Mindful Drinking Is Having a Main Character Moment

Nootropics - You’re not just drinking smarter - you’re feeding your brain.

More and more alcohol-free drinks aren’t just leaving out the booze leaving you with a fizzy stimulation-free sip. Instead they’re adding in ingredients that do something. Enter nootropics: natural compounds designed to support focus, memory, mood, and mental clarity.

They’re the quiet overachievers hiding in your sparkling cans and herbal elixirs - helping you stay calm, sharp, and social without the spike-crash chaos of alcohol or caffeine.

Here’s a breakdown of what these brain-boosters actually do - and where to find them in the alcohol-free wild.

L-Theanine

What it does: Naturally found in green tea, L-theanine promotes calm, alert focus without drowsiness. It smooths out the spikes of caffeine and helps keep anxiety at bay.

Best for: Staying chill and clear-headed at social events (aka, surviving small talk without a drink).

Try it in: Three Spirit 'Livener' or Recess Mood

Lion’s Mane Mushroom

What it does: This shaggy mushroom may support neurogenesis (brain cell growth) and enhance memory and focus over time. It's a favorite among brainy biohackers.

Best for: Mental clarity on Monday mornings or replacing your second coffee.

Try it in: Hiyo or Odyssey Elixir 

Rhodiola Rosea

What it does: An adaptogen known for reducing mental fatigue and improving mood, especially under stress. Think of it as burnout's botanical enemy.

Best for: Sharpening up after a long day or powering through social fatigue.

Try it in: Kin Euphorics ‘Kin Spritz’

GABA + 5-HTP

What they do: GABA calms the nervous system; 5-HTP boosts serotonin (your feel-good brain chemical). Together, they promote relaxation and mood elevation.

Best for: Easing into the evening without reaching for wine.

Try it in: Kin Euphorics ‘Dream Light’

Ashwagandha

What it does: A go-to adaptogen that helps regulate cortisol (your stress hormone). It can promote a calm, balanced mood with regular use.

Best for: Post-work wind-downs or keeping your cool at family events.

Try it in: Hiyo or Moment

Bonus tip: Many of these work best over time- so if you’re feeling “meh” after one sip, give it a few rounds (consistency over the instant ‘spin’ you get from in Alcohol).

You’ve broken up with booze. Now What?

So, you’ve ditched the hangovers, stopped confusing anxiety for “just being tired,” and your Sunday mornings are suddenly wide open (wild concept, right?). While your mates are still in the thick of day-long hangovers you’re waking up fresh-faced, clear-headed, and wondering where all the other mindful people hang out.

Because here's the thing: going alcohol-free is often just the first domino. Once you start saying no to mindless pints, it’s only natural to start saying yes to better everything - more intention, less noise, and deeper connections.

Ready to go beyond High & Dry and explore what the wider slow-living, AF-adjacent world has to offer? We’ve rounded up four movements and communities that are vibing hard with the sober-curious lifestyle and might just be your next safe space, social club, or digital detox buddy:

The Offline Club

If you’ve swapped Aperol for adaptogens, maybe it’s time to put your phone on airplane mode too. The Offline Club hosts events designed to recharge your social battery without a single screen or hangover in sight. Think: candlelit journaling, phone-free dinners, and real conversations. They’re not strictly AF, but the slow, intentional vibe pairs beautifully with a crisp non-alc G&T and a clear conscience - Learn more.

No & Low Drinker

For the drink nerds who love a pairing guide and want to deep-dive into the best of booze-free beverages, No & Low Drinker delivers. Expect AF cocktail inspo, the low-down on new launches, stories, and enough drink-pairing ideas to make you the sober sommelier of your friend group. It’s the content High & Dry reads on its lunch break - Learn more.

Sober & Social

Feeling like AF living is a little too quiet sometimes? Enter: Sober & Social. These legends are building an AF nightlife that doesn’t suck. From sober soirées to panel talks, they make ditching booze feel less like a loss and more like an upgrade to your social life. Zero booze, maximum fun - Learn more.

Club Soda

Think of Club Soda as your go-to bottle shop, community hub, and tasting room all rolled into one. Whether you’re looking to level-up your alcohol-free drinks cabinet or meet other mindful drinkers IRL, they’ve got you covered. Their Covent Garden Tasting Room is a mecca for AF lovers, and their online shop is packed with curated picks that taste like celebration in a glass - Learn more.

Snippets - High

Magic mushroom shops are sprouting across Canada - illegal on paper, but often ignored in practice - Read more.

A new study says cannabis could do double duty in cancer care - boosting the effects of chemo and easing side effects like nerve pain, nausea, and more - Read more.

Microdosing is having a moment- Google searches for it jumped 1,250% since 2015, as loosened drug laws spark curiosity about tiny doses with big potential - Read more.

Could psychedelics help us care more about the planet? Ayahuasca just might be the heart-to-Earth chat we’ve been missing - Read more.

UCL is testing the psychedelic DMT as a rapid, brain-rewiring treatment to help heavy drinkers cut back - Read more.

Snippets - Dry

Low and no-alc beer sales just surged 32% in Q1. It looks like the sober curious crowd is officially showing up (and ordering Guinness 0%) – Read more.

China just banned alcohol at government banquets. Even Moutai got booted for blueberry juice – Read more.

Everleaf lands in Denmark and the Netherlands, proving Europe’s ready to sip the forest without the fog – Read more.

Purbeck Cider Co. just dropped its first alcohol-free cider with all the Dorset apple vibes, none of the hangover – Read more.

Iconic Italian apéritif Crodino is finally coming stateside - the sober Spritz is officially in session – Read more.

Before You Go… Let’s Make This a Two-Way Sip

Whether you’re swapping bar tabs for breathwork or turning down the volume on both booze and your phone, one thing’s clear: you’re part of a growing crew choosing clarity over chaos.

The AF world is evolving fast, and we want you in the driver’s seat.

Is High & Dry hitting the vibe? Are we helping you feel more connected, informed, or just slightly less weird for saying no to wine on a Wednesday?

Your feedback keeps this thing sharp, relevant, and (hopefully) binge-worthy in the best way.

👇 Let us know what’s landing, and what’s not:

Stay curious. Stay intentional. Stay just a little bit smug.
We’ll catch you next time in the space between clarity and chaos. 🧠✨🍷(AF, obviously).