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- Americans spent over $400m last year on what?!
Americans spent over $400m last year on what?!
Plus the French Paradox and Drew Barrymore
Welcome to Zero Proof, the weekly manifest making it easy to feel good about not drinking.
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As always, don’t borrow from tomorrow.
-Billy & Connor

Here’s what’s on today’s menu:
No Booze News 📈: The market for Hangover Cures is how big?
They’re one of us 🤝: Drew Barrymore on self care
Wait, but why? 🤔: Is a glass of red wine healthy?
Healthy Habit 🌱: Destress after work - in less than 5 minutes
Product Spotlight 🛒: Done Drinking? Drink Dun.
Events🪓: Forget Happy Hour, Get Happy Hurling
Mocktail Maestro 🎵: Smooth Grooves
No Booze News 📈:
Yes this is an industry that exists, the Hangover Cure market

Just so we’re all on the same page as we dig into the billion dollar market trying to solve one of humankinds oldest problems.
Now be honest with yourself, you’ve tried some weird stuff to get rid of a hangover…
We for sure have and have definitely been at a point where we would have paid a lot of money just to not be hungover.
Guess we’re not alone.
Last year people in the US spent about $400 million on Hangover Cure products. The entire world, over $2.3bn!.
Grandview sites the main drivers for growth being increased health consciousness among consumers.
And let’s be clear this market is for products that mask the after effects of drinking, not the damage caused the day (or days if you’re getting old like us) before.
A multi billion dollar global industry selling ‘health’ products that try to get you somewhat back to normal after you’ve willingly intoxicated yourself.
Are we the only ones getting dystopian Hunger Games vibes from these numbers or rather Wolf of Wall Street Jordan Belfort’s daily pill popping routine?!

We’re good on the endless concoctions of wonder pills and snake oils.
Just going to skip the drinks instead 🤷
Sources and further reading:
They’re one of us 🤝:
Drew Barrymore on being stuck in an awful cycle and stopping alcohol as a vote of self confidence

Drew has been in the spotlight since she was in diapers and someone you’ve almost certainly seen on the big screen.
With a big name and big personality she’s starred in movies, TV series, and music videos as actress and also director, and producer.
But she’s had her fair share of ups and downs along the way. Rehab, divorce, uncertainty, feeling trapped in awful cycle.
And while Drew’s story might seem distant and more relevant for the rich & famous, a lot her experience, particularly with alcohol, is overwhelmingly relatable.
While she experimented with drinking less over the years, it was easy to follow the drinking status quo in the good times and convenient to slide to alcohol for solace when things got tough. But she long convinced herself she could maintain the habit because of how “highly functioning” she was. In reality, she wasn’t always highly functioning and definitely not across all aspects of life - work, family, health, etc. | Barrymore didn’t step away from alcohol immediately. She wanted to make a conscious choice — one that was her own — and that came when she got a shot at “The Drew Barrymore Show” in 2019. “I think the opportunity at a show like this really hit me,” she said. “I was like, ‘I can’t handle this unless I’m in a really clear place.’” LA Times |
Talk about a tale as old as time. “You can drink as much as you want as long as you hit you’re numbers at work!” That narrative has been up in our heads countless times.
Glad to hear we’re not the only ones who’ve been there!
@zinniahealth Actress Drew Barrymore reflects on what it took for her to give up drinking alcohol, and how her life has changed for the better since she... See more
Sources and further reading:
Wait, but why? 🤔:
Why do people think red wine is ‘healthy’?
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with red wine everyday, it’s healthy even, good for your heart!
You’ve heard this all your life and, like us, have probably just took it as common knowledge and move on. But seriously, why is red wine tied to health?
Well, blame the French..
Since the 1980s, the term 'French Paradox' has been used to describe the low incidence of heart disease in France, despite a diet rich in fats.
This phenomenon was initially attributed to the French’s high consumption of red wine, which contains the antioxidant resveratrol, a compound thought to have benefits for heart health through its effect on blood vessels.
Ipso facto → Red Wine is good for heart and if you drink it your are healthy.
Umm, we’re gonna say that feels like a bit of a stretch. Let’s quickly break this down.
Studies show resveratrol effective daily dose starting around ±500 mg to provide benefits.
Red wines have a resveratrol content of 0.03-1.07 mg per glass
You would need to drink roughly 500 glasses of red wine a day to hit the recommended daily dose
Yea you’d die from alcohol poisoning before you got any of those ‘health’ benefits. But wait, there’s more!
Is antioxidant resveratrol unique to red wine? Nope, it can be taken as a supplement or found in grapes, berries, cocoa powder, peanuts etc. so you can get it without alcohol.
And finally, It’s also not totally proven whether resveratrol is even beneficial in humans, as it’s only been tested in rodents for select indications.

