The Important Thing to Remember When Having a Beer with the Boys

We’ve all been there – getting that call or finally managing to lasso your ambling friends together for a social braai or meet-up at the bar. Between the excitement and enthusiasm to catch-up, there’s a lot to be happy for when hanging out with your buddies on the weekend, but there’s always an important thing to keep in mind. Why exactly are you excited?

While most South Africans enjoy a drink or two on the weekend – don’t worry, we get: the light euphoria of sipping an ice-cold beer is hard to replicate – it really is the social aspect that gets us thankful to be seeing our friends. Catching up on the old days, speculating on our prospects in the Rugby World Cup, or having a laugh at one of your mate’s bad haircuts, it’s always good to remember that the best memories come from the interactions with one another, and not necessarily the drinks surrounding the table.

With that in mind, it’s good to remember these times. While most of us can have a few drinks and be completely compos mentis, it’s always good to remember to drink responsibly in order to enhance those times with your mates. If you do want to lean on that classic old favourite lager of yours, have a good ole rum ‘n Coke, or try your luck with that bizarre new salt-water craft beer (that’s name you can barely pronounce), remember to keep safe and never drink and drive. But, if you’re not drinking, remember that you can still ‘drink’, and have an amazing time with your compatriots. If you’re a drinker, you probably know your poison; but for many of us, we know as much about non-alcoholic drinks as we do astrobiology; so we’re going to give you a heads-up on some non-alcoholic beers worth trying this season:

Heineken 0.0%

Heineken is going to throw their hat into the zero-alcohol ring as well, and they’ve launched their own non-alcoholic offering called Heineken 0.0, which has half the calories of a standard Heineken beer, but also approximately half the calories of your average soft drink – which means that if people are heading to a party, the healthier options on the menu are likely to be the zero-alcohol beers.

Innis & None

Scottish craft brewer Innis & Gunn has brewed the first detoxing beer of its kind. Say hello to alcohol-free, Innis & None, which is a 0.0% ABV pale ale, containing Vitamin C and ginseng, ingredients known to boost the immune system and improve energy levels. It also includes guarana, which is known to aid weight loss and enhance athletic performance – all of which can help lead to a healthier mind and body.

Castle Free

Despite the name, SAB’s latest addition to their beer range isn’t free, but is alcohol-free. Castle Free is SAB and AB InBev’s answer to Europe’s popular alcohol-free beers, and brings that classic Castle Lager taste that South Africans have fallen in love with over the years in a responsible and refreshing package.

Do you have any responsible drinking tips or tricks? Let us know in the comments section below, or Tweet us @MenStuffZA and chat to us on the MenStuff Facebook page.