Why are young people drinking less than their parents’ generation did?

By Sarah J MacLean, Amy Pennay, Gabriel Calluzi, John Holmes and Jukka Törrönen on Feb 2, 11:30pm

As we head towards the end of the year, office get-togethers, Christmas lunches and New Year’s parties are upon us. It seems like a prime opportunity for young people to be drinking the night away.

But something unexpected has happened since the start of this century. Young people in Australia, the UK, Nordic countries and North America have, on average, been drinking significantly less alcohol than their parents’ generation did when they were a similar age.

During COVID lockdowns, some surveys indicate this fell even further.

Our research suggests this is unlikely to be due simply to government efforts to cut youth drinking. Wider social, cultural, technological and economic changes seem to be key to these declines.

Researchers...

Strawberry & Basil Fizz

By The Mindful Mocktail on Feb 1, 4:29pm

This combination of strawberry and basil refreshing and healthy, plus it tastes great.

Ingredients

3 strawberries, chopped

4-6 basil leaves (depending on your taste preference)

Juice of half a lime

1 tsp sweetener of choice

Sparkling water or kombucha

Method

- Add strawberries, basil, lime and sweetener (if using) to a glass. 

- Muddle together for about 1 minute. If you don’t have a muddler, use a wooden spoon or similar - anything that will ‘smoosh’ all the ingredients together! 

- Top with sparkling water or kombucha and stir. 

- Add ice and garnish and Enjoy!

For more recipes like this, follow @themindfulmocktail on Instagram

We’re getting really good at making alcohol-free beer and wine. Here’s how it’s done!

By David Bean and Andrew Greenhill on Jan 16, 11:52pm

Non-alcoholic drinks have been on the market for decades, but for a long time their range was limited and, in most cases, the flavours were inferior to their alcoholic counterparts.

Now online retailers (some of which specialise in non-alcoholic drinks) are stocking up to 100 different low- or no-alcohol beers and a similar number of non-alcoholic wines – with the majority produced in Australia.

What’s behind the big boom in this side of the industry? And where might it go from here?

It all starts with fermentation

Alcoholic beverages are produced via microbes, most commonly yeasts, which convert sugars to ethanol (alcohol) in the process of fermentation.

In addition to producing ethanol, fermentation also leads to other desirable flavour...

Lyre's Margarita

By Lyre's Spirit Co on Jun 16, 6:34am

Ingredients (serves 1)

• 45mL Lyre's Agave Blanco Spirit OR Lyre's Agave Reserva Spirit
• 15mL Lyre's Orange Sec
• 30mL lime juice
• 7.5mL white sugar syrup (1:1)
• 1 dash of orange bitters (optional) 

Method

    1. Shake ingredients briefly with ice.
    2. Fine strain into a half salt-rimmed coupette.
    3. Garnish with a lime wedge.

For more recipes like this, head to lyres.com.au

Lyre's Negroni

By Lyre's Spirit Co on Jun 16, 6:19am

Ingredients (serves 1)

• 30mL Lyre's Dry London Spirit
• 30mL Lyre's Aperitif Rosso
• 30mL Lyre's Italian Orange

Method

    1. Stir briefly over fresh, cubed ice.
    2. Serve in an old fashioned glass and garnish with an orange slice. 

For more recipes like this, head to lyres.com.au

Lyre's Mojito

By Lyre's Spirit Co on Jun 16, 5:54am

Ingredients (serves 1)

• 75mL Lyre's White Cane Spirit
• 30mL lime juice
• 15mL white sugar syrup (1:)
• 8-10 mint leaves
• 30mL premium bottled soda water

Method

    1. Add all ingredients into glass and fill with fresh, cubed ice.
    2. Add soda water and stir.
    3. Pour into a Highball glass.
    4. Garnish with a lime wedge and plump mint sprig. 

For more recipes like this, head to lyres.com.au

Lyre's Espresso Martini

By Lyre's Spirit Co on Jun 16, 5:08am

Ingredients (serves 1)

• 45mL Lyre's Coffee Originale 
• 15mL Lyre's White Cane Spirit
• 45mL premium cold drip or fresh espresso
• 10mL premium vanilla syrup (not vanilla essence)

Method

    1. Dry shake all ingredients to mix. 
    2. 1/2 fill shaker with ice, shake hard briefly.
    3. Fine strain into a coupette and garnish with a coffee bean float.

For more recipes like this, head to lyres.com.au

Easy Guava Mocktails With Lemon

By The Mindful Mocktail on May 13, 5:21am

Ingredients (serves 2)

• 3 tablespoons guava nectar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 6-8 mint leaves
• 1 cup of your favourite sparking kombucha

Method

1. Place guava nectar and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker or mason jar.
2. Clap the mint together in your hands and add to the mixture. Press gently a couple of times with a muddler.
3. Add some ice and shake ingredients together until combined.
4. Fill a glass with ice and pour guava mixture in. 
5. Top with kombucha. 

For more recipes like this, follow @themindfulmocktail on Instagram

Orange Ginger Mocktail

By The Mindful Mocktail on May 13, 5:10am

Ingredients (serves 2)

• 1/3 cup orange juice 
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 8 mint leaves
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup ginger ale

Method

1. Clap the mint in your hands to release the scent, then place into a cocktail shaker. 
2. Add orange juice, lemon juice and apple cider vinegar to the shaker.
3. Add a few ice cubes to the shake and shake until combined. 
4. Pour into an ice-filled glass and top with ginger ale. 
5. Garnish with orange slices and mint. 

For more recipes like this, follow @themindfulmocktail on Instagram