6 Industry Insiders Share their Tips for Responsible Day Drinking
We kicked off the year with our Responsible Day Drinking Manifesto. Today we hear from industry voices on the topic. We’ve reached out to a winemaker, a blender, a brewer, a bartender, a distiller, and a mead maker for their perspectives. Learn how our panel defines Responsible Day Drinking, their favorite ways to enjoy it and their top tips.
What Is Responsible Day Drinking?
H Ehrmann, bartender, proprietor of Elixir, and chief mixology officer for Fresh Victor, fresh juice-based mixers.
What does “Responsible day drinking” mean to you?
Enjoying alcohol over an extended period of time, without getting too buzzed. Having spent a few years in Madrid, it was a lot of vermouth and sherry while snacking on tapas. These days, I still love to do that and turn people on to Spanish style, but I also make low ABV cocktails with my Fresh Victor mixers, accentuating more of the juice and fruit than the booze. Strongly flavored, but not overly alcoholic amaros and aperativos are great for that. You can mix them with the fruit flavors to provide the complexity you want and the bitterness that slows you down from drinking so fast.
What are a couple of your favorite day drinks?
2oz Fresh Victor Jalapeño & Lime
3oz Lillet Blanc
1oz soda wáter
Place the first two ingredients in a cocktail shaker full of ice, shake well and strain into a tall glass of fresh ice, top with soda and stir gently
2oz Fresh Victor Mexican Lime & Agave
1.5oz Averna
In a cocktail shaker full of ice, add all ingredients, shake well, and strain up in a short glass (no ice)
Juliane Schmitt, CEO and the 5th generation to lead her family winery, Schmitt Söhne
What does “Responsible day drinking” mean to you?
When you consume alcohol during the day, the sole purpose should be that you’re simply savoring what you’re drinking. In European culture, indulging in a drink during the day isn’t stigmatized, and the focus is to enjoy something delicious alongside food - in moderation of course. To me, responsible day drinking is having a glass of wine that pairs well with the food you’re eating, with the emphasis being that you love the way your meal has been elevated with that pairing.
How do you most enjoy drinking during the day?
Being from a winemaking family, I grew up with wine on the table at our midday meal. Here in the Mosel, we drink Riesling, which is naturally lighter in alcohol and refreshing, so it’s ideal for enjoying in the middle of the day. I will open a bottle of Riesling with lunch when I’m in the company of others, always paired with a mid-day meal or shared appetizers with friends.
My go-to is Schmitt Söhne QbA Riesling, which, at 9% ABV, is light, refreshing and fruity, and drinks well with pretty much everything. I’ll pour it with a snack of obatzter, which is a traditional German cheese dip that has a splash of Riesling in it, which we eat with pretzels or veggies. It’s the perfect daytime recipe and a great option for hosting friends on a Saturday afternoon – easy to make and a light appetizer option. This dip is the ideal amount of creamy and salty, complementing the sweetness and acidity of the Riesling in such a delicious way.
Neil Grosscup, CEO & Master Blender of Tanteo Tequila
What does Responsible day drinking mean to you?
Responsible day drinking is similar to responsible night drinking. Always be in control of your drinking, closely monitor how much you have had to drink, focus on quality over quantity, and know when it is time for you to stop.
How do you most enjoy drinking during the day?
I usually drink during the day when it is hot out - whether I am at the beach or watching a game. That said, refreshing and easy to drink is a must.
Paloma
One of my favorite daytime drinks is a Paloma, always made with Tanteo Tequila (I recommend either Tanteo Jalapeno or Tanteo Chipotle for mine).
1 1⁄2 oz. Tanteo Tequila
4 oz. Grapefruit Soda
Lime and grapefruit wedges
Add tequila and soda to to an ice-filled Collins glass. Stir to mix flavors and garnish with a lime wedge and a grapefruit wedge.
Mike Schnebeck, a founding team member and Director of Innovation for Fort Point Beer Company
What does “responsible day drinking” mean to you?
