This Alcohol-Free Drink Might Actually Get You Buzzed...

Denise Hamilton-Mace on the Future of Low No Drinker

If you've ever felt like the only person at the party ordering an alcohol-free drink and wondering if it's “enough,” meet Denise Hamilton-Mace, who’s here to tell you, you're not alone, and you're definitely not wrong.

After 24 years behind the bar, Denise ditched hospitality, dusted herself off post-COVID redundancy, and built Low No Drinker Magazine - the leading publication for mindful and sober-curious drinkers.

Whether you’re going dry for a night or in it for the long haul, Low No Drinker is the go-to source for anyone tired of settling for lime & soda or politely sipping fizzy pop sadness at a BBQ.

So what’s Denise seeing from her front-row seat in the dry economy? A lot, it seems. Here's what stood out:

1. AF Beer Is Gunning for the Big Leagues

“Alcohol-free beer is on track to be the second biggest beer category after lager.”
That’s not a trend but a sizable shift. The message? You might want to start taking those zero-percenters seriously. They are onto something.

2. Functional Drinks Need to Grow Up

“Consumers are curious, but sceptical. And rightly so.”
The buzzwords are everywhere (hello, adaptogens), but in the UK, most people still don’t know what lion’s mane does - or if their drink even has enough in it to matter. Less fluff, more facts, please.

3. Forget Fake Wine. Make Something Better

“Alternative wines are where it’s at. Think stone cherries, yuzu, coffee…”
Instead of playing copycat with traditional wine, new brands are crafting wine experiences, minus the alcohol.

4. Talk to the Drinker, Not Just the Buyer

“If the consumer doesn’t understand the drink, shelf space won’t help.”
Education is everything. Functional brands need to stop whispering “nootropic blend” and start explaining what their drinks do.

5. Midstrength Is the Missing Link

“People want a way in that doesn’t feel like an identity shift.”
From 6% wines to beers in the 2–3% range, this middle ground is the unspoken MVP for those not ready to go all-in on alcohol-free.

🏝️ Denise’s Desert Island Picks

We put Denise on the spot and asked if she had to be stranded with just a handful of no & low gems, what would she choose?

Here are her picks:

• 🧠 Functional: Sentia Red — “Depth, body… and yeah, I think I felt something.”

• 🥃 Sipper: Sylva — “Mad scientist-level layering. Properly grown-up.”

• 🍑 Beer: Renegade Peach Lager — “Absolutely divine.”

The Functional Drinks Dilemma: Hype, Hope, or Hoax?

Functional drinks are everywhere. From adaptogens and nootropics to lion’s mane and ashwagandha. Each promising to calm your mind, boost your brain, or gently "elevate your experience." But ask the average UK shopper what any of that actually means, or how it feels and... crickets.

Denise Hamilton-Mace calls it like she sees it: “People are curious, but sceptical, and rightly so.”

According to Denise, here’s what’s holding the category back:

1. Mystery Marketing

Words like “focus-enhancing” and “mood-boosting” are thrown around with zero transparency. Many drinks contain just enough active ingredients to legally list them on the label. But not enough to make a difference.

2. No Buzz, No Buy

Unlike the US, where THC drinks offer an obvious effect, UK consumers are left wondering, “Should I be feeling something right now?” Spoiler: Often, you won’t, returning to the point above, with not enough active ingredients. The result? Consumers will just move on to another brand.

3. No Education = No Trust

Consumers can’t demand better if they don’t understand what’s in their drink. Denise's take? Brands need to talk to drinkers, not just buyers. Ditch the mystique. Get real about what's inside and what it’s supposed to do. “It’s not about magic mushrooms and miracle herbs. It’s about clarity, consistency, and communication.”

Until then, “functional” will stay a buzzword and not a benefit.

Introducing - SENTIA Spirits

The Alcohol-Free Drink That Actually Makes You Feel Tipsy

In a world of non-alcoholic drinks trying to mimic the taste of booze, SENTIA is out here chasing the feeling. And weirdly enough, it’s working.

Founded by legendary neuropsychopharmacologist Professor David Nutt (the guy the UK government once fired for saying alcohol is more dangerous than LSD… and wasn’t wrong), SENTIA is part botanical blend, part neuroscience magic, and 100% alcohol-free.

