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The Guardian
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Mid-strength drinks are having a moment. Here are 10 of the best lower-ABV beverages
These days, there are plenty of brilliant low- and no-alcohol options for when you want to stay off the sauce. But what if you're wanting to enjoy a 'real' drink – just minus the negative effects? Step up to the stage, mid-strength drinks. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. For the uninitiated, mid-strength beers, wines and spirits occupy the space between the (very) low and no sector – which covers 0-1.2% alcohol by volume (ABV) drinks, whatever the beverage – and your standard alcoholic options. Expect to see beers and ciders around the 2-3% mark, wines at 6-9% and spirits at 15-20%, but there are variations on this, particularly with wine. So why have mid-strength beverages become a thing? Laura Willoughby, founder of the mindful drinking organisation Club Soda, says: 'Ultimately, moderation does not have to be a binary choice between drinking and not drinking. The goal is to encourage a more intentional drinking culture – not just when we choose to abstain from alcohol, but also when we choose to enjoy it.' The past decade has seen the trend for mindful drinking gathering pace, with people turning to 'zebra striping' (alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks) and 'coasting' (drinking lower ABV drinks for longer) as they become more conscious of their health and wellness. More recently, a report by KAM Insights (paid for) showed that all age groups under 55 are drinking alcohol less frequently, and 70% of 25- to 34-year-olds are actively looking for ways to lower their alcohol consumption. And there are positives to be had by switching to mid-strength drinks, besides the avoidance of the fuzzy head the morning after. Tim Lawton, drinks expert at Dry Drinker, says: 'Many cite reduced-calorie counts as a key draw. Others use mid-strength wines as a step between full-strength and non-alcoholic options – it's relatively common for people to opt for lower alcohol consumption if they're not ready to go entirely alcohol-free.' So, whether you're looking for mid-strength drinks for long, lazy summer drinking, are actively trying to reduce your alcohol intake, or are just curious about what's out there, I've rounded up a selection of beverages that have less alcohol but all the flavour of the standard versions. I tested 40 mid-strength drinks – including wines, beers, cocktail cans and various spirits – to bring you this list of genuinely great-tasting tipples to enjoy. To qualify, drinks had to be lower in alcohol than the category norm, and taste as good as the standard version. The competition was stiff, particularly with wines and beers, so it's well worth exploring the category for yourself. £2.25 for 350ml at the Whisky Exchange£13.20 for 6 x 350ml at Majestic With so many fantastic alcohol-free and mid-strength beers around, I found it difficult to pick just one drink. But I kept coming back to this Great Taste award-winning pilsner-style lager, with its crisp, lightly citrus flavour. Brewed in south London at a B-Corp certified brewery, it's a very civilised 2.1% with lower sugars and calories as a result. It's a super-refreshing all-rounder that will keep you well-watered over a long, lazy picnic. £24.99 for 70cl at Amazon Vodka might not be the first thing to come to mind in the mid-strength drinks sphere, but why not? If your go-to tipple is a vodka, soda and lime, or if you like to begin your evening mixing an after-work martini, then a lower-alcohol version could be a great option. Made from UK barley, rye and wheat, Quarter Proof is distilled and blended at 15% for a light and smooth taste that's perfect in all manner of vodka-based cocktails. It also makes a mean vodka martini: up the olive brine or lemon and vermouth, and serve ice-cold. £7.99 for 75cl at Click N Drink This pale pink, partially de-alcoholised rose from South Africa has everything you want in an easy-drinking summer wine. It's bursting with berry flavours, while a hint of zest keeps it fresh and stops it from falling into sweeter rose territory. Bright and well-balanced, it goes brilliantly with salads, picky bits and barbecued foods. The Kamina merlot is also very good. £8 for 75cl at Sainsbury's £8 for 75cl at Amazon French sauvignon not your thing? Then why not consider this lighter take on the classic Australian chardonnay? 19 Crimes' full-flavoured, round, buttery wine has all the expected flavours of the grape, but with only 7% alcohol. It's bold and sunny with pronounced stone fruit, and is begging to be enjoyed well-chilled with a Sunday roast. £12.99 for 75cl at 6Percent 6Percent founders Gabriella and Russell Lamb launched this range having become frustrated by having to limit themselves to just a few glasses of wine, but being disappointed with 0.5% alternatives. Not surprisingly – the clue's in the name – this sauvignon blanc is 6%, and offers the perfect balance of flavour and body. It's lighter than your usual, but not detrimentally so. Dry, elegant and still clearly French sauv blanc, it's perfect for a weeknight glass in the garden and only 53 calories a go. Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion £7.25 for 75cl at Tesco£7 for 75cl at Amazon Considering so many low- and no-alcohol red wines are known for being terrible, I was surprised to find that the mid-strength reds did pretty well in my tastings. This bottle from McGuigan was certainly a nice surprise: the characteristic peppery, spicy shiraz flavours work well at 7%, while the powerful black fruity flavours provide plenty of interest and roundness to counteract any potential 'thinness' from the de-alcoholisation. Far better than I'd expected, and I'll be buying it regularly. £21.50 for 75cl at Sandridge Barton £25 at Delli For something very different, this delightful low-intervention light red from Devon's Dart valley is fun, fruity and fresh. Its name references the wild horses on Dartmoor, and 25p from every sale goes to the Dartmoor Preservation Association. Made using three grape varieties (pinot noir précoce, madeleine angevine and pinot noir), this is one for natural wine fans who have a taste for the unexpected. Here, crushed cranberries and sour cherries come to the fore, while its hue is a near-transparent raspberry that hints at the lower 9% volume. Drink lightly chilled and with an open mind. £4 for 75cl at Majestic£5.50 for 75cl at Waitrose There were some strong contenders in the mid-strength cider field, but Maison Sassy pipped the competition to the post with its irresistibly crisp and juicy apple- and strawberry-packed Cidre Rose. Made in Normandy using 18 varieties of apples, it's crunchy, tart, juicy, sweet and fresh – it's like diving headfirst into a French orchard, and I love it. It's 3%, but I'd drink it at any volume. £19.50 for 3 x 100ml at Nio Cocktails Nio's range of lower-alcohol cocktails impressed, and arriving in the same clever packaging, are the new Negroni Next, Cosmopolitan Next, Margarita Next and White Lady Next. Using a mix of 0% spirits and standard alcoholic ingredients, you can enjoy all the convenience of a premade cocktail, but with less alcohol. The negroni is a triumph, with 0% Tanqueray blending nicely with great-quality vermouth, Campari and bitters for that tart, aromatic cocktail you'd expect, at just 10.8%. £18 for 6 x 70cl at Good Time In I don't think I've had a Reef since 2005, but it's worth revisiting this noughties tipple if you're looking for a more moderate fruity, boozy drink that comes in at 3.4%, when most fruity boozy drinks are 5%. The tangy, tropical Orange & Passion Fruit tastes just as sweetly exotic as it used to: drink it straight from the fridge on a hot day or mixed into a party punch that won't see everyone falling over too early. Joanne Gould is a food, drink and lifestyle writer with a decade of experience. As well as enthusiastically eating her way through London's best bars and restaurants, she's also a keen home cook and can often be found trying a new recipe or kitchen gadget, while taste-testing anything from South African wines to speciality coffee or scotch. Luckily, she also enjoys walking, running and keeping fit and healthy in her spare time – for balance
Scottish Sun
09-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Free hack helps boost plant growth in your garden – all you need is a popular pet item
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue. An expert has revealed the bizarre way your pet could boost plant growth GROWING UP Free hack helps boost plant growth in your garden – all you need is a popular pet item THIS bizarre trick involving a free pet item could be used to boost your garden's growth, according to an expert. Using leftover aquarium water could help your garden health and boost plant growth. Advertisement 6 Aquarium water contains bacteria beneficial to plants Credit: Getty 6 Using leftover aquarium water on plants could improve their overall health Credit: Getty An expert revealed the bizarre trick among a list of fifteen other ways to boost your garden health. Leftover waste bacteria in aquarium water is harmful to fish but very beneficial to plants. Experts recommend using only leftover fresh aquarium water with saltwater presenting a danger to your plants. Pouring the aquarium water out onto plants can give them a boost in nutrients and health. Advertisement But experts have warned to only use the trick on ornamental plants, not edible ones. Using old aquarium water rather than fresh tap water will help improve overall plant health. 6 Experts warned only to use fresh water Credit: Getty 6 The bacteria can be harmful for fish Credit: Getty Advertisement The bacteria leftover and nutrients leftover in the water can provide a boost in vitality for your greenery. Other bizarre tricks to help boost plant health were recommended by the expert. Using Club Soda instead of water can allegedly improve plant health with the beverage boasting macronutrients that are beneficial for greenery. Wood ash, with its high alkaline content, has also been recommended. Advertisement Spreading the ash could help to neutralise acidic soil making a friendlier environment for your plants to thrive in. 6 6 Other bizarre tricks to boost plant health were recommended by experts Credit: Getty Old coffee grounds and egg shells could also be used to boost soil and plant health. Advertisement Both waste products contain high amounts of vital nutrients like calcium that can help to boost your plants vibrancy. Vegetable water, compost tea, dead leaves and aged cow manure all made the list as well. They can each be used on soil to boost the nutrients that your plants get and improve their health.
