More moderate volumes of alcohol, around one or two units, raises our body’s GABA activity, which is understood to be the reason alcohol is so widely enjoyed. GABA Labs is a pioneering and science-driven company that develops ingredients as patentable alternatives to alcohol. ‘Alcarelle’ is a synthetic GABAergic* ingredient that can be used to make adult drinks and works as an effective catalyst for conviviality and social interaction without some of the unpleasant aspects of ethanol. Sentia is also designed to replicate the sweet spot you get after your first couple of alcoholic drinks, that relaxed and de-stressed feeling that washes over you after your first glass of wine. It does this by stimulating GABA activity in the brain. Does SENTIA work? Going forward, the range of flavours or effects could expand, or it could enter the world of mixology, especially if a clear-liquid version is made available. All are in the works at GABA Labs.

Sentia is the first drink to replicate the pro-social effects of alcohol, by targeting the brain system that mediates them,’ David tells Metro.co.uk. Sentia is an alcohol-free Spirit, comprising GABA Labs ABI; a proprietary blend of Active Botanical Ingredients, composed of Indian Ayurvedic, Western and Traditional Chinese botanicals. But Sentia does much more than mimic the taste and texture of an alcoholic spirit: it actually gets you tipsy. The magic recipe has been developed from decades of scientific research into the way that alcohol affects the brain. And while there’s no evidence of impairment with Sentia, the team won’t recommend it for designated drivers as people might be affected by it differently. GABA Labs has also completed its first botanical ingredient known as ‘ABI’. The ingredient has been licensed to The Social Drinks Company which is now launching the first of a new range of botanical spirits called Sentia. ‘ABI’ is a botanical ingredient which can be formulated into a liquid product to provide an agreeable drinking experience that mimics (to a lesser degree than Alcarelle) the sociability and conviviality effects of alcohol-based drinks. ( This innovation is evaluated in the Channel4 ‘Food Unwrapped’ programme that will be shown at 8pm UK time on the 11th January).of adults drink alcohol,’ says Nutt. ‘Why? Because they enjoy the sensation. For most people, many of their pleasant social interactions have occurred alongside alcohol. I have my favourite zero-alcohol wines, spirits and beers, all of which offer a grown-up taste and satisfy the need for a drink that suits me. Some people, however, want more — they’re looking for the buzz that alcohol brings but without the alcohol. As far as I know, that’s not been possible, until now.

To me, the bottle resembles a potion bottle of the kind you’d perhaps see on the shelves at Hogwarts. I don’t know if that’s deliberate or if it’s just in my head, but the bottle fits with the idea of a ‘magical’ new kind of drink. This is especially so if you buy the 20cl version.

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This research has branched into two directions. The long-term project is the invention of a synthesised, alcohol-alternative molecule. Then there’s Sentia: the herbal alternative, which took the past two years to create.