Researcher discusses role of alcohol-free options

A recent article by Breaman Keasey published in the Lawrence Journal-World focused on alternatives to alcohol available in Lawrence. Keasey reached out to associate professor Michael Amlung of the Cofrin Logan Center, who commented on the trend of increasing availability of alcohol alternatives.

In the interview, Amlung noted that he was encouraged by how more companies are producing nonalcoholic options.

The article noted that the rise in nonalcoholic options "has also led to more people considering their own relationship with alcohol, especially considering the suggestion earlier this month from the former surgeon general that alcoholic beverages should carry a warning about the cancer risks of drinking alcohol. Additionally, trends like "Dry January” — a plan to go the month of January without drinking alcohol — have become more common and culturally accepted."

In the article, Amlung said that clinically, the idea of Dry January is called “sobriety sampling,” where people take a break from drugs or alcohol and see how the body responds. It can help people see how they navigate that short period of time and the differences of living without alcohol, even if complete sobriety is not the goal, Amlung said. Having nonalcoholic options can potentially serve as a harm reduction tool, where someone could go for that option instead of alcohol, lowering the total amount of alcohol that they consumed.

The full article is available to subcribers of the Lawrence Journal-World.