A popular wellness drink marketed as a safe alternative to alcohol is raising health alarms due to its kratom content and potential for addiction. The beverage, Feel Free Classic, produced by Botanic Tonics, contains kava and kratom, a tree leaf from Southeast Asia traditionally used for pain relief and stimulation. In the US, kratom is sold as an unregulated supplement, and its inclusion in Feel Free has led to reports of dependency among users.
Charles Bryan, a personal trainer in New York, turned to Feel Free after giving up alcohol, seeking a mood boost at social events. Initially using it sparingly, he soon escalated to consuming three bottles daily. When he tried to stop, he experienced withdrawal symptoms including headaches, lethargy, and flu-like effects. “That’s when I knew something was really up,” he said.
Jasmine Adeoye, a 29-year-old from Austin, shared her struggle with Feel Free addiction on TikTok. She had been drinking several bottles a day and found it difficult to quit. A subreddit called Quittingfeelfree has over 2,000 members sharing similar experiences. A class action lawsuit claims Botanic Tonics advertised the product as a safe, sober alternative without adequately disclosing kratom’s side effects.
Botanic Tonics has since changed its labelling and raised the minimum age for consumption to 21. A spokesperson noted that kratom is listed on the back ingredient panel but not on the front. Feel Free gained popularity during the rise of the “sober curious” movement and the functional beverage market, which saw sales increase 54% to $9.2bn between March 2020 and March 2024. Experts warn that consumers may mistakenly believe natural ingredients are inherently safe, overlooking the risks of dependency.
