I have my favourite zero-alcohol wines, spirits and beers, all of which offer a grown-up taste and satisfy the need for a drink that suits me. Some people, however, want more — they’re looking for the buzz that alcohol brings but without the alcohol. As far as I know, that’s not been possible, until now. With roots in advanced molecular and neuroscience research, our company is committed to delivering breakthrough ingredients that will revolutionize the spirits market as we know it today. After five years of research and technological advances, we are excited to announce the evolution of Alcarelle to GABA Labs and the launch of a brand-new company, The Social Drinks Company (TSDC). We are ready to bring much needed innovation to the adult social drinking beverage industry”, says Orren. GABA Labs is a pioneering and science-driven company that develops ingredients as patentable alternatives to alcohol. ‘Alcarelle’ is a synthetic GABAergic* ingredient that can be used to make adult drinks and works as an effective catalyst for conviviality and social interaction without some of the unpleasant aspects of ethanol.

Alcohol Change UK reports a steady rise in non-drinkers between the ages of 16 and 24, and the non-profit predicted that 6.5 million people would take part in Dry January this month. That’s up from 3.9 million in 2020, and just 4,000 when the concept launched in 2013. However, for somebody just starting out on their alcohol-free journey, those people who want to give their bodies a rest during January after the excesses of Christmas, or somebody who really does miss that alcohol buzz, then Sentia and zero-alcohol functional spirits like it could be the way forward. GABA Labs is now raising investment to support the regulatory process for their synthetic ingredients, and to develop further their bioprospecting program into plant-based molecules using AI-based techniques. The discovery that GABA is at the heart of the ‘good’ alcohol experience and the development of the ‘botanical GABA blend’ is a game-changer for the industry,” he says. More moderate volumes of alcohol, around one or two units, raises our body’s GABA activity, which is understood to be the reason alcohol is so widely enjoyed.Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. It often indicates a user profile. of adults drink alcohol,’ says Nutt. ‘Why? Because they enjoy the sensation. For most people, many of their pleasant social interactions have occurred alongside alcohol. On the plus side, Sentia’s been found to improve sleep in some people and you don’t get the munchies – which means no more 3am kebabs. GABA Labs was originally formed in May 2016, with a mission to develop new compounds that are designed to mimic the pleasurable effects of alcohol on the GABA* system, without the use of alcohol. All we’re trying to do is give them something that will do what they want, but with very, very reduced risks of harm.’

GABAergic In molecular biology and physiology, something is GABAergic if it pertains to the neurotransmitter GABA But my professor said, what’s the point of that? Isn’t the alcohol still going to be killing your liver? And won’t people just drink more? It started in 1980 when I was doing my PhD. I discovered an antidote to alcohol and thought, this is amazing – you could take it at the end of a night out, get sober and find your way home. It’s safe to say there’s a market for all this. In 2020, 11 new non-alcoholic spirit brands launched in the UK market, making a grand total of 42. So to raise that money and develop the concept, we started looking for botanical ingredients that would work in a similar way to GABA. We identified four plants that in combination, and with uptake enhancers, produced this effect.A drink that hits all the right notes, creating the harmonies that enrich how we socialise. Feel good about yourself... about tonight and about tomorrow. When you get down to it, taste is the most important factor in a drink – happily, Sentia hits the mark in that department. Hopefully it’ll raise enough money to fund the more expensive, chemistry part,’ says David. ‘We’re in the process of raising funds to take the molecules through safety testing, so they can become foodstuffs ingredients in a few years’ time, but that costs millions of pounds. Going forward, the range of flavours or effects could expand, or it could enter the world of mixology, especially if a clear-liquid version is made available. All are in the works at GABA Labs. Over the last 40 years or so we’ve been working to understand the GABA system in the brain. It turns out it’s a very sophisticated system with multiple parts, and alcohol stimulates tem all. We’re trying to stimulate the good effects of alcohol, without the bad.’