sweet red vermouth
2 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters
Create
Stir all ingredients until chilled, strain, and serve straight up in a martini glass.
Tequila Sunrise
The original tequila sunrise contained tequila, crème de cassis, lime juice, and soda water, and was served at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel where it was created 1930s. It has been ragingly popular ever since. Try this simplified classic.
Ingredients
3 ounces orange juice
1 ½ ounces your favorite tequila
½ ounce grenadine
Create
Pour tequila and orange juice in a tall glass over ice, stir briefly to combine. Add grenadine and watch as it sinks.
As you end one year and bring in a new one, may you enjoy yourself and celebrate.
The holidays continue to plow through until January 2, then everyone has regrets and promises. New Year resolutions are dutifully made and efforts are expended to lead a better, healthier life. But what about during the final part of the season? Maybe taking a break from alcohol with a gummy can help you and your body feel better.
During holiday season, people drink to celebrate, to relax and to avoid some of the stress and tensions coming from being around the family. This tends to make alcohol a staple of the holiday season. But it can be counterproductive to the feel good atmosphere. Surveys suggest in the weeks between Thanksgiving and the new year, alcohol consumption spikes. For some people, it’s as much as double what they drink during the rest of the year. With eggnog, adult ciders, spiked punch and celebratory glasses of sparkling wine, it’s not that hard for extra alcohol to creep into one’s daily life. It starts the day before Thanksgiving with Blackout Wednesday.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels
Consuming alcohol can lead to high levels of stomach acid. This can inflame the stomach lining, leading to irritation and bloating that can last a few days. In addition, Alcohol is considered a depressant and directly affects the central nervous system. Once alcohol enters the bloodstream, it circulates to the brain, where it proceeds to slow down the firing of neurons. When neuronal firings decrease at a normal rate, it can result in fatigue, and sleepiness. Alcohol can also imped sleep while gummies can help you sleep better, this can help you body revive quicker after a few days.
Traditionally, when people think of consuming cannabis, they think of smoking. But the new wave of partakers since legalization leans into vapes and gummies. In fact, almost 50% of the way people consume is via gummies. Gummies offer benefits and control. With control, you can manage the dosage and manage just a bit of relaxation without too much “celebration”. Gummies also don’t have the same body effect on your stomach, which is a benefit and give your tummy time to bounce back.
So taking a break a break from alcohol with a gummy can be good for your body and head.
Prince William goes by many names. Prince of Wales? That’s him. Duke of Cornwall? Also him. He also answers to Duke of Cornwall, Lord of the Isles, and Baron Carrickfergus, among many titles. But to Mike Tindall, the former professional rugby player who’s married to William’s cousin Zara Tindall, he’s “One Pint Willy.”
The Tindalls appeared on the Seven: Rob Burns podcast in an episode published Wednesday, and got to talking about nicknames for each other and for members of the royal family.
“We basically call each other ‘munchkins’ a lot, don’t we? Or ‘my love,’ ” Mike said of the couple’s pet names for one another.
William, however, has been knighted by Mike with a decidedly less cutesy moniker.
“The Prince of Wales is known to me as ‘One Pint Willy’ because he’s not the best of drinkers,” Mike said. “Coming from a sport where it is built on the social aspect and a couple of beers being sunk quite often, that is one I will definitely give away for the Prince of Wales. One Pint Willy. It’s out there now, sorry sir.”
“You’re in so much trouble,” Zara playfully told her husband.
The Tindalls appear to be close with William, Kate Middleton, and the Wales children, and enjoy a friendly relationship. When the Waleses appeared on the podcast that Mike co-hosts, they joked about Middleton and William’s competitive nature.
“I’m not going to say you’re uber competitive, but …” Tindall teased Middleton. “I’ve seen her play beer pong!”
It seems safe to say that William, despite his many other offices and titles, won’t be adding Duke of Double-Fisting to his list anytime soon.
In recent years, more people, celebrity and civilian alike, have opened up about their decisions to cut back on their consumption of alcohol, or quit drinking entirely. To name a few: Tom Holland,Charlie Sheen,Elle Macpherson, Jessica Simpson, Gisele Bündchen, Jane Fonda, Lucy Hale, Kit Harington—the list goes on. Their reasons for kicking the bottle are myriad, and the options for alcohol abstinence and alternatives grow every day. “Drink less” is a perennially popular new year’s resolution, and Blake Shelton is putting it on his list for 2024.
The 47-year-old country star, who has been married to Gwen Stefani since 2021, told Entertainment Tonight about his plans for the new year.
