Morning all. Another damp day, but not too rainy so hoping to get out for a walk later, which definitely helps set me up for an AF evening.
Thought I would summarise the results of my experiments with the various alternatives, which may be of interest to some, and also to help me determine which of them, if any, might become a regular fixture in my new drinking regime once this period of abstinence comes to an end.
Spirits
I've tried Seedlip 'gin' in the past with tonic and loved it, so during the month I had a mocktail over lunch with friends, which was lovely and just like the real thing. I'm likely to choose the AF version over a standard cocktail going forward. The worst thing about real cocktails is that they are too intoxicating and I can't have more than one, or drink wine afterwards, so this is an easy decision.
Beer
I tried Budweiser 0%, Guinness 0%, and ON Beer, which contains various herbs that supposedly have an uplifting effect. The Budweiser was thirst-quenching, but not great - I'd have preferred a glass of sparkling water. The Guinness was pretty much indistinguishable from the real thing, so a definite winner. My favourite was the ON Beer, which has great complexity and flavour, and (possibly) a relaxing effect. As with the spirits, I'd probably choose an AF beer over the real thing in future on the few occasions that I drink it, since I tend to want it for the taste and refreshment, and the alcohol is neither here nor there.
AF Wine
I've never found an AF wine that I liked in the past, so the only one I tried was a small glass of my TT friend's Nosecco. Unfortunately it was a bit too sweet and uninteresting for my taste, but then I don't enjoy real Prosecco, so perhaps I was expecting too much. I think for anyone like me who likes their white wines bone dry, AF wine is a non-starter. (I didn't try any reds this time round.)
CBD Drinks
I've drunk a fair amount of the Goodrays over the past few weeks and have now tried all of the flavours. My favourite is the Passionfruit and Pomelo, which is not too sweet, and has a pleasant aftertaste. They definitely have a relaxing effect, which I didn't like on the first occasion, but came to appreciate. I don't always fancy a sparkling fruit-based drink, but I will definitely be incorporating these into my new regime on AF nights.
Sentia
Ah... the Sentia! I had the Black version, which has a strong peppery kick and contains less sugar than the Red. It goes well with tonic, or even just plain water as a (sort of) red wine substitute. This definitely has an effect similar to alcohol - in fact I felt like I had cheated on the nights that I drank it! I'll definitely be buying it again and having it as a once a week treat (as it's quite expensive).
Conclusion
So, all in all, there are some brilliant options out there, which I believe will help me with moderating my intake going forward, but still nothing to compare with actual wine, sadly!