So, what is it?

SENTIA is a “GABA spirit,” designed to activate the same calming, sociable brain chemistry (a.k.a. your GABA system) that alcohol taps into but without wrecking your sleep, liver, or weekend. It’s made with a cocktail of ingredients like passionflower, ginseng, and magnolia bark that essentially whisper “shhh” to your neurons.

The Lineup

🍷 GABA Red

Effect: Chill, calm, end-of-day vibes.
Taste: Deep berry + spice. Surprisingly good with tonic.
Vibe: First date? Post-work decompression? This is your guy.

🥄 GABA Black

Effect: Focus-y, slightly buzzy.
Taste: Bitter, earthy, borderline medicinal.
Vibe: Best with ginger beer and a sense of adventure.

🍊 GABA Gold

Effect: Chatty, sociable, genuinely uplifting.
Taste: Bitter orange with a citrus twist.
Vibe: Game night, dinner party, Friday pre-drinks.

But Does It Work?

Short answer: Yes - but temper your expectations.

SENTIA won’t get you drunk. You’ll feel something. Perhaps a light wooziness, mild sociability, the first two drinks' effect, without the third drink’s regret. Most effects kick in around 10–15 minutes and wear off within the hour. Think mellow, not messy.

Skeptics have been converted. Game nights got livelier. Shoulders got looser. And no one missed the hangover.

⚠️ A Few Ground Rules

• Don’t drive after SENTIA Red (some users feel drowsy)

• Don’t overdo it! Strictly 100ml max per day.

• Not recommended if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or on certain medications

🚀 The Bigger Picture

SENTIA isn’t the endgame. Instead, it’s the proof of concept. Professor Nutt’s long-term vision is alcarelle: a synthetic molecule designed to replicate the “good parts” of alcohol, minus all the chaos. Coming (hopefully!) by 2027.

Until then, SENTIA is the closest thing we’ve got to sipping science. It’s not a replacement for wine or whiskey. It’s an entirely new category: functional, feel-good spirits for the sober curious and the moderation-minded.

High Snippets

A global team of researchers has unveiled new gold-standard guidelines for psychedelic trials, highlighting that mindset, environment, and even the music playing can make or break the therapeutic experience. Read more. 

Psychedelic-assisted therapies like MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine are showing serious promise for hard-to-treat conditions like PTSD and addiction, offering neural rewiring where traditional meds fall flat. Read more. 

Psilocybin extended cell lifespan and boosted survival in aged mice, hinting at potential anti-aging effects that reach far beyond the brain. Read more.

Cannabis oil helped 19 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy achieve extended seizure-free periods after conventional meds failed to deliver results. Read more.

Scientists and advocates are slamming the DEA’s move to ban key psychedelic research compounds, warning it could derail studies on mental health, addiction, and pain—and set a chilling precedent for scientific freedom. Read more.

Dry Snippets

Alcohol-free beer sales are soaring to record highs in the UK, with Lucky Saint leading the charge as health-conscious Brits increasingly opt for booze-free brews and “zebra stripe” their nights out. Read more.

Brits are swapping pints for prudence, with 76% cutting back on booze and one in three pub visits now completely alcohol-free, as health and moderation become the new happy hour. Read more.

The NHS’s new 10-year plan is cracking down on alcohol harm with proposed health warnings, nutrition labels, and a review of what “alcohol-free” really means - while the industry regulator pushes back, saying most Brits already drink responsibly. Read more.

Wimbledon is serving up mocktail spritzes and booze-free beers as Gen Z fans ditch Pimm’s for alcohol-free alternatives, but the hunt for a proper non-alc Pimm’s dupe is still on. Read more.

Mash Gang has launched Glug, a crisp and citrusy alcohol-free lager brewed for summer BBQs, promising full flavour without the buzz and just 35 calories a can. Read more. 

Before You Bounce… Let’s Keep the Pour Going

That’s a wrap for now. We hope you enjoyed this issue of High & Dry. Discovered a killer alcohol-free find? Sitting on a hot take about the dry scene? Drop us a note. We’re all ears and always down for another round of insight.

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).