The evening wind-down ritual is changing. A growing group of wellness consumers are replacing wine and cocktails with kratom seltzers, CBD+CBN gummies and tinctures, and low-dose hemp-derived THC beverages. Our doyens have picked six products that cover both halves of the ritual: the slow sip after dinner, and the gentle support for sleep. None of them leave you feeling like you traded a glass of wine for a chore.
There is a specific moment most people who used to drink can describe in detail. It happens around 7:30 or 8 in the evening. Dinner is done, the workday is fully behind you, and the question hovers: What am I doing with the next two hours, and what am I going to pour while I do it?
For decades the default answer was wine. Sometimes a beer. Sometimes a cocktail, if you were in the mood. The pour was less about the drink and more about marking a transition from doing to winding down. The problem is that alcohol is bad at the second half of that transition. It helps you fall asleep faster, then disrupts the sleep that follows. It marks the boundary, then erodes the rest.
A growing number of wellness consumers have started splitting that single drink into two separate functions: a sippable beverage for the wind-down ritual itself, and a targeted plant-based product for actual sleep support. The combination ends up doing better at both jobs than the wine ever did. Below, our doyens' six picks for each half of the ritual.
| ✓The evening wind-down has two functions. Treat them separately: a slow sip, then sleep support. |
| ✓For the sip, red vein kratom seltzers, kratom-kava tonics, and low-dose hemp THC beverages are the closest replacements for the wine moment. |
| ✓For sleep, CBD plus CBN gummies, tinctures, and drink infusers are the most popular formats among CBDK shoppers. |
| ✓Start low, give it 30 to 60 minutes, and pay attention to what actually changes for you the next morning. |
| ✓Our doyens can help you build a routine at any of our 55+ locations. |
Why the Evening Ritual Is Shifting
This is not really about giving up alcohol. It is about giving up a specific bargain: the one where you trade evening relief for next-morning quality. People in their 30s, 40s, and 50s are starting to notice that bargain more often than they used to. Search trends for non-alcoholic beverages have been climbing year over year. Dry January is now bigger than ever, and "damp" or "sober-curious" lifestyles have moved from niche to mainstream.
The product side has caught up. Five years ago, the alternative to wine at 8pm was sparkling water with a slice of citrus. Now it is a fully developed category. Kratom seltzers in flavors that match the moment. CBD tinctures that work in 20 minutes. CBN gummies designed specifically for staying asleep. Hemp-derived THC drinks at microdose levels. The selection has caught up with the demand.
The Slow Sip: Replacing the Wine Hour
These three picks are about the ritual itself. The pour, the glass or can in your hand, the deliberate transition from work mode to home mode. Each one is alcohol-free, comes in a familiar drink format, and supports the wind-down without the next-morning compromise.
If you are starting from a place where wine is your usual at 8pm, our doyens recommend trying the No. 537 first. The dark cherry flavor profile reads as "evening drink" in a way that a bright citrus seltzer does not. Pour half the can into a wine glass, take it slow, see how the next hour feels.
The Drift Off: Sleep Support, On Purpose
This is the second half of the ritual: the part that wine never did well. CBN is a minor cannabinoid that has become the most-requested ingredient at our stores for evening use. Paired with CBD, and often a small amount of melatonin or THC, it is the basis for almost every modern sleep product on our shelves.
For the first night you try this, the gummy is the most forgiving option. Easy to measure, no taste tradeoff, and the effects land predictably in the 45 to 60 minute window. Once you have a baseline, the tincture lets you adjust serving size more precisely, and the drink infuser turns the sleep-prep moment into a beverage you actually look forward to.
How to Build the Ritual
A practical framework for the first two weeks, from our doyens:
- Pick one sip, pick one sleep product. Resist the urge to try everything at once. You want to know what is actually working for you.
- Anchor it to a specific time. Pour the sip when you would have poured the wine. Take the sleep product 30 to 60 minutes before lights out. Consistency matters more than getting the perfect product on day one.
