Sober Curious? Start Here.

Gin Without the Punch in the Face

Once upon a gin boom (circa 2019), Brad Crompton looked around the UK bar scene and thought: “Is this it?”

Why? Well, because on one end of a bar, you had full-strength spirits that basically smacked you in the mouth. On the other, you had alcohol-free “alternatives” that tried really hard to taste like something (anything!) but mostly just fell flatter than warm prosecco at an office party.

And the so-called “low” category? Practically non-existent.

Now, technically, to be a low-alc spirit, it needs to be under 1.5% ABV. That’s not a typo. Which is wild considering gin isn’t even legally a gin until it hits 37.5%. That left a huge swath of space, and what Brad calls the “mid-strength” zone. A bit like the deep ocean, it’s almost completely untouched.

And that’s where Session Spirit lives: 27% ABV. Still warming. Still botanical. Still served like a proper gin and tonic. Just without the sucker punch and the 1 pm lie-in with an aching hangover and a promise to finally go sober…

Brad’s not shy about calling out what doesn’t work. He’s especially skeptical of “zebra striping.” You know, that back-and-forth shuffle between boozy and booze-free drinks throughout the night. “It’s like drinking a scalding hot tea and then a freezing cold water to stay warm,” he says. “Why not just have a warm drink?”

In his view, mid-strength isn’t a compromise. It’s a choice. A smart, steady, balanced one. And it’s not just about taste. It's about helping consumers drink better, not just less.

Where’s the real opportunity?

According to research Brad and other mid-strength pioneers funded earlier this year, 50% of people would rather have two mid-strength drinks than one full-strength. That’s a stat retailers (and bar owners) can’t ignore. More drinks, more margin, more mindful consumption.

Because let’s face it: many aren’t ready to go full AF yet. And that’s okay. The in-between is overdue.

Session Spirit isn’t just rewriting the ABV. It’s rewriting the rules of how and why we drink. And maybe, just maybe, it’s the future of spirits that actually makes sense.

The Nando’s Model of Moderation

Why your next G&T should come with a strength option, not a side of regret

Imagine walking into Nando’s and ordering a chicken burger. You and your mate both get the same thing - but you go extra hot, they go lemon & herb. No judgment. No compromise. Just personal preference.

Brad Crompton, from Session Spirit thinks that’s exactly how drinking should work.

In his dream bar scenario, ordering a gin & tonic starts with a simple question: “What strength do you want?” Full, mid, or zero. Same serve, same experience - just different spice levels, metaphorically speaking.

It’s a vision rooted in inclusion and flexibility. And frankly, it makes more sense than the binary choice we’re currently stuck with: all or nothing. Most bars offer 12 different gins, but none with strength options. Why not flip that?

Brad bets that this “strength spectrum” will become the new normal, just like plant-based milk or decaf coffee. And he’s not just talking theory. Session Spirit is already showing how a mid-strength pour can deliver on flavor, format, and feeling, all without needing a next-day recovery plan.

If the drink world wants to move forward, maybe it needs to stop thinking in extremes, and start thinking like a menu.

Meet the Queen of Sober-Curious Socialising 👑

From hangovers to hashtags, Kristin Lamb is the one-woman powerhouse behind Sober and Curious - an ever-growing community for people who are done letting booze call the shots.

Back in June 2022, Kristin launched an anonymous Insta to document her exploration of the low/no alcohol scene. Cut to today: she’s the mastermind behind AF wine tastings, boozeless brunches, and sober meet-ups across Edinburgh, and she’s even turned this passion project into her full-time gig. (Cue applause! 👏)

Her approach? Realistic, inclusive, and judgment-free. Kristin’s not preaching perfection — she proudly calls herself “99% sober,” which we think is 100% relatable. Whether you're just toying with the idea of drinking less or fully AF, her message is simple:

“Everyone’s sober or sober curious journey is different, so find something that works for you and don’t compare yourself to anyone else!”

💻 Website 📸 @just.kristinlamb | @soberandcurious_ 👥 Join the Facebook Group

🗓️ Upcoming Events (Edinburgh): ☕ Coffee Meet-Up – Aug 31 RSVP here

🍷 AF Wine Tasting – Sept 25 RSVP here

🥞 Boozeless Brunch – Oct 26 RSVP here

Snippets - High

RFK Jr. wants psychedelic therapy fast-tracked for depression and trauma—with surprising backing from Trump-world, veterans, and deep-red Texas. Read more.

Jersey plans to downgrade cannabinol from Class A to B, signaling a softer stance on cannabis, even as wider decriminalization remains a political hot potato. Read more.

Police raided a derelict Poundland turned £2M cannabis farm, complete with bedrooms, booby traps, and a 3-meter power cable tunnel straight out of Breaking Bad: UK Edition. Read more.

Colorado’s gearing up to legalize ibogaine therapy in healing centers, aiming to treat addiction and trauma with a psychedelic so intense it needs a heart monitor and a permission slip from tradition. Read more.

Cybin’s psilocybin-like drug just got UK approval for a global Phase 3 depression trial, another leap forward in Big Psychedelic’s race to reshape mental health care. Read more.

Snippets - Dry

The South West is going soft and selling out (the good kind) as alcohol-free gin and beer boom across Cornwall and Devon. Read more.

The UK’s long-overdue rethink on what counts as “alcohol-free” could finally bump the limit from 0.05% to 0.5% ABV, bringing British brews in line with the rest of the world (and giving innovation a shot in the arm). Read more.

UK brewers are set to pour a record-breaking 33 million pints of No and Low this summer, but outdated alcohol-free rules could leave some innovation stuck in the keg. Read more.

Montreal just went full throttle on the sober scene. Time Out Market is now home to the city’s first dedicated mocktail bar, and the zero-proof menu? Read more.

Estrella Damm just dropped a 0.0% version of its iconic Mediterranean lager in the UK, same sun-soaked flavor, none of the booze, now pouring in pubs and Sainsbury’s alike. Read more.

Until next time

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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).