Just a decade or two ago, the main option for those who wanted a non-alcoholic drink at a co*cktail bar, wine bar, brewery, or restaurant would be club soda with lime, lemonade, regular soda, or plain ol’ water. Whether it’s due to religion, pregnancy, addiction reasons, or simply the fact that you don’t want to or don’t like to drink—or want to take a night or a month off—there’s no wrong reason to choose not to booze.
And you certainly won’t be alone in selecting a non-alcoholic drink these days. (You might also see these referred to as NA, zero-proof, spirit-free drinks, or mocktails.) Thanks to an increased interest in sober curiosity and mindful drinking, the average American is drinking 3.6 alcoholic drinks per week, down significantly from 4.5 per week in 2015, according to a July 2021 Gallup poll. That’s the lowest rate of drinks per week this yearly survey has found since 2001.
To fill the large gap in the market for high-quality, grown-up non-alcoholic drink options, dozens of large beverage companies are adding non-alcoholic wine, non-alcoholic beer, and non-alcoholic spirit products to their line-ups. Some brands are focusing solely on creating alcohol-free alternatives, meaning that the best non-alcoholic wines, beers, and spirits actually taste as complex and delicious as their boozy counterparts.
Check out our selections for the best non-alcoholic drinks you can buy, then read on for more about non-alcoholic beverages.
What to Look For in the Best Non-Alcoholic Drinks
The best non-alcoholic drinks have all of the flavor elements and layers you might be familiar with in alcoholic ones, just without the booze. Balance in a drink generally comes from dialing in the amount of acid, salinity (salt), sweetness, and water in the “recipe.” These factors play off each other, just like the seasonings and ingredients you include in your favorite dinner or dessert recipe.
It can be challenging to recreate the nuance and character without alcohol in the mix, since that’s what many adults are used to when they order or mix up a classic co*cktail recipe or sip on a glass of Champagne, for instance. But taking advantage of spicy, bitter, or sour notes can score similar results. As can distilling herbs to infuse in the recipe, much like spirit distillers do with gins.
Use Our Handy Chart to Plan Soft Drinks and Alcohol for a Party
The Best Non-Alcoholic Wines
The non-alcoholic wines still make up a very small part of the overall wine market, but a Fact.MR market research report predicts that the non-alcoholic wine will explode in the next decade. A handful of companies are now already dedicated to creating “dealcoholized” versions of red wines, white wines, rosé wines, and sparkling wines. Vacuums, osmosis, and other innovative techniques are employed as part of the process, which removes the alcohol but allows the beneficial nutritional elements, such as anthocyanins, to remain.
Some of the most popular non-alcoholic wine brands include:
By the way, if you’re interested in non-alcoholic drinks, our guide to the best cooking wine substitutes, according to our Test Kitchen might also come in handy.
The Best Non-Alcoholic Spirits
Crafted to mimic a classic liquor, liqueur, apéritif, or digéstif (such as whiskey, rum, gin, tequila, or Aperol), these non-alcoholic spirits are infused with botanical ingredients, juices, spices, and beyond. In addition to the classic non-alcoholic spirits, many of these companies also offer ready-to-drink co*cktail versions that are nearly identical—minus the alcohol—to their classic gin and tonic, Aperol spritz, margarita, old-fashioned, and daiquiri counterparts.
Some of the most popular non-alcoholic spirit brands include:
8 Stylish, Useful Bar Cart Ideas for Must-Have Tools and Ingredients
The Best Non-Alcoholic Beers
Back in the 1990s, O’Doul’s was among the only and often considered the best non-alcoholic beers around. That OG NA beer now has a lot more company—and a lot more demand—according to the latest industry data. Sales of non-alcoholic beers have skyrocketed 90% in the last 10 years, and with brands like Athletic Brewing gaining big-name investors like Momof*cku’s David Chang and NFL star JJ Watt, this rocket won’t be landing any time soon.
Many large breweries now offer NA options, including Lagunitas, Budweiser, and Heineken. These are among the most popular and widely available brands that focus specifically on non-alcoholic beer:
The Bottom Line About Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Due to an increase in demand and technological and recipe innovations, you now have dozens of amazing-tasting non-alcoholic drink options to choose from while out on the town or entertaining at home. Beyond all of the non-alcoholic drinks mentioned above, more “functional” drinks and non-traditional options are joining the party, including HOP WTR, Recess, Kin, and TÖST.
The non-alcoholic drink wave is one food trend we don’t see slowing down anytime soon—and we’re grateful for that. Cheers to enjoying a flavorful drink with no hangover or regrets the next day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there really no alcohol in these non-alcoholic drinks?
Usually, yes, that's the case. However, if you’re trying to stay away from alcohol completely, always check the label. A drink containing less than 0.5% alcohol per volume could be considered as “non-alcoholic” by many commercial companies. This may sound like it’s close to none, but it can add up by the end
of the night. Be sure to read the label closely to ensure you’re getting a non-alcoholic or “zero-alcohol” drink, if that’s important for youWhat do non-alcoholic drinks have in them?
Whether you’re going for a mocktail, or simply want to indulge in that beer or wine flavor, non-alcoholic concoctions usually include sparkling ciders, apple cider vinegar drinks, syrups, soft drinks, tea, Kombucha, juice, and even Burrata water—these naturally may have some fermentation that mimics the taste and texture of typical alcoholic beverages. Most non-alcoholic drinks have up to 90% fewer calories than their counterparts, making it ideal if you’re also watching your weight or cutting down sugar (just make sure your drink is infused with zero-sugar syrups or natural juices).
