Can you swap your usual pint for an alcohol-free one? Seven days. Seven beers. One honest answer.
Here's the thing about alcohol-free beer. Most people think they hate it. They tried one dodgy Becks Blue in 2014 and wrote off the whole category. Fair enough - it was pretty grim back then.
But the AF beer scene in the UK has completely changed. There are genuinely good ones now. Not "good for alcohol-free" good. Actually good.
This challenge is simple. Seven days, seven different AF beers. Each day has a theme - a different situation where you'd normally reach for a real pint. By the end of the week, you'll know whether AF beer is for you or not. No judgement either way.
Tick off each day as you go. Your progress saves automatically.
The simplest test. Tonight, wherever you'd normally have a beer - sofa, garden, after work - grab an AF one instead. Don't overthink it. Just swap.
The point of Day 1 is just to break the seal. Most people put this off for weeks. You're doing it today.
This is where it gets real. Have an AF beer in a social situation - pub, dinner with mates, whatever you've got on. If nothing's in the diary, invite someone round.
The awkward bit isn't the taste. It's the conversation. "You're not drinking?" Just own it. "Doing a challenge" is all you need to say.
Forget what you think AF beer tastes like. Today you're exploring. Pick something you've never tried - a style you wouldn't normally go for. Stout? Wheat beer? Sour?
The AF beer category has got weird in the best way. There are AF stouts that taste like chocolate, AF IPAs with proper hop bite, even AF sours. Go exploring.
Day 4 is the hump day. The novelty's worn off. This is where most people quit challenges. Don't.
Tonight, pay attention to how you feel compared to a normal midweek. Sleep better? More energy? Less foggy? Or no difference? Be honest with yourself.
Here's where it gets interesting. Some AF beers aren't just "beer minus alcohol" - they actually add stuff. Adaptogens, nootropics, things that are supposed to help you relax or focus.
Sounds a bit woo-woo, I know. I was sceptical too. But there's one brand that's properly gone for it with functional ingredients, and I've been genuinely impressed.
This is the boss level. Friday night. The one night where your brain is basically hardwired to want a proper drink.
Don't fight it. Have your Friday night beer. Just make it an AF one. Same ritual, same relaxation, same "the week is done" feeling. You've earned it. The only thing missing is the hangover tomorrow.
Last day. Pick your favourite from the week and have it again. Or try something completely new. Your call.
The real question today isn't "can I drink AF beer?" - you've already proved that. It's "do I want to keep doing this?" There's no right answer. Some people go fully AF. Some do a few nights a week. Some go back to regular beer and that's fine too.
The point was to prove you could. And you did.
If IMPOSSIBREW was your favourite (it was mine), here's a referral link that gets you a tenner off. Their Triple Hopped IPA is genuinely the best AF beer I've tried.
I've been doing this for a few months now - mixing AF beers into my week. Not full teetotal, just drinking less. The one that stuck for me was IMPOSSIBREW's Triple Hopped IPA. The functional ingredients actually seem to do something - I sleep better on the nights I have it instead of a real beer. 10-pack is about 19 quid. That referral link saves you a tenner off your first order.