Non-alcoholic drinks boost

THE trend of drinking non-alcoholic beer has become increasingly popular. Mindful Drinking South Africa is hosting the festival to showcase the wide range of alcoholic-free drinks at Kirstenbosch Stone Cottages in Newlands tomorrow.

“Mindful Drinking South Africa was started by two Capetonians, Sean O’Connor and Barry Tyson, to promote and de-stigmatise the consumption of non-alcoholic drinks,” the organisation said.

Mindful Drinking is the emerging global trend of choosing low and non-alcoholic drinks for health and social reasons. Beverages will include alcohol-free beers, wines, bubbly, botanicals, kombuchas and health drinks.

People attending the event will be able to sample drinks directly from their producers and participate in a blind-tasting competition. They will also learn from a range of free presentations explaining the new technologies behind the production of these innovative drinks.

Festival director Sean O’Connor said: “Alcohol-free drinks is the fastest growing beverage sector in South Africa and there is now a huge range of options available to the public. If you feel like a beer or a glass of wine at a social function, there are some really tasty, sexy and trendy non-alcoholic options.

“And people are slowly learning that it’s not a bad thing to conduct yourself better, and wake up feeling fresher the next day. It’s all about being free to choose.”

The event begins at 11am and will also feature live music from Zolani Mahola from Freshlyground, The Porchlights, Hatchetman, Dax Butler, the Biscuit Mill Jazz Band and Pravda.