I substituted alcohol with 'Psychedelic Water,' a kava seltzer that's gone viral on TikTok — and found it's the perfect drink for the sober curious

My friends were having a dinner party at their apartment. After a long day at work, I was tempted to join in.

Instead, I sat down on the couch and cracked open a shiny metallic can.

I asked my friend, "Are you tripping right now?"

I explained the story behind the drink to him. Despite the name, Psychedelic Water doesn't include any of the drugs that make you hallucinate.

Kava, a root that has been used by Pacific Islanders for thousands of years for its relaxing effects, is its main ingredient. The drink is formulated to relieve anxiety while also providing a boost of energy.

Kava supplements have been shown to have a small effect on reducing anxiety and have been linked to a risk of severe liver injury according to the National Institutes of Health. The main side effect I experienced was a sensation on my tongue and stomach.

Users have promoted the product as an alcohol substitute perfect for the "sober curious", a growing movement of people who abstain from alcohol for lifestyle reasons other than a history of addiction.

I found that drinking Psychedelic Water was a great way to relieve stress and social anxiety, and it tasted really good.

Non-alcoholic beverage sales surge as consumers reassess their relationship with alcohol 

Abby Wallace/Insider.

Non-alcoholic beverage sales increased to $331 million last year, according to a report by Allana Akhtar. One of the brands that took off on social media was Psychedelic Water.

Pankaj Gogia, CEO of Psychedelic Water, said in an interview with Insider that everyone wants to be healthier.

The desire to be productive the next day is one of the major factors behind the sober curious movement, according to the brand's head of marketing. I decided to go alcohol-free because I experience worse hangovers than the average person.

I found that most people were interested in the contents of the can, rather than asking why I wasn't drinking alcohol. The drink has pros and cons, Gogia told Insider.

Psychedelic Water

He said that some people wouldn't touch the stuff because of its name.

Gogia wants to use the product as a way to destigmatize the drug. While saying no to drinking but yes to drugs may seem counterintuitive, the CEO said the impact on the brain is different than alcohol, even though most people bucket all illegal drugs into the same harmful category.

He told Insider that he hopes the new partnership with Urban Outfitters will help change the way people think.

Gogia said that they want people to understand what psychedelics are and what the benefits are.