Any other new alternatives or similar things to alcohol out there? This alcarelle looks to be taking its time.
Nothing new, but I think all substances that hit the gaba receptors, as alcohol does, can have broadly similar effects, (mood uplift, lowered inhibitions, relaxation and anxiety reduction, increased sociability etc) although there are huge differences when you look more closely at each individual substance, and obviously individuals reactions to every substance vary extremely widely.
I'd say that Soma is probably the substance most similar to alcohol that I've tried. It can give you that very alcohol-like 'swimmy headed' feeling like you had when you first started drinking. I much prefer it to alcohol, but I don't generally derive a huge amount of enjoyment from alcohol. If I've not drank for some time then some novel type of alcohol does give me a sense of well being, but tolerance to that effect quickly wears off ime.
Soma also attaches to the barbiturate receptor as well as the gaba receptor, so it definitely needs treating with a lot of caution.
Then there's all the other Gaba drugs like GBL (I find it way more euphoric than alcohol and so much better all round), benzos, altogether more functional, depending on the dose, pregabalin (individuals reactions to this substance vary enormously), phenibut (which remains legal to buy in the UK). I've only dabbled a few times with phenibut, and whilst I enjoy it very much the day I'm taking and the afterglow the day after, I get a strong feeling of anhedonia afterwards which lasts me for 7-10 days, which makes it a bad deal, with the toll to pay for the initial buzz too high and long lasting for it to be very sensible imho. I definitely find it mood destabalising, and although the after effects are nowhere near as severe as after a stim binge for example, the effect lasts much, much, longer ime.
I've found that phenibut combines incredibly well with moderate amounts of alcohol, (like 1 beer per hour, and only 3 beers in total works absolutely great) and ime there's no need to drink more than that I'd say as the effects of moderate drinking are so massively enhanced by the phenibut that the combo is not far short of the GBL experience, but the after effects are likely to be much worse if you drink heavily.
Phenibut seems to be one of those substances that is ideal for combos, and for massively enhancing the positive effects of w/e you are combining it with.
If you're looking for something non "drug" or substance related there is valerian root, which is a decent relaxant. There will be loads more, but that's all that I can think of, off the top of my head.