How discovering alcohol-free drinks changed Briana's life

When Briana Cowan quit alcohol six months ago she thought she was going to "drink mineral water forever".

But a deep dive into the growing industry of non-alcoholic beverages changed her view.

"I started questioning my relationship with alcohol and decided to make a change," she says.

"I found through social media mainly there was this whole world of alcohol-free drinks, ranging from beer, to spirits and wine.

"There's a whole other range which isn't necessarily imitating a particular alcoholic drink, but it's just another offering."

The 41-year-old Bendigo woman describes the discovery as a "game changer".

The alcohol-free drink industry is still in its infancy in Australia but the range on offer is steadily growing.

"I love the [non-alcoholic] beers. There's a great range of white wines and sparkling. The red wines are proving to be a little bit tricky, but I'm told they are coming soon and getting the taste right," she explains.

Support and interest from friends

In one social media post, Briana says the main reason she stopped drinking was for her kids.

She recalls a conversation at breakfast where her child "started rattling off all the occasions I'd been drunk".

"That one-minute, morning convo with my kids has cemented even further that I've made the right choice to give booze the flick," she writes.

Briana now brings her own non-alcoholic drinks to parties but says she's been pleasantly surprised by the reactions.

"It's a conversation-starter, people are interested, curious and have a sip of it and like it because most taste so good," she says. 

"It's all about normalising [it] and offering people a choice. 

"And the best thing is, you can remember all your conversations."

Briana's quest to find the best alcohol-free drinks has expanded into an Instagram page where she reviews the latest products.

She also has own podcast, Booze Free Bants. Briana has trigger warnings on many of her posts. 

"Drinks that replicate the taste and smell [of] alcohol can be triggering for some in, or recovering from, addiction," she says.

Let owners know there's demand

Briana admits it can be difficult, particularly in regional areas, finding non-alcoholic drinks at pubs and restaurants.

"I still think there is a long way to go," she says.

Briana suggests letting hospitality owners know there is demand for alcohol-free products.

"You can ask the bartender to make the fanciest, non-alcoholic cocktail they can make and they get quite excited about it," Briana says.

"From the consumer point of view, you need to keep asking the publican and even suggest some drinks they can order."

Mocktails are often created with flavoured syrups, cordials, juice, and something fizzy like tonic or soda water.

An alcohol-free mojito, for example, can be made with ginger beer and sparkling water instead of white rum.

A mindset shift

The move has made Briana realise how often she is exposed to alcohol.

"My eyes have been wide open. It's really entrenched in our society," she says. 

"It's in sport, celebrations, on TV and in advertising.

"Six months ago, if someone told me, I'd be having this conversation, I would have been like 'no way, alcohol is a part of my lifestyle'.

"But the biggest thing for me has been educating myself on the effects of alcohol. Just changing my mindset has been a massive thing."

Briana says she's also become a more present parent with her young daughter and son.

"I've found I've got more energy, I'm more alert, I get better quality sleep. My productivity at work has gone up," she says.

And for others considering making non-alcoholic drinks a bigger part of their life, Briana has some simple advice.

"I suggest reading up on it, connecting with liked-minded sober curious people on social media, listening to podcasts and in the early days, surrounding yourself with like-minded people.

"Don't put pressure on yourself and say I'm never drinking again.

"Be kind to yourself and take baby steps."