“I haven’t managed to stop drinking yet,” he said. “Even cutting back has been hard. I mean, it’s a resolution though. And I’ll say it again right now—that’s my New Year’s resolution. To either cut back or stop drinking altogether. Let’s just say I said it.”
Shelton is set to spend his New Year’s Eve onstage, performing as part of the country star-spangled lineup of CBS’ New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash. If he and Stefani were bidding adieu to 2023 in their own home, however, things would look different than what is sure to be a loud night: “If we’re at home during New Year’s Eve, we’re probably going to bed before it even happens,” Shelton said.
Ready for a major lifestyle change? Uncover successful strategies when embracing the “cold turkey” approach to break bad habits, making the process of change both easy and manageable.
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Thanksgiving is known for the big meal! Turkey, ham, beef – all on the menu. Also included is stuffing and/or dressing, pies, a form of green beans and more carbs. All delicious and everyone is expected to have two plates before dessert. Afterwards, everyone waddles away from the table as eyes become droopy. But does turkey really make you sleepy?
Over 46 million turkeys will be served up on Thursday. And, it turns out, pumpkin is not the favorite pie. Apple pie is the overwhelming favorite followed by chocolate and pecan pie making pumpkin pie rank in at #4. Pumpkin gets the attention based on tradition it seems.
For generations, the turkey has been the villain of needing a nap after the feast, with some avoiding talking to difficult relatives, helping clear and wash, or just being a good guest. But it seems the bird got a bum rap. Morgan Pfiffner, a researcher with a masters degree in nutrition, shares the real story.
“Millions gather around the table to feast on mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, creamed corn, cranberry sauce and, of course, turkey. For some of us who overindulge, we are often left in a post-Thanksgiving food coma and have read that “something” in the turkey is the culprit of our drowsiness” shares Phiffner.
That something is a nutrient called tryptophan, but it’s not the only culprit. Tryptophan is one of the naturally occurring amino acids—the building blocks of proteins in our body. Turkey is a great source of this essential amino acid, but it is not the only source – many meats and other proteins have comparable amounts.
According to research, tryptophan is used by the human body to make serotonin, one of the “feel-good” hormones, which can calm and relax the body. However, we don’t consume nearly enough turkey during a holiday feast to have a major impact.
So what’s the real reason you get drowsy on Thanksgiving? It’s not so much what you eat, but how much you eat.
Thanksgiving dinner is usually a large meal, rich in carbs, fat, and protein. When this massive influx of calories reaches your intestines, a chemical called CCK (cholecystokinin) is released. CCK acts as a “fullness signal” that tells your brain that you’ve had enough to eat (keeping you from eating the third plate of food). But this CCK surge has another effect: it makes you feel sleepy, possibly as an evolved response so you’ll relax and let your body focus on digestion.
Of course, in some households, there is wine or drinks at the table. All the CCK and alcohol can add to the need for a nap. Alcohol is considered a depressant and directly affects the central nervous system. Once alcohol enters the bloodstream, it circulates to the brain, where it proceeds to slow down the firing of neurons. When neuronal firings decrease at a normal rate, it can result in relaxation, fatigue, and sleepiness.
BTW…you can recreate Thanksgiving year round. In 1953, a Swanson employee accidentally ordered 260 tons extra of turkey. The frozen turkeys were taking up space in 10 refrigerated train cars when a salesman suggested preparing and packaging the turkey with sides in compartmentalized aluminum trays. Swanson sold 5,000 TV dinners in 1953. The following year, they sold 10 million. Today you can cook one and have Thanksgiving year round.
The day before and after Thanksgiving are known for being HUGE drinking holidays. In fact the Wednesday before turkey day is known as Drinksgiving or Blackout Wednesday. After Friday comes the holiday season with parties, brunches, and happy hours, and maybe drinks with dinner, all leading to at least one hangover.
Alcohol triggers an inflammatory response from the immune system. In turn, the immune system may trigger certain agents that commonly produce physical symptoms including a headache, inability to concentrate, memory problems and nausea. Not a pretty picture, but here are the best ways to recover from a hangover.
There are two tracks to recover from a hangover – before and after. Assuming you are going to drink heavily, you have to remember two things. Drink plenty of fluids like water while imbibing to avoid dehydration. Next take a pain reliever — but not Tylenol. Aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, other brands), and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Photo by Caiaimage/Paul Bradbury/Getty Images
Also, avoid dark colored alcohol. Data has indicted clear liquors, such as vodka and gin, tend to cause hangovers less frequently than dark ones like whiskey, red wine, and tequila. The main form of alcohol in alcoholic beverages is ethanol, but the darker liquors contain chemically related compounds (congeners), including methanol. The same enzymes process ethanol and methanol, but methanol metabolites are especially toxic, so they may cause a worse hangover.