- Pay attention to mornings, not evenings. The wine ritual felt fine at 8pm. The cost showed up at 6am. Same logic applies in reverse here. The right plant-based routine should feel modest at night and meaningfully better the next morning.
- Two weeks before judging. Sleep architecture takes time to recover. If you have been drinking nightly for years, the first three or four nights might feel rough as your body recalibrates. Most of our customers report the real shift around night ten.
- Keep a glass on the counter. The ritual is real. Use a wine glass for the kratom seltzer if that is what makes the transition feel like a transition. The vessel matters.
Who This Tends to Work For
Based on what our doyens hear at the counter, the wellness consumers most likely to benefit from this approach are:
- Daily wine drinkers who have noticed their sleep quality declining. The combination of a kratom seltzer and a CBN gummy tends to be the most direct swap, and the morning difference is the most noticeable.
- Sober-curious consumers who want a ritual that does not feel like deprivation. The drink-in-a-glass aspect is the key. Sparkling water is not a substitute. A red vein kratom seltzer in a wine glass is closer.
- Anyone with inconsistent sleep who has been reaching for melatonin and not quite getting there. CBD plus CBN in combination tends to perform better than melatonin alone for staying asleep through the night.
- Travel-heavy professionals who want a sleep routine that does not depend on a hotel minibar. The tincture and gummy formats both pack easily.
- People in their 40s and 50s who are noticing that the same evening drinks are landing differently than they used to. The metabolic shift is real, and the plant-based options tend to feel cleaner.
Browse our full selection of evening-friendly products online, or stop into one of our 55+ locations. Our doyens will help you build a starter pair based on your typical evening and what you are trying to improve.
Shop Sleep Products Find a StoreFrequently Asked Questions
A red vein kratom seltzer, a kratom and kava tonic, or a low-dose hemp-derived THC beverage are the closest experiential matches for an evening glass of wine. They come in a familiar can or bottle format, sip on the same time scale, and support a wind-down ritual without the next-morning compromise. The No. 537 Black Cherry Kratom Seltzer is a common starter pick because the dark cherry flavor reads as an evening pour.
CBN is a minor cannabinoid found in the hemp plant, alongside CBD. While CBD is broadly used for general wellness and stress, CBN is most often associated with sleep and rest. Many sleep-focused products combine CBD and CBN together (often in a 2-to-1 CBD-to-CBN ratio) because the two cannabinoids appear to complement each other for the wind-down use case. Effects vary by person.
Yes, in important ways. A red vein kratom seltzer tends to feel calming and physically relaxing without the sedation arc that alcohol produces. You can still read, hold a conversation, and remember the evening. Most people describe the difference as "wound down without being slowed down." It takes a few sessions to recalibrate what "the evening drink" feels like.
Many of our customers do, and the two products serve different functions: the kratom drink at 7 or 8pm, the CBN gummy 30 to 60 minutes before bed. That said, start with one before adding the other so you know how each affects you individually. Always check with a healthcare provider if you take prescription medications.
Most customers who switch from nightly alcohol to a plant-based wind-down report a meaningful morning difference within the first week. Full sleep architecture recovery takes longer, typically two to four weeks. Individual results vary depending on baseline sleep habits, stress, and other factors.
CBD and CBN are generally well-tolerated, and many of our customers use them as part of a nightly routine. Long-term use is still being studied. Like any wellness product, the right approach is to start at a lower serving, observe how your body responds, and consult with a healthcare provider if you have specific concerns or take prescription medications.
Like caffeine and sugar, kratom may be habit-forming, which is why we recommend using it responsibly and only as directed. CBD and CBN have a different profile and are not generally associated with dependence, but many wellness practitioners recommend periodic breaks from any nightly sleep aid to maintain its effectiveness. Pair the products with consistent sleep hygiene practices for the best long-term results.
Like caffeine and sugar, kratom may be habit-forming. Use kratom responsibly and only as directed. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Do not use if you are pregnant or nursing. Do not combine or mix with alcohol. Use caution with operating machinery. Discontinue use if you experience any negative effects. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Must be 21+.
