Can an alcohol-free tonic made from the plants and herbs of a botanical garden really get you “drunk” and go home the next day without a hangover?
That’s the extraordinary claim from the makers of SENTIA – a new non-alcoholic drink that mimics the sensation of drinking a few pints by tricking your brain’s internal chemistry.
So does it work? How mindful can you get away with it? And is it actually fun to drink?
To get the answers to these all-important questions, we sent two red-eared and hopefully cheerful MailOnline reporters to test the concoction and deliver their verdict.
Nothing like a rough day in the office for Phil taking down a SENTIA in the name of science
Kitty took a slightly more sophisticated stance as she sampled a SENTIA mixed with ginger ale
SENTIA black (pictured here) is out next month and contains about a dozen botanical ingredients. The drink is marketed as a non-alcoholic alternative that uses clever chemistry to actually get you drunk
But first, what is SENTIA? And how does it theoretically get you into a drunken state without using the tried and tested alcohol?
A quick look at the back of the SENTIA bottle, which costs just under £30, reveals about a dozen more ingredients than your average drink.
The endless list includes: magnolia, sage, orange peel, star anise, ginseng, black cardamom, thyme, cinnamon, pennyroyal, rosemary, Nigerian ginger, ginkgo, alder and more.
That label also carries a warning that applies to many of the drinks it tries to imitate, don’t consume if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
For serving, the manufacturers of SENTIA recommend using it neat or mixed with soda or ginger beer.
The exact miracle drug that mimics alcohol is a closely guarded secret from former government drug kingpin Professor David Nutt and his team at GABA Labs.
But how it works is written in the name of the manufacturer.
After we finished drinking, we had both reporters walk the line to see if there were any drunken wobbles
And here’s the aftermath, Phi; reported no hangover symptoms
Kitty also did not breastfeed the paracetamol the next day, nor did she report any adverse effects
British neuropsychopharmacologist Professor David Nutt is the brains behind SENTIA and said he wanted to create a drink that mimicked the social and fun aspects of alcohol without the discomfort
SENTIA’s potent brew activates a neurotransmitter called gaba in the brain, just like a few shots of tequila, a glass of wine or a bottle of lager sou.
Although you may not know the name, once you recognize the effects, Gaba receptors help relax the brain.
This is exactly why popping a bubble after a few drinks makes you feel more cozy.
But unlike alcohol, SENTIA stops at about two to three drinks and doesn’t build up other chemicals in the body that lead to hangovers and bad life choices at office parties.
It also does not suffer from the long-term health problems that frequent and excessive drinking can bring, such as cancer, liver problems and obesity.
The creators of SENTIA say this is the overarching mission of their work: to create a drink that can mimic the positive aspects of alcohol without the known disadvantages.
To put it to the test, we tried the drink on two MailOnline who were dying to spend part of their working day getting drunk.
how did it taste
PHIL JOSSE, VIDEO REPORTER
“I mean, I’ve had worse to drink,” he said after taking his first sip.
He tested it neat, without any of the recommended blenders, and said, “It’s a little spicy, really peppery.”
“It tastes strange. It kind of burns, but it’s not an alcohol burn, it’s a peppery burn.
But Phil enjoyed it most when he was mixed. He added, “Oh, that’s good.
“The ginger beer really complements the peppery flavor of the spirit. It’s actually quite nice.”
KITTY LAWSON, NEWS REPORTER
“I enjoyed it when it was diluted with other things,” she said.
But Kitty described the brew as “pretty nasty”.
did it make you drunk
PHIL
“I’m feeling a little worn out,” he said.
“I can definitely feel some excitement, my commute should be interesting (smile).
“We’ll see if I get home or not.”
POT
After an hour, Kitty said she felt like she’d had a few drinks: “I feel the effects a little more than I do.”
“I’ve got a bit of a headache and I definitely feel like it’s gone to my head a bit – but I feel okay, maybe a bit out of sorts.”
But three hours later she said it was mostly over: “I feel quite relaxed and quite tired, although on the way home I noticed it felt like I’d had a drink. I felt a little lost, but it’s almost gone.”
And did you have a hangover the next day?
PHIL
“I feel good, I’m not trapped, so that’s good,” he said.
“I was definitely not drunk. I was maybe a little excited like I’d had a few drinks.”
POT
“I feel very well, there is no sign of a hangover at all,” she said.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
