Mallory Pace
Words by Mallory Pace
We finally have a healthy trend circulating TikTok: sobriety. Sobriety from alcohol, that is. There has been a change in representation for the sober community as more and more users take to social media to share their experiences and document their recoveries. There’s also those who choose not to drink alcohol out of preference for another vice … Did I mention this is the 4/20 issue?
As someone who doesn’t traditionally partake in the festivities of this holiday, I have found myself somewhat enthralled with the weed-smoking community on social media. They’re always happy about something. They’re eating good food without shame, and they never have hangovers. Alcohol has always been incredibly normalized, but cannabis not so much. In my opinion, a drunk person is much more dangerous than one high on marijuana, but alcohol is much more prevalent and celebrated in society than smoking weed for reasons that are too deeply rooted for me to get into. Nevertheless, there has certainly been a shift in people’s attitudes toward alcohol, one that directs the attention onto its alternatives, which are plentiful.
In the last few years alone, the seltzer market has skyrocketed. What started as White Claw and Truly has turned into Sunny D Hard Seltzer, Simply Spiked Lemonade, Mountain Dew Hard Seltzer and High Noon Hard Seltzers (with vodka and tequila!), to name a few. Although the range of alcoholic options is a bit wider than its counterpart, there are more 0% alcohol options than ever before with White Claw, Budweiser, Coors, Bud Light and even more brands stepping into the non-alcohol zone, including 0% IPAs!
The uptick in alcohol replacements has gone further than 0% alcohol drinks, but we’re now seeing beverages and seltzers infused with CBD, THC, Delta-9 or some variation of the mix. Quick chemistry lesson: CBD is a chemical found in marijuana that doesn’t contain THC, the psychoactive ingredient that produces a high. There are three common forms of THC — delta-8, -9 and -10 — though the THC found in marijuana plants is typically delta-9. Delta-8 has become increasingly popular in the last decade and is found in marijuana plants in very small amounts, so its products are typically made by synthetically converting CBD or delta-9 THC into delta-8. Although research on it is somewhat limited, studies have found that consumers feel that delta-8 has less intense side effects than typical marijuana. There is very little research done on delta-10, though it has a similar makeup to that of delta-8.
These cannabis-derived products are rapidly hitting the market and are currently legal for recreational use, though they’re not FDA approved. They’re typically found as edibles and ingestible forms, or a smoking device similar to a vape pen. But more recently, they’re hitting the bars. A new delta-8-infused seltzer called hi has been introduced to Jacksonville and several of its bars and breweries recently, and promises zero sugar, zero calories and of course, zero alcohol. According to hi’s website, their processing facility, one of 20 in the U.S., features “in-line pasteurization” for guaranteed freshness., and their carbonation process utilizes actual “carb-stones” to deliver the most bubbles of any cannabis-infused drink on the market. According to sites’ product locator, hi is currently sold at dozens of local bars, breweries, restaurants and dispensaries across Jacksonville, including Pete’s Bar, Mango’s Beach Bar, Green Room Brewing, Engine 15 Brewing Co. and Dick’s Wings.
And these alcohol alternatives continue to emerge. One popular beverage circulating TikTok called Nowadays is a cannabis-infused beverage that can be taken as a shot or made into a mocktail. The dosages range from 2-10 mg per serving so consumers can pick what works for them. Nowadays has rave reviews on TikTok as people express how they’re able to fit in with alcohol drinkers without feeling left out or pressured to join them.
Another common alternative that’s been in the game for quite some time is kava, a drug made from the ground roots of a plant found in the South Pacific. It’s most commonly consumed as a drink and used to treat anxiety. It has a sedating, relaxing effect while delivering a “social buzz.” Kava bars scatter Jacksonville, offering various kava-based drinks and a chill atmosphere. These spots are perfect for social gatherings without the chaos that typically follows with alcohol and can be found in Riverside, Jacksonville Beach, San Marco, Mandarin and St. Augustine, among others.
The allure of drinking has a lot, if not all, to do with the social aspect of it. Whether that’s meeting up with friends for happy hour or sporting events, hitting the town for a girl’s night out or hosting a party at home, alcohol is typically a big part of social gatherings. If that’s good or bad is irrelevant — alcohol is part of our society and socialization and that’s fine, but people who choose to not drink deserve to have fun of their own. These alcohol alternatives give them the same opportunity to partake in the social aspect of drinking with everyone else. Don’t discriminate against someone’s vice just because it’s not yours. (Except for maybe meth; don’t do meth.) We all have our guilty pleasures, but just because alcohol is so normalized doesn’t mean it’s the best option … really, far from it. If anything, we need to shift the normalcy to being sober, or at least free to partake in what relaxes us as long as it’s not hurting anyone. So, cheers to whatever it is that suits you!
POSTSCRIPT: In early March the Florida Legislature approved a bill to ban delta-8 THC products and if the bill is signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, it will go into effect on Oct. 1. This move would reverse the 2019 provisions when Florida updated its CBD laws to align with the 2018 Farm Bill that said hemp and hemp extracts were legal, so hemp-derived cannabinoids, like delta-8, were no longer controlled substances. Mr. DeSantis, if you’re reading this, I’m sorry for anything I’ve said or written about you … I didn’t mean it … please don’t sign the bill. The people want to get high.
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