GABA Labs is revolutionising
adult social drinking
Alcohol is the most widely used psychoactive substance on the planet. Why? Because it helps us socialise by enhancing activity in the brain’s GABA system. GABA is our main inhibitory neurotransmitter: part of the natural chemistry that helps regulate neural activity, relaxation and social ease. But alcohol does not stop there and its extensive health harms are widely understood.
GABA Labs develops functional ingredient platforms designed to engage the same brain chemistry as alcohol, without alcohol.
“Our goal is to develop new ways to deliver the social experience people value in alcohol, working through the same GABA receptor system as alcohol, but without alcohol; a genuine alcohol alternative, not a compromise.
Professor David Nutt,
Co-founder & Chief Scientific Officer
The GABA Labs mission:
delivering real choice for adult social drinkers
Alcohol has played an important role in human social life for thousands of years. There is a reason people drink it. It lowers social barriers. It helps people relax and makes social connection easier. But as consumption increases, it affects multiple other neurotransmitter systems and tissues throughout the body. Alcohol’s health harms are well established. So why should consumers accept a choice between alcohol and drinks that simply remove it?
“Consumers are already changing how they drink. The opportunity now is to meet them where they are by offering meaningful choices”
David Orren,
Co-founder & Chief Executive
From neuroscience to functional ingredient platforms
GABA Labs develops functional ingredients for the drinks industry. Our R&D platform brings together neuroscience, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacognosy, extraction science, analytical chemistry, receptor testing, EEG research, ADME testing and regulatory development. We identify promising chemistry, understand how it works, improve how it is delivered, test its efficacy and develop it into scalable ingredient technologies.
Sentia: proof of concept
Sentia is a consumer drinks brand using ingredient technology licensed from GABA Labs.
Looking for one of the best alcohol alternatives available today?
Sentia is a range of award-winning GABA-enhancing functional drinks developed using a GABA Labs’ neurobotanical ingredient platform. Sentia is already available today in the UK, US and EU, giving adult social drinkers a genuine alternative built on the same receptor science described above.
Visit Sentia →
Ready to bring a functional alcohol alternative to your portfolio?
Whether you are a global drinks business, an emerging beverage company or an ingredients partner exploring the next generation of functional social drinks, we would like to talk.
Tell us what you think
The future of social drinking will be shaped by consumers, venues, drinks companies, researchers and regulators.
The science behind the effect
GABA Labs’ work is grounded in neuropsychopharmacology, laboratory research and peer-reviewed science. Explore the GABA system, our research programme and the evidence behind functional alternatives to alcohol.
Explore the Science →