No Alcohol No Sweat

You know the feeling. Get in after a long day at work, and have a glass of wine. Relax into the evening with a tipple or two. That is often the case with traditional, alcoholic wine. Indeed, for many people it’s a big reason to drink it. But what about NA wine. Does non-alcoholic wine relax you?

The aroma and ritual

For many people, the ritual of opening a bottle of wine, pouring it into a glass and taking in its distinct aroma is undeniably linked to relaxation.

Indeed, Robert Louis Stevenson once described wine as “bottled poetry”.

The aroma of wine can trigger a sense of nostalgia, activate the olfactory senses and create a serene sense of ambience. Quite how and why it does this will of course depend on the individual, but it seems to be a pretty common response to easing a cork from a bottle.

Non-alcoholic wines often preserve these aromatic qualities, offering a familiar experience to traditional wines that can help set the stage for a relaxed evening. In essence, our nose can help us relax.

When it comes to ritual, it can be like the popping of a cork (or more likely these days, the unscrewing of a bottle cap) is associated with the end of one phase of the day and the beginning of another – more relaxed – one. Typically, we drink wine in the evening, so that opening of a bottle represents the shift from being ‘on’ in a professional environment to being more oneself around friends and family.

Here’s what Ernest Hemingway had to say about it. “Wine is one of the most civilised things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection, and it offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing.”

The ingredients for relaxation

One effect that alcoholic wine has that its NA counterpart doesn’t is a sedative effect. Alcohol can make us sleepy. It’s one of the reasons we can’t drink and drive (along with, of course, getting all over the shop in terms of perception, false confidence and balance). Small amounts may produce a sense of relaxation, while larger amounts can lead to impaired motor skills, slurred speech and even unconsciousness. Non-alcoholic wine, while lacking alcohol, may still have a mild calming effect. This is due to compounds like polyphenols and antioxidants found in grape skins, which are associated with relaxation.

Actually, alcohol often has a biphasic effect on the body, meaning it can initially have stimulating effects when blood alcohol levels are rising, and then sedative effects as alcohol levels begin to decline. This is why some people may feel more sociable and energetic at the beginning of their drinking session, but become increasingly sleepy as they consume more alcohol.

Some compounds found in wine, such as melatonin, do improve sleep quality. Non-alcoholic wine might offer similar benefits without the potential sleep disruptions caused by alcohol.

The placebo effect

We can’t overlook the psychological aspect of non-alcoholic wine’s relaxation potential. The placebo effect – which is when an individual experiences real effects due to their belief in a product’s effectiveness – could play a role in how non-alcoholic wine induces relaxation, certainly for those who have or still consume alcoholic wine. If an individual believes that consuming non-alcoholic wine will help them relax, their body might respond accordingly, releasing calming neurotransmitters and reducing stress hormones.

This illusion often occurs because the taste, smell, and appearance of non-alcoholic wine can be remarkably similar to regular wine. People may subconsciously associate these sensory cues with the effects of alcohol, leading to a placebo sense of relaxation or well-being.

Some people, when consuming non-alcoholic wine, might paradoxically feel more alert or focused. We can attribute this placebo effect to the belief that they’re not drinking alcohol and thus won’t experience any impairment in cognitive or motor functions. As a result, they might perceive increased mental clarity and attentiveness.

What’s more, choosing non-alcoholic wine signifies a mindful approach to consumption, prioritising wellness and self-care. This conscious choice itself can contribute to a sense of relaxation as you know you are taking care of yourself and you won’t tress over a hangover the next morning.

Relax, and have an NA wine

So, does non-alcoholic wine relax you? Well, while non-alcoholic wine lacks the sedative effects of alcohol, it does offer a range of potential benefits that can contribute to relaxation. From the aromatic experience to the preservation of heart-healthy compounds and the psychological impact of mindful consumption, non-alcoholic wine has the potential to create a sense of tranquillity and ease.

And give you much more energy for the morning after, as well.

_{Image credit: Julianna Arjes}