You Don’t Need to Hit Rock Bottom: Mocktails, Mindfulness & Drinking
Breaking my leg and undergoing ACL reconstruction surgery took me out: physically, emotionally, and socially. I couldn’t walk for over six months, and my tolerance for alcohol dropped fast. Even one drink felt like too much.
In Canada, 1 in 5 people will experience a substance use disorder in their lifetime, and up to 60% of the risk is genetic¹. Struggling with depression or a physical disability can double that risk². The reality is, you have no idea how susceptible you are to developing an alcohol dependency. At a time when I felt physically limited and mentally vulnerable, I was hyper-aware of how easy it could be to spiral. I didn’t want to risk that, so I reached for zero-proof options.
Why Drinking Less Is More
I’m far from the only one. Quebec’s drinking culture is evolving. Between 2021 and 2023, alcohol sales in the province dropped nearly 6%, and younger generations are leading a sober revolution³. Nationally, Canadian liquor sales declined by 1.2% in 2023, the sharpest drop in over a decade⁴.At the same time, the demand for zero-proof options is booming. Between June 2023 and June 2024, the non-alcoholic beverage market in Canada surged to $199 million, a 24% increase from the year before⁵. Non-alcoholic spirits grew by nearly 68%, and ready-to-drink mocktails skyrocketed by 168%⁶.
Sober Sundays: Where It All Comes Together.
That shift led me to launch my cocktail channel, Cocktail Coquine, and create Sober Sundays, a weekly series dedicated to bold, creative zero-proof cocktails. These aren’t watered-down imitations. They’re original, beautiful, and deeply satisfying drinks made with care.I’ve learned that if you respect the process and treat the ingredients like they matter, the result is a cocktail that’s thoughtful, balanced, and honestly beautiful.
When you take alcohol out of the equation, you have to get creative. You start building flavour profiles from scratch: bitterness, body, heat, depth. You rely on spice, acidity, herbs, tannins. You pull from unexpected ingredients. It forces you to experiment and rethink everything you know about cocktail structure. That’s where the magic happens.
Not a Substitute, Just a Different Pour.
Zero-proof cocktails aren’t just a stand-in. Once you stop treating them like an imitation, you can actually start having fun. This is where you get to break rules, flip expectations, and create something that doesn’t play by the usual formula. These spirits aren’t about fitting in, they’re about standing out. Just like you build your traditional bar cart one bottle at a time, building a zero-proof collection takes the same curiosity and care. You won’t love every bottle. You’ll discover unexpected favourites. And over time, you’ll learn how to balance these ingredients on their own or alongside alcohol. It’s not about limitations. It’s about expanding what’s possible. View my own zero-proof recipes
here →
Quebec Is Embracing the Shift.
Here in Quebec, we’re lucky to have incredible products at our fingertips. Brands like HP Juniper and NOA by Monsieur Cocktail are pushing the boundaries of what zero-proof can taste like. These spirits aren’t just functional. They’re delicious.Montreal’s best bars are taking notice too. Atwater Cocktail Club, which ranked in North America’s 50 Best Bars⁷, and Foxy, a MICHELIN-awarded team⁸, are offering creative, considered zero-proof options that reflect the same level of care as their traditional menus. And when leaders like these shift direction, others follow.
And there’s even more momentum on the way. Coco Disco Club, a new bar opening soon in Montreal, is dedicating one-third of its menu to alcohol-free cocktails. While the bar has yet to open, this kind of commitment signals a growing excitement for well-crafted zero-proof offerings and suggests that in Quebec, this isn’t just a trend, it’s becoming a standard.
Final Sip.
This isn’t about choosing sobriety or indulgence. It’s about staying connected to the ritual, the ceremony of pouring something beautiful into a glass, of pausing, savouring, and sharing a moment.Zero-proof cocktails offer options. Options that bring flexibility, that adapt to your mood, your moment, your pace. They make space to celebrate without pressure, reflect without restriction, and enjoy something exceptional, whether or not alcohol is part of the picture.
It’s not about what’s in your glass. It’s about the intention behind it.
References
- Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction — https://www.ccsa.ca/sites/default/files/2022-06/CCSA-Substance-Use-in-Canada-Infographic-2022-en.pdf
- CAMH — https://www.camh.ca/en/professionals/treating-conditions-and-disorders/substance-use-disorders
- La Presse via SAQ report summary — https://www.lapresse.ca/affaires/2023-05-04/ventes-d-alcool/la-saq-enregistre-un-recul-des-ventes-depuis-deux-ans.php
- World’s 50 Best Bars — https://www.theworlds50best.com/northamerica/en/list/1-50/atwater-cocktail-club.html
- MICHELIN Guide — https://guide.michelin.com/en/quebec-region/montreal/restaurant/foxy