All drinking should be responsible, regardless of time of day. Responsibility to me means consideration of public safety and personal health and well-being. There's no right number of drinks or type of drink or time of day that makes drinking right or wrong. Don't put people's lives at risk, treat people with respect and be honest with yourself about the choices you're making. There's room for a lot of experiences as long as everyone is taken care of and considered. I think tropes like "day drinking" and "boozy brunch" actually hurt efforts to create a society where responsible alcohol consumption is normalized and accepted. Communities should be motivated to provide better public transit options and give bars and restaurants more freedom to expand things like service hours and outdoor seating. It's hard to make that argument when drinking anywhere outside of a bar at 11 pm becomes a spectacle or novelty.
How do you most enjoy drinking during the day?
I like to have an occasion and at least one other person involved. Taking the time to make something that you don't regularly drink like a spritz or a radler is a nice way to make things special. Our Yuzu KSA is a great alternative for fun, low-ABV afternoon.
Litty Matthews, co-counder and spirit maker, Greenbar Distillery
What does “responsible day drinking” mean to you?
Mindfully enjoying your beverage while truly appreciating and respecting the friends, family, and people you're with. You can't go wrong if you do that. And "responsible day drinking" means that you make it to the evening, which can best be achieved by drinking alcohol slowly and staying hydrated - it's a marathon, not a sprint.
How do you most enjoy drinking during the day?
I most enjoy having a drink with friends and family - and always with food. For me, the act of drinking alcohol shouldn't be separated from eating. It's in the purposeful serving of both that brings joy.
My Double Lemon Presse recipe is our go-to cocktail: a refreshing drink everyone loves, perfect for every season. It's made with real lemons and muddled mint and is best served with a colorful salad or bread and cheese.
Double Lemon Presse
2 oz Greenbar Lemon Vodka
1 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 oz simple syrup
1 handful fresh mint leaves
Combine all ingredients with ice and shake, shake, shake until your shaker tin goes frosty and the mint is broken up. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with extra fresh mint. Don’t forget to enjoy this cocktail with food!
Gordon Hull, founder and brewer, HeidruN Meadery
What does “responsible day drinking” mean to you?
"Responsible Day Drinking" is all about earning one's pleasures. Want to have a beer or two with your lunch? Get outdoors for some invigorating recreation before the partying begins.
How do you most enjoy drinking during the day?
Though as a general rule I've graduated from day drinking unless I want to go to bed before sundown, I can recommend pairing oysters and sparkling mead. The mead/oyster pairing concept is as old as the meadery -- 25 years! When the meadery was located up in Humboldt County it was not uncommon to put the two together. Humboldt Bay produces exquisite oysters.
Any of our lighter varietals pair well with oysters. Our managing director Michael Zilber prefers the more elegant Lehua Blossom or Marin County Wildflower; I suggest the slightly bolder flavors of Oregon Chicory Blossom or California Orange Blossom.
Our Panel’s Top 20 Tips for Responsible Day Drinking
Eat while you drink (snacking more than dining)
Avoid really salty food that makes you want to drink more
Stick to low abv drinks like wines, aperativos, amaros, beer and cider, and mix those with a flavorful mixer like Fresh Victor, tonics and other high quality sodas, or sparkling water
Hydrate along the way with water
Wear a hat in the sun, or stay under an umbrella or overhang
Make sure you’re amongst friends and avoid day drinking alone
Never drink when you’re in a bad mood (day or night!), as the purpose of enjoying a drink should not be to alter your mood, especially during the day
Remember your professional or social obligations throughout the rest of the day and be mindful of exactly what you’re drinking, how much of it, and who’s around you
Choose a drink that’s low in alcohol (light-bodied wines) and stay away from cocktails or wines that on the high-ABV side.
Take a car that someone else (sober) is driving. Day drinking is still drinking.
Opt for low-proof cocktails vs. shots or straight spirits
Most versions of Spritz can be a light and refreshing option for day drinking and have a low ABV compared to cocktails with higher spirits.
Have a plan
Don't make bad choices
Don't be a jerk.
Consider alternating between alcoholic and N/A cocktails, such as Greenbar's non-alcoholic RTDs
Don’t skip the food!
Have an activity planned while you are day drinking (playing a game, watching an event, etc)
Don’t mix day drinking with night drinking: it can be dangerous to keep going after day drinking.
Know your limit and plan for a low-key evening.