This summer, mocktails have taken the spotlight, becoming a must-have at social events. I understand the appeal of mocktails. Imagine sitting by the beach in the hot summer sun, enjoying a cold, refreshing, aesthetically pleasing beverage — all without the ramifications of alcohol. Mocktails combine the fun and sophistication of a beautifully handcrafted drink with the ability to enjoy as many as you like, a perfect option for teenagers and young adults.
According to The Sandy Times, the mocktail was invented in the 1920s and 1930s during Prohibition, a period when the sale of alcoholic beverages was banned in the United States.
Today, some of the world’s best mixologists are innovating new mocktails with interesting ingredients. For example, herbs and edible flowers are becoming a popular garnish choice, as they create a more complex taste profile that replicates that of certain alcoholic drinks, according to The Guardian. These garnishes make up for the aromatics lost in the absence of alcohol.
Mocktails have gained momentum quickly in recent years. Given that non-alcoholic drink options have been around for a while, what has made them so popular now?
The prevalence of mocktails has grown proportionately with the popularization of healthier lifestyles. More people cut out what they deem as bad influences, like smoking, drinking and eating junk food. According to NBC News, 21% of drinking-age Americans participated in Dry January this year, a trend that encourages abstaining from alcohol for the entire month.
This wellness culture has rejected the notion that enjoyment and indulgence should come at the expense of health. Alcohol is often viewed as an essential for having a good time, but the truth is, you can indulge in something you enjoy while also maintaining a healthy lifestyle in the long run.
Engaging in a healthier party culture has the potential to benefit future generations, dismantling the idea that you need alcohol in order to enjoy events. It is becoming less of a social norm to drink. Already, around 20% of drinking-age Britons do not consume alcohol, according to Alcohol Change U.K — a statistic that has increased from a mere 4% in 2004.
Additionally, technology and social media have made information more accessible to young audiences. As a result, more young adults and teenagers are being exposed to resources explaining the effects of alcohol consumption. The amount of education on this topic has caused people to be more mindful about drinking alcohol and also question the function of alcohol in today’s society: What is the allure of drinking? Can we have fun without alcohol?
These norms have been challenged as many observe more people on social media thriving in sobriety and leading fulfilling lives without alcohol and its effects on their minds, bodies and relationships. The growing number of people sharing their journeys of abstinence also builds community, making it easier to quit drinking or not even start in the first place.
The shift from drinking culture is also appealing because of how inclusive it is of different cultures and groups of people. The normalization of non-alcoholic drinks in settings that normally revolve around alcohol bridges a gap and allows people who don’t drink to socialize with people who do, helping to eliminate social biases that you need to drink to be fun or interesting.
Beyond the drink itself, the magic of the mocktail is in the experience. Ordering a mocktail replicates the excitement cocktails offer, with hand-picked ingredients and replicas of your favorite cocktails — a source of entertainment, interest and lighthearted fun.
The customization and availability of mocktails are another thing that makes them so popular. If you have the ingredients for a cocktail, you can easily make it a mocktail. From tropical sensations like dragon fruit and lychee to classics like mint and lime, the possibilities are endless. There’s a mocktail for every palate and every person.
The growing popularity of mocktails has created a positive feedback loop: as more people avoid drinking alcohol, venues respond by offering a greater variety of non-alcoholic drinks, according to Forbes. More people buy them because there are more choices, leading those places to create even more enticing options.
In the past, many have avoided certain social gatherings and functions because of the alcohol and the pressure they feel to drink when they attend. Now, with a mocktail, you can enjoy every moment to the fullest, and still remember every detail.