The Irish Sun
09-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Irish Sun
Free hack helps boost plant growth in your garden – all you need is a popular pet item
THIS bizarre trick involving a free pet item could be used to boost your garden's growth, according to an expert. Using leftover aquarium water could help your garden health and boost Advertisement 6 Aquarium water contains bacteria beneficial to plants Credit: Getty 6 Using leftover aquarium water on plants could improve their overall health Credit: Getty An expert revealed the bizarre trick among a list of fifteen other ways to boost your Leftover waste bacteria in aquarium water is harmful to fish but very beneficial to plants. Experts recommend using only leftover fresh aquarium water with saltwater presenting a danger to your plants. Pouring the Advertisement Read more Fabulous News But experts have warned to only use the trick on ornamental plants, not edible ones. Using old 6 Experts warned only to use fresh water Credit: Getty 6 The bacteria can be harmful for fish Credit: Getty Advertisement The bacteria leftover and nutrients leftover in the water can provide a boost in vitality for your greenery. Other bizarre tricks to help boost Most read in Fabulous Using Club Soda instead of water can allegedly improve plant health with the beverage boasting macronutrients that are beneficial for greenery. Wood ash, with its high alkaline content, has also been recommended. Advertisement Spreading the ash could help to neutralise acidic soil making a friendlier 6 6 Other bizarre tricks to boost plant health were recommended by experts Credit: Getty Old coffee grounds and egg shells could also be used to boost soil and plant health. Advertisement Both waste products contain high amounts of vital nutrients like calcium that can help to boost your plants vibrancy. Vegetable water, compost tea, dead leaves and aged cow manure all made the list as well. They can each be used on Transform your garden into a summer paradise BRITS are sprucing up their gardens just in time for summer and top gadgets are the secret to turning your outdoor space from drab to fab on a budget. A garden mirror is a game-changer, adding instant depth and style. For those who love a lush lawn, gadgets are your best friend. Aldi is offering a handy electric scarfier for £69.99, that's £120 cheaper than Bosch. B&Q's also got a It works by punching tiny holes into the soil, letting air, water and nutrients get right down to the roots basically giving your lawn a big breath of fresh air. Plant pots are another quick and easy way to elevate your space and there's no need to spend a fortune. IKEA and The Range are offering £5 But if you really want to put your feet up, budget retailers are going high-tech with robot lawnmowers. One Let the robot do the mowing while you soak up the sun. And finally, if you're looking to level up your outdoor cooking, They've launched a dupe of the cult-favourite Ninja Artisan Pizza Oven but it's £180 cheaper. That's luxury alfresco pizza nights without the luxury price tag. So whether it's pizza ovens or lawn saviours, investing in a few smart garden gadgets could be the key to keeping your garden looking gorgeous all summer without spending a fortune
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Have young Londoners really fallen out of love with booze culture?