So here’s what we’re thinking happened..
A study that showed French people have lower rate of heart disease and people thought this was strange since the French have a traditional diet high in fats (cheese etc). Then someone joked that it must be because the French drink so much red wine and we thought sounds good let’s drink more it’s super healthy!
Sources and further reading:
Healthy Habit 🌱:
After work ritual - Journaling

Forget the glass of wine or the beer after work and instead, grab a pen! Here's a quick journaling routine to leave your work stress at the door and welcome a calmer, more centered you. The best part… it will take you less than 5 minutes.
But why would I do this? Funny you should ask. See some benefits below:
Reduced Stress: Journaling helps process emotions, clearing your mind and reducing stress levels.
Improved Mood: Gratitude and focusing on joy boosts your mood and overall well-being.
Enhanced Self-Awareness: Reflection helps you understand your needs and triggers, leading to better self-care.
Increased Productivity: A clearer mind and positive outlook help you tackle tasks more effectively.
Better Sleep: Letting go of stress and negativity promotes deeper, more restful sleep.
The exercise:
Step 1: Breathe. (30 seconds)
Close your eyes and take 5 deep breaths, focusing on the rise and fall of your chest. This simple act helps ground you and shift your mindset from work to personal time.
Step 2: Express Gratitude. (1 minute)
Write down 3 things you're grateful for today, big or small. This could be a delicious lunch, a kind word from a colleague, or even the fact that you have a roof over your head. Gratitude is a powerful mood booster!
Step 3: Reflect & Release. (1 minute)
Choose one challenging moment from your day and write briefly about it. Then, write "I release this now" and draw a line under it. This simple act of acknowledgment and release can help you let go of negativity and move on.
Step 4: Choose Joy. (1 minute)
Think of something that makes you happy (a hobby, a loved one, a future goal). Write down one action you can take tomorrow to bring more of that joy into your life. This helps shift your focus towards positive anticipation.
We hope this can be another tool you throw in your arsenal as you look for other ways to destress in your life!
Proofer Products 🛒:
Done Drinking? Drink Dun.

Ever face the conundrum that you want to get that same flavor of your favorite cocktail, but you also don’t want all the bad stuff that comes with it?
Then, drink Dun.
Dun came as a recommendation from a fellow Proofer hailing all the way from Copenhagen, Denmark. She is a huge fan of Dun because... spicy margs. As a big spicy margarita fan, she has found it extremely difficult to find mocktails that are easy to drink outside of a fancy cocktail bar setting. Plus it tastes great and isn’t a super sugary soda. Literally checks all of the boxes!
Dun is a brand that has a lot of similarities to what we stand for here at Zero Proof. However, we thought that the fact they are out to change social norms and make not drinking 'cool' would resonate most with this community. To do this, Dun developed a drink that 'actually taste like a cocktail,' and they are proud of the fact that they can still 'bring the fun.'
New to the Mocktail life? Dun is a great place to start!
Suggest a product to be featured on Zero Proof!Let us know about a product you think is perfect for Proofers and we'll give you a shoutout next post |
Event Spotlight 🪓:
Forget Happy Hour, Get Happy Hurling:

Forget the awkward networking at happy hour – instead, you'll be bonding over the satisfying thunk of axe meeting wood and the hilarious (and slightly terrifying) competitive spirit that erupts when coworker Karen unleashes her inner lumberjack.
Why are we recommending this?
Think of it as stress relief meets group therapy, with a dash of "whoops, did I just almost hit Steve?" thrown in for good measure. It's a workout that engages muscles you didn't even know existed, a team-building exercise that'll have you high-fiving (or nervously laughing) even if your axe-throwing skills are more "flailing windmill" than "Viking warrior." So grab your friends, ditch the Chardonnay, and get ready to unleash your inner barbarian (minus the questionable hygiene).
Axe-Throwing Night promises an evening of laughter, friendly competition, and the sweet satisfaction of channeling your inner badass.
Check out some of the most popular Axe Throwing chains across the country below and book yourself a night!
Bad Axe Throwing: Over 25 locations across the US and Canada, offering diverse experiences from leagues to private events.
Bury the Hatchet: Over 15 locations across the US, known for their urban axe throwing experience and lively atmosphere.
Urban Axes: Locations across the US, offering leagues, tournaments, and private events with a focus on modern design and technology.
Got Wood Axe Throwing Co.: Locations across the US, popular for their fun and welcoming environment with a focus on community events.
Craft Axe Throwing: Locations across the US, known for their spacious facilities and diverse throwing options.
Suggest an event to be featured on Zero Proof!Let us know about an event you think is perfect for Proofers and we'll give you a shoutout next post |
Mocktail Maestro 🎵:
Smooth Groves: Chill EDM
👇Click on the playlist below for this week’s jams 👇
What did you think of today's edition? |
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