Drink - The low and no trend

Experts agree: a world of benefits and flavours come with reduced alcohol consumption. Yvonne Langen surveys the scene - and offers a refreshing recipe

- Yvonne Langen

IN JANUARY, THE CANADIAN CENTRE ON Substance Abuse and Addiction (CCSA) released Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health and set the beverage world abuzz. The new guidance is the culmination of a two-year Health Canada project and takes an abstinence-first approach to alcohol consumption, indicating that zero drinks per week is the safest option.

Two drinks per week is defined as a low-risk consumption level - a staggering decline from the 10 drinks per week for women and 15 for men in the previous CCSA guidance, released in 2011.

The new report and the science backing it is not without its critics. Are Canadians going to put down the pinot or pop another bottle? An Abacus Data survey of 1,500 Canadians in mid-January found that 16 per cent intend to drink less because of the new guidance.

Over the past few years, you may have seen more mocktails popping up on menus across the city. They can be found labelled "zero-proof" and "driving cocktails," or even "temperance cocktails."

At Atelier, they're called "placebos." For the 44-course tasting menu at the fine dining establishment on Rochester Street, guests have the option of pairing their meal with wine, cocktails, or placebos.