Knyota Drinks Non Alcoholic Bottle Shop Opens In Ottawa

Meet Benson

Benson Mutalemwa is the founder of Knyota Drinks, Ottawa’s first non alcoholic bottle shop located in the downtown core on Bank Street. He shares his thoughts on why it’s time for inclusivity in adult beverage options.

First, tell us a little about yourself!

My name is Benson Mutalemwa. I am a proud dad, husband, first generation Canadian, and the owner of a small business called Knyota Drinks. I like to travel, I will eat about anything, and I really enjoy playing football (“soccer”).

What has your relationship with alcohol been like prior to rethinking drinking?

I come from a big family by Canadian standards and an even bigger extended family. Growing up, family gatherings involved music, dancing, loud conversations, and a lot of eating and drinking. Anyone who knows me will tell you how much I enjoy such festive gatherings. The unfortunate thing is I came to associate them with alcohol.

What was the moment you decided to rethink drinking?

Alcohol is so prevalent in our society – it is completely normalized and almost always expected in most social gatherings. When you have the weight of that social expectation bearing down on you, you almost need a hero to save you.

I’m fairly disciplined and generally very good at setting boundaries, but I had a really hard time finding the right relationship with alcohol in certain settings. My least fine moments were always precipitated by overconsumption of alcohol, and the strange thing is the cycle of self-destructive behaviour went on for quite a while. The hero(es) in my being able to put an end to the cycle are my kids.

Has it been easy or difficult to rethink your relationship with alcohol, and what do you think contributed to that for you?

I don’t see some people as much as I would like, but it has been relatively easy in many other aspects. Boring drinks and underwhelming non-alcoholic options at some hospitality venues have been more of an issue than I expected.

What are some benefits you’ve experienced since cutting out alcohol?

I spend my weekends completely differently now. I have made some of my most cherished memories on weekend mornings.

What do you find triggers the urge to grab a drink, and what do you do to surf the urge?

Dinner parties, music festivals, social events, networking events, and such kinds of settings. I reach for an adult appropriate non-alcoholic option whenever I can or make the host endure my lecture about how times have changed, and they should reconsider what they offer. I’m never hostile or self-righteous because I believe inclusive beverage experiences should be achieved through open-minded discussions. A great discussion can be a nice party trick and wonderful distraction from the urge.

How has removing alcohol from your life contributed to your role as a Dad?

It has given me capacity for fatherhood that I would not have had otherwise. I’m not wasting time on alcohol induced arguments, nursing hangovers, stumbling into the house in the middle of the night, etc. Lowering the risk of chronic disease associated with alcohol also means improving my chances at more time to enjoy a high quality of life with my family.

What’s your top piece of advice for someone starting to rethink drinking?

Identify your why and spend a lot of time thinking about whether it is worthy. Don’t stop at a high-level identification of the reason. I mean really spend the time thinking about it, taking note of all the benefits you expect, and make sure you have the deepest understanding and appreciation for your why. Personally, I find it a lot easier to get over momentary urges when I weigh them against the full weight of my why.

What do you wish you’d known before you started your own journey?

I wish I knew it would not feel like a loss.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about rethinking drinking?

I would not self-identify as struggling with substance dependence, so my journey has not been about sobriety or overcoming addiction. I’m proud of my journey and the lifestyle change I have made, but I also feel like there should always be an asterisk next to my story to reserve the real recognition for those fighting a much bigger battle.

I hope the positive side of telling a story like mine and turning up the volume on inclusive beverage experiences is removing barriers for everyone including those fighting substance dependence.

And finally, speaking of inclusive beverages - your super-power is to help your customers find new alcohol-free drinks to try based on their individual tastes. If you were bringing AF drinks to a party, what would your crowd-pleasing pick(s) be?

I believe inclusive beverage experiences are about focusing on individual choices and providing drinks based on people’s preferences, so I tend to think, similar to drinks that contain alcohol, it’s nearly impossible to offer one drink that pleases everyone. However, if I had to choose and I was trying to provide options to complete strangers, I would tend to lean towards mixed drinks. I would pick a clear spirit that does not imitate alcohol to make sure it does not trigger anyone, and I would make a point to prepare the drinks with appropriate mixers, glassware, and garnish.

You can connect with Benson on Instagram @knyotadrinks or visit the website www.knyota.com. Knyota Drinks’ retail location is located in Ottawa, Ontario.