Photo Credit: https://www.101cookbooks.com/pineapple-coconut-water/

In a recent project in which I do not consume alcohol from Monday at 8am until Friday at 8pm, I’ve observed some very interesting things. When you don’t consume alcohol, you see way more, and you learn a lot. Lately, consumption issues have revealed themselves in the form of a widespread epidemic of well-known industry influencers landing themselves in rehab. Not that long ago it would appear as a weakness, an inability to deal with your own job as an adult, but now the tables have turned. I found it disheartening, sad, and quite frankly upsetting when I saw the rate in which friends I have always considered titans of the business end up in a rehabilitation situation...so I set out on my own journey to see just how the world at large deals with this trend. As it turns out, non alcoholic may be the popular future for all of us. Keto diet has swept the world, we have fully criminalized carbs, and soon alcohol will follow.

I spent time only ordering water, only to field off an army of, “Oh why aren’t you drinking? Are you sick?”, but when they don’t know, they don’t ask. Ordering a glass of ginger beer looks an awful lot like a Moscow mule, and no one bats an eye. I don’t want to be away from the party, but I also don’t want to destroy my body in the pursuit of participation, so for me, non alcoholic is the way to go.

Next time you're out with friends, try your favorite cocktail sans booze. You may be quite surprised and at the very least, not out as much money as you would have been.