Non-alcoholic drinks certainly seem to be having a moment. For starters, there’s more of them — and B.C. seems ahead of the pack.

In the non-alcoholic, or “free-spirited,” cocktail realm, Opus and Edna’s are both local companies offering drinks that walk like a cocktail, talk like a cocktail, but lack the alcohol of a cocktail. Both businesses were started by mixologists; Christos Kalaitzis and Nick Devine, respectively. The former offers a peach bellini, a gin-and-tonic, and an aperitivo spritz. Edna’s comes in four styles: Paloma, Mojito, Collins and Mule.

The most obvious reason to consider non-alcoholic drinks is health. In January, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) stated that even moderate drinking — anything more than two drinks a week — is a health risk.

But there are other benefits as well. Non-alcoholic drinks are also less expensive and have fewer calories. Read the labels, though: while a 355 mL can of Partake IPA is only 10 calories, a Collective Arts Emerald Stout is 110. Edna’s Paloma is 120.

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https://vancouversun.com/life/non-alcoholic-drinks-are-having-a-moment-are-they-here-to-stay