Got buzz?
Lacing flavored seltzers and other popular drinks with pot, hemp-derived CBD, mushrooms, so-called biohacking adaptogens and all sorts of other shiny new (and sometimes, only recently legalized) snake oils, cooler cases everywhere from your local Whole Foods or liquor store to shiny new dispensaries are filling up with promising-sounding potions.
Some colorful cans claim to be cure-alls while others tout themselves as replacements for your vices. It’s part of a movement away from alcohol, with many instead seeking new, creative ways to get their buzz on — with a whopping 48% of us insisting we’re interested in drinking less in the New Year, according to Open Table.
But whether you’re sober curious or sober serious, the growing horde of determined drink makers wants your business — and they’re ready to do whatever it takes to get it, making wild promises of peace and contentment in a can.
Hilary Sheinbaum, the author of “Going Dry,” told The Post, that modern drinkers “are questioning what it is that they are consuming and putting into their body,” which is leading them away from booze and into the world of cannabinoids, kava and more.
“Now we have all these alternatives that help you feel relaxed, without the damaging effects,” she said.
Or do we? Are boost-seeking boozers swapping the devil’s nectar for a new kind of addiction? Medical experts such as Amy Shapiro, an NYC registered dietician and nutritionist, caution that some of the over-the-counter elixirs could become addictive or cause adverse effects such as nausea, diarrhea, headaches and stomach upset — but nothing compared to a bad hangover.
And most of these drink offerings may not alter your physical or mental being as obviously as a glass of wine or bite of an edible, but for many, that’s just the point.
As an alcohol alternative, “since they do not contain any alcohol, they are automatically better for you,” Shapiro told The Post noting that “there is no safe level of alcohol consumption recommended.” Her sentiments echo the US surgeon general which in January declared that alcoholic drinks should carry a warning label about their cancer risks.
To try and make sense of the new sipping trend, The Post waded into the murky waters and tried a range of trendy beverages on for size. You’ll hear the pitch from their creators, and you’ll see how the actual product fared when put to the test by our trusty team of 20 tasters from around the newsroom.
Cannabis plants contain cannabinoids like THC, a psychoactive compound that causes a “high,” and CBD, a non-psychoactive for relaxation and pain relief. The THC content determines whether it’s hemp (0.3% or less THC) or marijuana (more than 0.3% THC), and consumers must be 21+ to purchase.
Cann: 21+
Cann beverages are made with 2 milligrams of THC and 4 milligrams of CBD.
“We’re taking the problematic thing [alcohol] out and we’re replacing it with a less problematic one that will still give you a buzz,” Cann CEO and co-founder Jake Bullock told The Post. “This is a better buzz.”
But Bullock noted that “everyone has a different way of describing the feeling” although most claim it evokes being “more aware,” “in the moment” and “a little bit more appreciative of what’s happening.”
Time
- They said: 15 minutes to kick in and different lasting times
- We said: Posties largely found the drink took about 30 minutes to an hour to kick in and lasted about an hour — or didn’t at all.
Effect
- They said: “Similar to a glass of wine or beer: light, buzzy and sociable without feeling out of control” for a “balanced, micro high.”
- We said: Posties said they “didn’t feel anything specifically other than just tired” and would “need a larger dose.” However, one noted that they felt something similar to a weed high — including the munchies.
STIIZY: 21+
A can of STIIZY contains 5 milligrams of Delta 9 THC mixed into an array of tropical fruit juice blends.
Compared to edibles, the drinks are created to “deliver the perfect blend of taste and relaxation” and give seltzer sippers “a buzz” and “euphoric vibe” with a “smooth, uplifting effect.”
Time:
- They said: 10 to 20 minutes to feel it and lasts about an hour or two
- We found: About half an hour to hit and had effects lasting about an hour to an an hour and a half.
Effect:
- They said: “Each sip brings a cool, mellow vibe that’s just right for winding down or amping up your day.”
- We found: Posties felt a buzz that was “different from being drunk, but not as strong a strong pot smoking” and some described as “a little loose, then warm and tingly” and “a very light calming effect.”
What’s in this potion? Lion’s mane, lemon balm, echinacea — Oh my!
Adaptogens are a very wide category of herbs, roots, mushrooms and other plant substances with a list of types and possible effects far too long to name.
They claim to help the body manage stress and restore homeostasis — the state of balance that living beings need to function properly. But these aren’t muddy mixes that taste like dirt — where many of the ingredients are found — or conjure hallucinations.
Curious Elixirs: 18+
Curious Elixirs are “fancy nonalcoholic beverages that emulate the cocktail experience but with some function for your body,” founder JW Wiseman told The Post. “Why not have something delicious that also makes your body feel good?”
“We’re not trying to get anybody high here,” he added of the drinks only sold to those 21 and up. “We’re trying to support people’s body so that they can have a damn good time while they’re drinking with their friends.”
Time
- They said: 20 to 45 minutes to work
- We found: Posties felt something about 20 to 25 minutes after sipping and kept the buzz for about 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Effect
- They said: All 10 drinks are concocted using organic juices, spices and herbs to boost mood and energy “for people to use when you want to unwind without getting wasted,” Wiseman said.
- We found: Posties felt “more relaxed” and felt “it was easier to shut [their brain] off” while also getting them through “the afternoon lull” with “energy…and a small high.”
