Booze is falling off. The data proves it. People are tired of hangovers, fake connection, and feeling like trash the next day. They want clarity, community, and calm. Kava delivers — and finally, the government admits it. From FDA greenlights to threats from synthetics, this edition breaks down what’s real, what’s fake, and what’s next. Let’s go.

Booze is losing its shine — what used to feel fun now just weighs you down. In 2025, only about half of adults - 54% - say they drink, down from 62% a couple years back, the lowest Gallup has seen in 90 years. Women and younger folks are leading the change, choosing health over hangovers. Almost half (49%!) plan to drink even less this year, up 44% from 2023, according to NCSolutions. Six out of ten folks say they've lost interest since their first drink, with Gen Z coming in at 63%. Around the world, drinking is dropping; right here, people are switching to things that feel better without the cost to body or bank. In Florida’s coziest corners, we've seen it happen: friends picking that soft buzz over the hard crash, and kava steps right in as rules start to catch up.

The tide's turning… Kava, long overlooked, is now stamped as a real-deal food by the feds. In December 2025, the FDA laid it out plain: when you mix kava with water to make tea, it's a conventional food under federal law, drawing from its deep roots in Pacific cultures and solid safety data from waaay back before 1958. For those of us tuned into the scene, it's a breath of fresh air. Florida kava bars get smoother shipping across lines, fewer regulatory headaches; drinkers get that extra peace knowing it's backed by science and history. States like Hawaii and Michigan are already calling it GRAS — generally recognized as safe — and Florida's poised to join. It's a nod to the cultural keepers, the spots brewing it right, and everyone swapping booze for that genuine, all natural ease. But heads up! Synthetics are still lurking, ready to stir trouble…

Trouble hides in plain sight — 7-OH, a twisted version from kratom, is hurting the public’s trust. Florida banned it quick in August 2025, calling it super risky like strong drugs—13 times tougher than morphine. Now the feds are pushing hard since July to ban it nationwide, pointing out the dangers with no real benefits. They're going after the made-in-a-lab junk in tablets and drinks, not the natural leaves or our true kava — but it could honestly drag everything down, if we’re not careful. In a number of spaces, we've watched owners switch to the real deal, and business keeps growing. Here's the key: we absolutely must push back and fight against these concentrates tooth and nail. They're not helpful; they're a shortcut that risks lives, fuels addiction whispers, and paints our community with a brush we don't deserve. We've seen outright bans in Louisiana and fights in California — if we don't speak up, and if we don't rally, the feds could overreach. Support the bars and growers doing it clean, they're the ones keeping the spirit alive.

Every time you choose kava, you're choosing to regulate yourself — your way. Not with pills. Not with screens. But with a plant that speaks the language of your nervous system. Kavain and dihydrokavain help calm your stress signals through GABA-A modulation, bringing your physiology down from red alert. Methysticin and dihydromethysticin lift your mood by keeping serotonin and norepinephrine around longer — preserving your emotional resilience. Yangonin connects with your endocannabinoid system, helping your body soften and recover. Desmethoxyyangonin gently steadies dopamine so you can move with motivation, not mania. It's thrilling to chase that daily kava glow we've always cherished — the muscles melting, the mind clearing — but now, with fresh science decoding the exact dance of kavalactones on our brain chemistry, we truly grasp the why and how behind the magic. It’s relaxation and reclamation all at once.

If you own a kava bar (or you’re a loyal regular at one), we invite you to shine a spotlight on your space. Tell us what makes it special, and we might feature it in an upcoming issue! On the flip side, if you’ve seen something happening in the industry that feels wrong or needs to be brought into the light, you can use our anonymous tip form to let us know. We take every report seriously. Transparency and truth make this culture stronger. And in exciting news… We’re now officially on Facebook and growing every single day! Join us there, connect with others, and help us spread the shell. 🥥🌺