Yahoo Finance What to drink with good food, when you don't feel like consuming alcohol
Without the need to get up at the crack of dawn, shave and iron a shirt ahead of the daily commute, there is every chance that we could become a little too relaxed in our ways and slip into a few drinks more regularly and earlier in the day than we would normally.
Add to this lack of structure, the worry, frustration and pressure of lockdown, and a glass or two of wine might be exactly what we need to dull the pain. So are we, as a nation, turning to drink?
While alcohol sales catapulted by approximately 300% at the start of lockdown, a recent BrandTrack survey from CGA has discovered that while 17% of people who usually drink alcohol are indeed drinking more, some 37% are drinking less or have given up entirely.
Interestingly, pub fans and barflies are following these same trends, with 20% drinking more and a hefty 45% abstaining or cutting down.
Overall, it looks like while panic-buying alcohol seemed to peak at the same time that pasta and loo roll were being piled high, like loo roll and pasta, there is only so much you can get through even if you really try.
While 17% of us are hitting the bottle harder, and this will cause its own set of issues, notably for the beleaguered but valiant NHS and mental health carers, it is encouraging to see that, in general, we are being more abstemious while we are confined to our homes.
It appears that smokers are also stubbing out during this challenging period, too, so with less traffic clogging up the streets, internal and external pollution is also on the decline.
Our collective chance to exercise at first just once a day led to plagues of keen joggers and streams of cyclists cluttering up the streets.
We are, for the first time since the Olympics, thinking about both our bodies and our wellbeing. While there is no doubt that this is one of the most challenging and uncertain periods in living memory, there may be some good that comes out of it.
I started working on my Jukes Cordialities business several years ago when I noticed more business professionals were giving up alcohol during the week. As an experienced wine taster, I am fortunate to taste wine often but I actually don’t drink as often as one might think. My problem was what to choose to drink, particularly with good food, when I did not feel like drinking wine.
This was the start of my odyssey into creating a sophisticated, non-alcoholic, adult, low-calorie, delicious and dry series of drinks. I make, bottle, label and box my drinks in Battersea, so London was my first target market.
Having launched last December and gained listings in some of the most respected restaurants and clubs in town, it was clear to me and my team that as Covid-19 struck hard across the world and made its way towards the UK, our hospitality scene would be ravaged.
I have worked in restaurants for nearly three decades and many of my friends are inextricably linked to this dynamic lifeblood of our communities, but while some restaurants and bars have managed to convert themselves into takeaway businesses or pop-up-delis, most of them are facing an extremely tough future.
My own business went from a rather wonderful countdown and lift off, followed by a fabulous few weeks of press and plaudits to no trade clients whatsoever. While we cannot wait for the restaurant scene, which is the heart of our business, to rise again, we have rapidly pivoted into selling directly to consumers.
Jukes 1 is a ‘white’ style while Jukes 6 is a ‘red’ drink, and they are both designed to be diluted with still or sparkling water. With the similar complexity of aroma, flavour and length of elite white and red wine, these drinks are designed to keep you fit and healthy while spoiling your palate with luxurious flavours.
I am pleased to say that the word is getting out because out direct sales are growing steadily as the weeks pass.
It is not only gastronomically aware people who have found us. The maternity and new mum sector is enormously dynamic and communicative when it comes to new, healthy products and so is the sports and fitness world.
It seems that blending complex fruit, vegetables, herbs, spices and flowers hits a vital nerve in our customers’ minds but our magical organic apple cider ingredient, which brings it all together, certainly chimes with long-term wellbeing fans.
This month we launched another drink in our series, Jukes 8. Jukes 8 is a ‘rosé’, inspired by elite Provençal flavours, and sneak preview tastings of this drink have been extraordinarily successful. While we may not be able to fly down to Provence this summer we can certainly bring the heavenly perfumes and romantic flavours of this stunning region to you.
While, like the rest of the country, we are massively frustrated about the present, we are positive about the future. One unexpected by-product of this maddening lockdown and social distancing regime is the encouraging news that people are looking after themselves a lot more.
As a nation, we are coming to terms with the idea that our friends and family are focussing on getting fit and healthy and this is vital to all of our futures.
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