10 eco-friendly alcohol brands to know, and what makes them sustainable

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Gray Whale Gin

• Alcohol production can be pretty taxing on old mother earth. Carbon dioxide output, nitrate and phosphate runoff, water over-usage; the list goes on.
• It can also be extremely tough on workers involved in the production process — just read "Grapes of Wrath," or tour a vineyard town — and you'll quickly realize that employee health and safety violations are still very much alive in the 21st century.
• Here are a few of our favorite alcohol brands working to move the ball forward for the environment and for industry workers.

This content is intended for readers 21+. Please drink responsibly. If you or anyone you know is dealing with alcohol abuse, get help. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) provides a free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral and information service.

When it comes to shopping for booze, we're generally bound by two factors: our taste buds and our wallets.

A good liquor store will probably carry just enough choices to leave you in a state of prolonged deliberation. But here's another, newer consideration: with food brands bending over backward to attract the growing number of eco-conscious consumers looking to put their money where their mouth is, why shouldn't the alcohol industry do the same?

That's why we rounded up our favorite booze brands that try to tread a little more lightly on our planet in one way or another. Some are more ecologically-minded, helping fund environmental research, reforest land, clean the oceans, protect endangered species, or minimize carbon dioxide output. Others look to social causes, such as organizing fair trade and labor unions for industry workers.

Whichever brand you choose to support, sustainably or socially-minded, just remember, as always, to drink responsibly.