But, if you still wake up with a hangover, there is a hope and here are potential cures.
People forget to eat when they drink, lowering their blood sugar. Toast and juice is a way to gently nudge levels back to normal. This should be followed by a a big brunch or brunch.
Consider a gummy. A dose like 10mg will not only get you out of the painful headspace, it will begin to work on your inflammation as you get a body high. Use something non-aggressive like tincture (glycerin), a hard candy, or a beverage. Anything baked or food-like may just be overwhelming taste wise.
Enjoy soda, coffee or tea. Caffeine may not have any special anti-hangover powers, but as a stimulant, it could help with the grogginess. Try it and go back to bed and sleep for a bit.
Pop some vitamin B or Zinc. A study published in The Journal of Clinical Medicine evaluated the diets for 24 hours before and after excessive drinking occurred. It was a small study and results were based on the participants saying what they ate. However, they did find that people whose food and beverage consumption contained greater amounts of zinc and B vitamins had less severe hangovers.
Since the hangover is at it’s most painful as the last of the alcohol is leaving your system, you could consider the age old cure of “hair of the dog” and have a Bloody Mary.
The end of this November will mark 11 months of me not drinking (I don’t like the word ‘sober’ so always say ‘not drinking’ or if I’m describing myself, ‘non-drinker’). And while I’ve had 11 months to get used to not drinking while being others who are, I’m still concerned about getting through this silly season holding fast to my clean lifestyle.
My calendar’s already quickly filling up with holiday gatherings, occasions that would usually see me nursing a glass of wine, bubbly or cocktail so I have something to hold and thanks to the alcohol, feel less anxious. It’s not the easiest thing to admit, but it’s true.
In saying that, I’m also excited for this silly season. I’m excited to find the strength within myself to keep to my decision and get through situations that would’ve otherwise made me feel awkward and exposed — without a drink. And, of course, I’m excited to wake up fresh the morning after, not ashamed of anything I did or said. Ready to do something fun the morning after too, rather than just waste the day away.
To help me prepare to tackle the silly season ahead without a drink in hand, I reached out to a psychologist to answer some of my questions and share some of her tips.
Probably the most important question I wanted answered — something I’ve thought about often while I haven’t been drinking — is why some people tend to drink too much at social events.
Psychologist Nancy Sokarno from online mental health platform Lysn said the reasons are complex and depend on the individual. Broadly speaking, though, she says that for many, it’s a coping mechanism that allows for ‘liquid courage’ in a situation where they might feel shy or anxious. Of course, we know that alcohol can quickly boost confidence.
We might also think that drinking is expected or the social norm, Sokarno says. It’s often perceived to lead to enhanced social experiences or simply elevating a good time. Sokarno says understanding why you might overdrink will allow you to take the first step toward making a chance.
“This self-awareness is crucial for breaking the cycle of unhealthy habits,” she says. “By being able to recognise the triggers that lead to overdrinking, we are able to implement strategies to interrupt these negative patterns. Understanding the root cause can provide a foundation for positive change, emotional regulation and the development of healthier coping mechanisms.”
I asked Sokarno whether she had any tips for curbing drinking during an event. Sure, most of us know about drinking a glass of water in between drinks, ensuring we’ve eaten beforehand and counting how many drinks we’ve had, but what does she think is the most important tip to successfully managing social drinking.
“Excessive drinking is really nuanced so I don’t think I could narrow it down to one piece of advice,” she says. “For most people, it will need to be a combination of things, but a truly great starting place is self-awareness. Understand what’s happening in your life that’s causing you to drink heavily.”
Are you running away from a problem? Is it specific situations or people who are causing you to want to get obliterated? Is there a history of stress or past trauma that’s influencing your behaviours? These are questions Sokarno suggests you ask yourself, noting that as everyone’s circumstances vary, there’s no one-size-fits-all quick fix.
If you do happen to drink too much and wake up feeling ashamed or embarrassed about what you did, the first step is to have some self-compassion, says Sokarno.
“Know that everyone makes mistakes and it’s okay to feel regretful,” she says. “Resist the urge to emotionally ‘beat yourself up’ by avoiding negative self-talk and instead try to pinpoint exactly what is causing you to feel ashamed.”
Also, don’t suffer from those feelings alone, she says. Call a trusted friend or family member and share your feelings, as they may be able to offer a different perspective. If you know your actions have affected others, consider taking responsibility and apologising to those involved.
“Ultimately, you can use this situation for personal growth — process those feelings, talk about it with your friend, write the feelings down in a journal, apologise if necessary and process all the emotions that come with it,” Sokarno says.
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