Lots of Londoners used to be mostly drunk by this point in January. But not so much in 2025, it seems. Amid a record Dry January — with 15.5 million people set to complete a month of being alcohol-free — many of us are trying something that's historically not been very British: drinking in moderation. And it's younger people who are leading the charge according to new research, which states that nearly 50 per cent of those aged 18 to 34 are sober. While so many of us had misspent youths sneaking booze on park benches, Gen Z in particular are far more sensible, avoiding drinking from the off. The chief executive of Rekom, the UK's largest nightclub operator, has blamed the drop in Gen Z's alcohol consumption, and their unwillingness to go out during the week, for the closure of 17 of their venues. Numerous UK universities now have 'sober societies', eschewing bar crawls for games nights and coffee shop crawls instead. Laura Willoughby, who runs Club Soda, a non and low-alcohol bar in Covent Garden, says 'more people are moderating' their drinking now. Willoughby thinks a big reason is the cost-of-living crisis: her own bar also saw lower footfall last month. She says young people have less money than other generations — but the shift is also cultural, as they are making the choice not to get wasted, with their role models leading the way. While actors used to drink hard for years, and then sober up when their careers were going downhill, now they shape up in their prime. Spider-Man actor Tom Holland, 27, told Jay Shetty's podcast that quitting booze was 'the best thing I've ever done'. For a while, having a drink had been all Holland could think about, making him realise he had an 'alcohol thing'. Interestingly, he found it easier to quit in America, because of British drinking culture with his rugby friends. Holland's pursuit of sobriety has gone so well that he's even founded his own alcohol-free beer brand, Bero. While Holland may have struggled in the UK, industry insiders are definitely noticing a shift in Britain's boozy culture. The dominant trend is that more people are keeping an eye on their intake. In fact, more than one in four UK adults in 2024 reported wanting to cut down on the amount they were drinking. Making non-alcoholic options attractive has been a big factor, says Willoughby. 'Nobody wants to have a lame looking drink,' Willoughby says. She hates the word 'mocktails', which she thinks undermines the 'equality of the serve' between alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Willoughby says London is at the forefront of the moderation movement, reeling off low alcohol companies like Everleaf, Thompson & Scott, Zena, and Nirvana, all of which were born here. 'London is where the innovation started,' she says. Willoughby became interested in the low alcohol business after falling out of love with booze. She worked in 'a career chiefly driven by cheap white wine'. Her father died due to alcohol, she says, which also influenced her own decision to give up 12 years ago. Willoughby says that mental and physical health is the main driver for her customers, many of whom still drink, but in moderation. Club Soda closes at around 10pm, as non-drinkers don't like to stay out so late. Supermarket sales of non-alcoholic drinks confirm the trend. Tesco said that demand for no and low-alcohol drinks increased by nearly 10 per cent in January 2024 compared with the year prior — with sales of no and low-alcohol spirits up nearly 40 per cent. The rise was even higher around Christmas. Meanwhile, sales of Kylie Minogue's no-alcohol sparkling rosé are thriving, and the pop star is in good company: other celebrities with low to no-alcohol brands include Blake Lively, Bella Hadid, ex-rugby star Jonny Wilkinson and, of course, Tom Holland. As of this year, companies will be allowed to sell 'pint-sized' bottles of wine, which are also likely to help people to drink in moderation. 'There is definitely a big cultural conversation happening about the benefits of reducing how much you drink,' says Joe Marley from the charity Alcohol Change UK, who says moderation is having a 'real moment'. Even Kate Moss, the legendary party-head, celebrated her 50th last year with a 'spiritual retreat' — while fellow former caners Lily Allen and Cara Delevingne are also much more sedate these days. But even these trendsetters are behind the curve of a younger generation. Alcohol Change UK, which first came up with the concept of Dry January, says a record number of people have downloaded their Try Dry phone app recently, while one in four people the charity surveyed said they wanted to reduce how much they drink in 2024. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) have found similar record interest in going dry, and recommended struggling pubs stock more low-alcohol products to improve custom. Unlike in earlier years, it seems the change often isn't just for one month, but longer term. Marley says that many people who do Dry January are using it as a 'complete reset'. They report many benefits — improved sleep and concentration, better relationships with partners and family, and 'getting back control' of their lives. That's not to mention financial savings — he estimates that people who gave up booze last month saved an average of £118. This could soon be even higher for wine drinkers, as new tax rules are set to come into force which could make bottles with a higher percentage more expensive. Former hard-partying Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews started a low alcohol spirits brand, CleanCo, which has been doing good business recently. 'I see so many more people talking about their relationship with alcohol, whether that's being teetotal or moderating,' he says. 'More and more public figures and industry leaders are talking about their alcohol-free and sober-curious lives and the benefits that this brings.' One criticism of the sobriety 'movement' is that it could be a largely middle-class concern. Joe Marley admits that people with 'high levels of education' are more likely to take part in Dry January, while alcohol deaths in the UK remain high. But drinking in moderation is definitely on the rise. Christy Osborne is a London-based sobriety coach and got into the job after realising that she was drinking too much. 'A slow uptick' increased when she became a mother, until she finally became 'sick and tired of feeling awful all the time'. She now runs one-on-one classes and group sessions, to help people talk about their relationship with booze. 'I'm not concentrating on the individual completely abstaining' she says. 'What I am interested in is changing their mindset about alcohol, and figuring out if they feel better without it.' Osborne thinks that drinking could slowly reduce even further. 'I think in 10 years or so alcohol is going to go the way of the cigarette right where it's like, not cool — a dumb thing to do — because more and more people know how bad it is for us.' Could she be right?
