Dry for January? These London merchants want to cater to those looking to imbibe less

Amber Wisniewki isn't a big drinker, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, she found that when her stress levels soared, she reached for a glass of wine more often than she liked. 

"I love to sit and have a drink, but I didn't want the alcohol anymore," she said. "I just didn't really like the way I felt."

Millions of Canadians found themselves doing the same thing, thanks to a combination of increased stress and a lack of routine and structure.

Unlike most of us, however, Wisniewski reimagined her relationship with alcohol in a way that also helps others. She founded a business called Dry Variety, a store she likens to a non-alcoholic version of the LCBO — where teetotalers can find a wide array of wine, beer and spirits without any booze. 

Dry January and the so-called "sober curious" movement have been gaining steam for years, but it seems the timing has never been better for businesses looking to give people non-alcoholic options.

Recently Health Canada drastically reshaped its low-risk guidelines for alcohol consumption, warning the nation that no amount of alcohol is safe and that anyone looking to avoid the risk of a premature death should reduce their alcoholic intake to two drinks a week or less. 

For Wisniewski, it means business is taking off, and she plans to expand, hoping to get her products into restaurants or sell them at pop-ups to reach more people looking to enjoy a glass of wine or a sophisticated cocktail without the buzz. 

"I think there's more and more people who are wanting different alternatives. They might not necessarily want alcohol, so it's just nice to have a choice." 

The only hurdle for Wisniewski is supply. Most of her products aren't made in Canada, so it can be a challenge to get some of her products due to freight and import issues. 

As demand grows, however, more domestic manufacturers are starting to take an interest, including craft brewers looking to bolster their own line of products with non-alcoholic options. 

"We're working on non-alcoholic options," said Gavin Anderson, who founded Anderson Craft Ales in London with his father, Jim. 

The craft brewery has already introduced a line of lower-alcohol beer and is now tinkering with a recipe for a non-alcoholic brew that Anderson hopes will even tickle the palette of the pickiest beer drinkers. 

"I haven't had one I'm really happy with. Our goal is to make one we can have here in the tap room for people who like beer but want to reduce their intake." 

"We're testing out a couple of recipes now," he said. "It's a lot trickier to make a non-alcoholic beer that still tastes good. We're fine-tuning the process and hoping to have something come out in the next few months."