“Curious Elixir is like the younger sister trying to fit in with her older sister’s college weed-smoking friends. She’s not quite in their club yet, but she’s definitely the hippest girl in high school.”
Postie
Kin Euphorics: 18+
Kin Euphorics, a functional beverage brand founded by model Bella Hadid and CEO Jen Batchelor, advertises tea-like drinks that combine adaptogens and nootropics — drugs or supplements known as “cognitive enhancers” — with botanic flavors.
“The mind is what tells you, ‘Hey, I feel good now,’ but it happens in the body and it starts with the endocrine system,” Batchelor explained to The Post. “It’s literally turning on a part of your brain that says, ‘Hey, it’s safe to chill. It’s safe to socialize.’ But you’re not going to be out of your mind.”
Time:
- They said: 10 to 15 minutes to kick in
- We found: Some Posties found it difficult to nail down when the drink kicked but said the effects lasted about two hours. Others felt “better” within about 10 minutes.
Effect:
- They said: “The entourage effect from these properties can ease you into a higher state of mind.”
- We found: One Postie described their experience “vaguely like having a tiny bit of weed. Closer to getting a relaxing massage” although the skeptic noted that maybe they were “just in a good mood” and ready for a placebo effect. However another Postie felt nothing.
My body was more relaxed than usual and anxious thoughts didn’t stick around. I said something stupid and it didn’t haunt me.
Postie
Recess: 18+
Some brands have combined hemp and adaptogens, like Recess, which offers 10 milligrams of hemp-infused CBD with L-theanine, lemon balm and ginseng in fruity-flavored seltzers, like peach ginger and black cherry.
The selection of sparkling waters brings “healthy relaxation for those who are looking to unwind and relax at the end of the day without a glass of wine,” CEO and founder Benjamin Witte told The Post.
Time:
- They said: Varies but won’t turn into a nasty hangover
- We found: Our taste testers felt something about 10 minutes into drinking and enjoyed the effects for about an hour.
Effect:
- They said: Witte explained that “people react to all functional ingredients differently” with some feeling more balanced after swapping an afternoon coffee for a Recess while others want to crawl into bed.
- We found: Posties felt “mellow and less anxious” and described the drink as “a nice seltzer option with potential relaxation benefits.”
Brez: 21+
Bréz beverages blend hemp-derived THC and CBD, lion’s mane mushroom, agave, allulose, Italian lemon, elderflower and sparkling water for “a sense of relief, relaxation, or enjoyment without the downsides traditionally associated with alcohol,” founder and CEO Aaron Nosbisch told The Post.
Those 21 and up can take a sip to experience all the benefits within minutes and into the next hour.
Time:
- They said: 5 minutes to feel it and lasts up to 1.5 hours
- We found: Some Posties reported feeling nothing after one can while others felt good for at least two hours.
Effect:
- They said: “You’ll first feel a quick, energized elevation followed by a sensation of pure bliss,” the website claims.
- We found: “Felt a little buzzy very quickly, then it became a bouncy and animated high for first hour before it leveled out nicely.” “A little dry mouth….with a really nice buzz” “felt nothing”
Don’t be confused: kava is not cava, the Spanish sparkling wine.
The Pacific Islands root traditionally consumed as a tea is now sold as a canned concoction.
Credited variously as a pain reliever and muscle relaxant, kava also works as an antidepressant, an insomnia reliever and a mental cognition booster, all while bestowing feelings of euphoria and relaxation, thanks to its psychoactive properties — which simply means it affects a person’s mental state.
The plant is composed of 18 different kavalactone compounds, with a majority of benefits coming from just six. Each variety can lead to a different reaction — with some uplifting you through the day and others calming you down for bedtime.
“It’s pretty impossible to feel anxious on kava,” plant-based medical researcher Chris Kilham told The Post, noting that kavalactones, the active compounds in kava, work their magic in the amygdala, the part of the brain where anxiety is concentrated.
Leilo: 18+
These drinks are safe options to “make you feel happy and a little bit less stressed out,” insists Sol Broady, founder of Leilo, a brand of fruity kava seltzers.
“It’s an incredible tool in your tool kit to remain balanced and productive and get better sleep and live a healthier lifestyle,” Broady added.
Time:
- They said: 10 to 15 minutes to begin and lasts about 45 minutes
- We found: Posties couldn’t really determine when the benefits of the drink kicked in but felt “better” for about at least an hour but sometimes the rest of the day.
Effect:
- They said: A can of kava will likely relax your scrunched shoulders from your ears, aid in muscle recovery — making it great for athletes — and calm your mind, all of which help to promote REM sleep.
- We found: Posties found a can of the drink helped them to “stabilize” their thoughts and anxious energy and power through the rest of the day kind of like hitting a reset button.
Melo: 18+
Amy Bett, the founder of Melo, said their tropical-flavored, sparkling kava drinks can “give us an opportunity to still feel social and have a drink that really does relax us and make us feel calm.”
“I noticed the tension ease away in my body and the stress, the anxiousness that I was feeling relieved and it brings me back into the present moment.”
Time:
- They said: 10 to 15 minutes with 45-minute lasting time
- We found: One Postie didn’t feel anything after one can of Melo.
Effect:
- They said: “It gives you a beautiful calming and relaxing effect with the hangover,” Bett said, describing the experience as an “almost euphoric feeling.”
- We found: Posties said the strong sweet flavor masked any possible effects. Others compared it to drinking a LaCroix and believe it might have helped them sleep better.
