This month was Alcohol Awareness Month and it was a great opportunity for me to reflect a bit on why launching Oceano Zero is so important to me.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, more than 140,000 people die each year from alcohol misuse, which means it’s one of the leading causes of preventable deaths. Beyond that, alcohol misuse is linked to more than 200 diseases and conditions. It contributes to lost productivity and increased healthcare costs. And it can take an emotional toll on people and their loved ones.
Now, I’m not against drinking alcohol. Of course, I’m not – I make and sell and love wine! But I am embracing moderation. And I’m not alone. According to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, 43% of adults who purchased non-alcoholic beverages or low-alcohol beverages in 2021 said they were drinking them for certain occasions, not abstaining altogether. And Drizly’s BevAlc Insights reported that in 2022, the non-alcoholic category’s share on Drizly grew 24 percent compared to 2021.
Alternatives To Alcoholic Beverages, Including Non-alcoholic Wine
There are so many good reasons to have viable alternatives to alcoholic beverages. And it’s been very exciting to see the non-alcoholic beverage category explode. Whether someone is avoiding the use of alcohol as a lifestyle decision or wants to be able to celebrate and still drive home or simply wants to practice mindful drinking, we all deserve delicious non-alcoholic alternatives.
One of the wonderful things about wine is that there are so many amazing options. Wines from different regions. Wines from different grape varieties. Wine proxies made with adaptogens. While we, of course, hope you enjoy Oceano, we know that there is room for other wines in your life, too.
So while we continue to work behind the scenes to bring our new Oceano Zero wines to market, I wanted to highlight a few of my favorite non-alcoholic options that are already available:
Ghia, an aperitif, is great alone or mixed in cocktails
Roots Divino Rosso is wonderful for sipping or in a Negroni and their Bianco is a great gin alternative. I like to use it, or Pentire Seward, for my zero-proof martinis at home. I add a little olive brine and garnish them with olives.
Also, check out this year-round non-alcoholic cocktails article for some amazing non-alcoholic cocktail recipes.
