Can a drink lift your mood and help you connect, without a drop of booze? Turns out, yes.
It’s Friday night in London, and the mood is bright. Someone pours what looks like a smooth whiskey, golden in the glass, aromatic and rich. Except, it isn’t. There’s no alcohol here, no sharp burn, no hangover waiting in the wings. Just science, plants, and a very clever rethink of what “a good drink” can be.
Meet GABA Labs, the London-based biotech changing the way we socialise. Co-founded by Professor David Nutt, one of the world’s leading experts on how alcohol affects the brain, and David Orren, the team has built something groundbreaking: a functional drinks platform that delivers the calm, connected feeling we associate with alcohol, without the alcohol itself.
Can Science Recreate the Feeling of a Drink?
The answer lies inside the brain’s own chemistry. The GABA system, responsible for feelings of calm and relaxation, is the body’s natural counterpart to alcohol’s effects. Instead of stimulating it through ethanol, GABA Labs found a way to support it using a carefully crafted blend of plant-based ingredients.
Their new platform, based on the same GABA-enhancing formula that powers SENTIA Spirits’ GABA Red, Black, and Gold, can now be adapted to create all kinds of familiar drinks. First up? Gabyr, a collection of functional beers, and Cask, a whiskey-inspired alternative. Both are designed to taste recognisable and feel satisfying, without the side effects that usually follow a night out.
For Orren and the team, this isn’t about replacing alcohol; it’s about broadening what’s possible. They see a world where socialising and self-care don’t sit on opposite ends of the spectrum, but exist comfortably side by side.
Why Drinkers Are Craving Something New
The timing couldn’t be better. Across the UK, more than three-quarters of adults are moderating their drinking habits, while younger generations are embracing what’s become known as “zebra striping,” switching between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks during the same night. The message is clear: people want balance.
These new functional drinks speak directly to that cultural shift. They’re made not just for how people want to taste, but for how they want to feel. For the first time, a non-alcoholic option offers that subtle lift, the gentle buzz of connection, without the crash that usually follows.
What Makes GABA Labs’ Approach So Different?
Unlike most zero-proof spirits or imitation beers, GABA Labs’ platform isn’t about simulation; it’s about stimulation, in the most natural sense. Their GABAergic botanicals work with the body’s own systems to gently enhance mood, sociability, and relaxation. The result feels familiar, not artificial, a drink that lets you unwind while staying clear-headed and present.
Rather than chasing perfect replicas of whiskey or beer, the team focused on creating an entirely new category of functional, mood-enhancing drinks. Their work blurs the line between science and social experience, showing what’s possible when innovation meets intention.
A Glimpse Into the Future of Social Drinking
This launch is just the beginning. The same research driving Gabyr and Cask is also paving the way for Alcarelle, GABA Labs’ next-generation molecule currently under development. It’s a vision of the future where people can enjoy all the positive effects of alcohol, connection, confidence, calm, without the toxicity or risk of dependence.
For now, these natural, plant-based products offer a taste of what’s to come. They invite us to raise a glass to a new kind of celebration; one that’s grounded in clarity, connection, and choice.
The future of drinking isn’t about giving something up. It’s about gaining something better: A drink that fits the way we want to live, and mornings we actually want to wake up to.
To experience the new wave of functional drinking, Cask is now available online for £34.25.
