How going halfsies on your second drink with non-al alternatives boosts your health.

“Last night I went out with some colleagues and drank both a sidecar and a pickleback. This morning my brain was a shriveled cucumber floating in a dead sea of brine,” wrote journalist Ali Francis in an article for Bon Appetit. In her article, Francis calls for people to consider drinking “a cheeky little top off” — ordering a half-drink — before purchasing a second standard-sized cocktail.

Francis brings up some valid concerns. Restaurants don’t have a half-drink menu. People don’t really order things in halves — who buys a shoe and a half? So, Francis leaves her readers with this plea — “Bars and restaurants… pioneer the half menu: the wines, the cocktails, the frozen sangrias. I promise there is a whole untapped market of us halfie-hunters out there.”

BENEFITS OF NON-AL SPIRITS

If your brain is starting to feel like a “shriveled up cucumber in a dead sea of brine” after a night out, you don’t have to double down and buy another drink — just mix your cocktail with non-al spirits. Eventually, you might want to cut out the hangover altogether. But, becoming a ‘a halfie-hunter’ is a great place to start. 

When you start using non-al spirits, you’ll of course notice that you feel a little less like you can feel your heartbeat in your head. But, there are some other benefits to going halfsies on your second drink. According to Ritual Zero Proof, a non-al spirit company, “more than two servings for men and one for women decrease sleep quality by a whopping 39.2%. But when you opt for a non-alcoholic alternative like Ritual, you maximize your REM sleep.”

Not only are you slashing the empty calories that come from alcohol when you reduce your intake, but non-al spirits have gut-healing benefits. Ritual Zero Proof, Ghia, Aplós, and more have natural ingredients that not only ditch the hangover, but calm your nerves with hemp, or give you a natural glow with prebiotics. Using a non-al option will give you the energy you need, without taking your energy away from you the next morning.

FOR THE ‘HALFIE-HUNTERS’

Next time you’re contemplating dipping into that second drink — these non-al options will save you from having to stomach a whole second cocktail. These alternatives have your back and taste delicious mixed with or without alcohol to get you a little closer to taking the alcohol off your bar cart altogether.

Any of these options can help you pioneer the half-drink menu and pioneer mindful drinking the next time you're tempted to order a second glass. They also have natural ingredients that will have you feeling refreshed the next day.