Alcohol’s Impact on the Brain Is Truly Sobering, So We’re Sipping on These Canned Mocktails This Summer

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It’s not just Dry January — sobriety and drinking in moderation has become a legitimate trend these days, lasting through and past the first month of the year. While January is a natural time to want to take a break from alcohol after all the excesses of the holidays, 49 percent of Americans said they planned to drink less alcohol in 2025, according to a survey commissioned by advertising and sales measurement technology firm NCSolutions released earlier this year. That’s up from 41 percent in 2024, the firm reported. It’s particularly a trend among young people, with 65 percent of Gen Z respondents planning to drink less and 39 percent saying they’ll stop drinking altogether this year. In light of these shifts, it’s no wonder canned mocktails and other non-alcoholic alternatives are having such a moment.

Switching to mocktails or cutting back on drinking can also have major benefits for your health. In January, then-United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released an advisory highlighting the direct link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk. It’s a connection supported by decades of research, yet less than half of Americans recognize it as a risk factor. And for women, the stakes are even higher. Alcohol consumption not only raises the risk of cancers like breast and liver cancer but also disrupts hormonal balance and can amplify menopause symptoms.

Alcohol’s impact on brain health also can’t be ignored. Drinking can impair the brain in both the short- and long-term, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, making it harder for the brain to control balance, memory, speech, and judgment. Long-term heavy drinking also “causes alterations in the neurons, such as reductions in their size,” the NIAAA reports. Per the Alzheimer’s Society, excessive alcohol consumption can also increase the risk of developing dementia.

With all this information becoming more commonly known, we’re not surprised that easing up on alcohol has become such a trend. Wondering where to start? We turned to our Advisory Council for their top canned mocktail picks to help you explore your sober curiosity in style.