Zero-Proof Life

How spirit-free living can set you free.

By Beth Hutson

“I don’t think I wanna drink anymore,” I said to my friend.

“Oh babe, you don’t have a problem. You rarely even drink,” she said.

“I think I’m gonna stop drinking,” I said to my colleague.

“Please don’t; then you won’t be able to have bubbles with me anymore,” she said sadly.

“I’m never drinking again,” I said. But that time, I really meant it. I had a different mindset.

Previous to that, I entertained the idea of “breaking up” with alcohol but never did it. Drinking is a social norm and abstaining from it is not. It’s kind of like glorifying busy-ness. There’s some type of unspoken “achievement badge” for throwing back some drinks. But it’s not a good fit for everyone, and that’s perfectly fine.

Although fine wine has been part of a lot of great moments in my life, including a stint as a wine writer and getting engaged in Napa Valley, it just started losing its sparkle.

In all fairness, my bestie was right. I didn’t drink that much. I rarely kept alcohol at home, but I still didn’t feel at peace about it. See, alcohol was never the problem for me. I was a part-time social drinker who struggled with people-pleasing behaviors, and that’s why I drank. Peer pressure. Seems silly for an adult, right? But it still happens. Don’t get me wrong – I love the art of a cocktail, the craftsmanship and the flavors – I just didn’t love how it made me feel. It was more about giving myself permission to be me and share my authentic feelings, despite what others might think. It was about feeling empowered to set boundaries and to be aware of people-pleasing behaviors that weren’t healthy for me.

After one particular wine-infused client dinner and an early call time on set the next day, I decided that I was done with it.

Three years ago, I put it out there on social media: “I’m breaking up with alcohol.”

After turning 40 earlier that year, I finally felt confident in the woman I was becoming, quirks and all. I became clear on my own personal “brand standards” in life and realized that drinking didn’t align with them. For me, alcohol offered a false sense of security in social situations.

I found that I could socialize just fine without my security blanket. In fact, cutting out alcohol led me to healing, self-discovery, finding healthy new hobbies and a deeper creativity.

Shortly after removing alcohol from my life, the vision for The Elevated Elixir, a brand that celebrates a zero-proof lifestyle with recipes and videos, came to me. I knew I wanted to advocate for more zero-proof options and do it in a fun and visual way. It felt purposeful, like the culmination of my experience coming together in a meaningful way. My background — a publicist to chefs, a wine writer and a recipe