Looking for an evening tipple that’s alcohol-free but still tastes good? Then you’ve come to the right place as I’ve found a selection of non-alcoholic drinks for you to try, so you can continue to conquer Dry January.
Dry January has incredible health benefits and helps many people get back on track after a month of overindulging. But, it can be a struggle for some when it gets to the weekend, as this is normally the time where you’d have an alcoholic beverage to unwind after a long week.
Personally, I love a glass or two of wine on a Friday night, so I always find it a little strange not drinking over the weekend during Dry January. I quickly realised I was not only missing the act of having a drink but I was missing the flavour, as I typically stick to water and coffee during the week. So, I decided to look around for alcohol-free alternatives and I was surprised by how many options there are.
If you’re finding the weekends a bit of a struggle to stay away from booze, take a look at these 12 alcohol-free options to try this weekend. I’ve focused on alcohol-free versions of popular alcoholic drinks, like beer, wine, gin, rum and more, so you can still get the flavour without the next day’s hangover.
P.S. If you need some motivation to continue your Dry January challenge, take a look at what happens to your body when you give up alcohol for an extra boost.
Alcohol-free drinks for Dry January 2024
For the beer fans, the Brewdog Punk AF IPA was made in partnership with #IAMWHOLE, a mental health campaign that encourages young people to speak out and seek help if they need it. The Brewdog Punk AF IPA is hoppy and packed full of tropical fruit and grassy pine flavours that are available in packs of 4, 12, 24 and 48, depending on where you buy it from. Brewdog also has tons of different alcohol-free options, including Nanny State, Lost AF, Hazy AF and SAD AF.
Another alcohol-free drink that I’ve heard positive reviews about is the Guinness Alcohol Free 0.0%. This non-alcoholic stout has the same smooth taste, flavour and colour of Guinness but has been brewed with a cold filtration method to remove the alcohol. It still tastes bitter from the hops and sweet from the malt, and is available in most pubs and supermarkets.
Another great alcohol-free beer is the Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0%. Despite having no alcohol in it, the Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% matches the flavour profile of Peroni's signature beer, as its brewing method follows the same signature recipe as Peroni Nastro Azzurro. After the aroma and taste of Peroni Nastro Azzurro is fully developed, the alcohol is gently removed.
If you’re a prosecco lover, Nozeco is a non-alcoholic version of your favourite sparkling wine. It has all the flavour of prosecco with a natural grape profile and fun bubbles but with the alcohol removed. If you’re hosting or going to any parties, it’s a great drink to have with you so you can still join in the fun without drinking. There are many ‘Nozeco’ or ‘Nosecco’ options available in supermarkets, and the majority of them are affordable and suitable for vegans, perfect for those who are doing Veganuary this year.
Whether you’re a red, white, rose or sparkling fan, Oddbird has a wide variety of non-alcoholic wines for you to choose from. Oddbird wines are organic, aged for several months and produced in cooperation with certified vineyards in the South of France. As a red fan, I’ve chosen the Oddbird Domaine de la Prade Merlot Shiraz which has notes of blackberry, cherry, plum and caramel.
If you like cider or fruity drinks in general, you’ll love the Kopparberg Alcohol Free Ciders. Made from carbonated water, fermented apples and fruit juices, not only are the Kopparberg Alcohol Free drinks refreshing and tasty but they’re healthy and low in calories. The flavours you can find are the Mixed Fruit, Strawberry & Lime, Pear and Tropical.
I’ve always been skeptical about alcohol-free gins but I’ve heard great things about the Sipsmith FreeGlider. Sipsmith experimented with 189 prototypes and over 100 ingredients to make a non-alcoholic gin that’s still high quality and full of flavour. The result is Sipsmith FreeGlider which is made with juniper and citrus, for a zesty, spicy and herbal flavour. Simply mix with your favourite tonic and enjoy.
Another alcohol-free gin alternative is the luxurious Pentire Seaward. Made in Cornwall, Pentire Seaward is a distilled botanical infusion with notes of pink grapefruit, wild seaweed, sea rosemary, woodruff and sea buckthorn. Vegan and with no added sugar, artificial colouring or flavouring, this alcohol-free spirit is tasty and is perfect when served with tonic or soda.
For spirit drinkers, Clean Co is a great alcohol-free spirits brand founded by Spencer Matthews of Made In Chelsea fame. Clean Co has gin, rum, whiskey and tequila alternatives that are brilliant to drink on their own, with mixers or in cocktails. The Clean Co drinks also have no sugar or sweeteners and are low calorie, vegan, gluten and lactose free, ideal for those who have dietary restrictions. The pick I’ve gone for is the Clean R Non-Alcoholic Golden Spiced Rum which is vibrantly flavoured with spices, cayenne pepper and golden caramel.
Having launched in 2023, Carouse is a newer name to the alcohol-free world but its two spirit options have proved incredibly popular. Carouse Drift is a mix of summer fruits, berries, cucumber, basil and more, and the bottle it comes in is beautiful to look at. The best thing about Carouse Drift is it can be drink on its own or mixed with soda water, tonics and other mixers.
Punchy Drinks are a go-to alternative to cocktails. Yes, you can buy or make a mocktail but in my opinion, most mocktails are just juice that are almost the same price as the alcohol version! Punchy Drinks come in mixed case variety packs and are all low calorie, low sugar and made from natural ingredients that are vegan friendly and gluten free. The flavours you can find are peach, ginger & chai, cucumber, yuzu & rosemary and blood orange, bitters & cardamom.
Premium sparkling soda company, Betty Buzz makes delicious soft drinks that can be used to mix with alcoholic drinks or enjoyed on their own... oh, and the brand is owned by Blake Lively! The Betty Buzz Sparkling Lemon Lime is a blend of lemon, lime, agave and carbonated water, giving a refreshing taste in a cute can.
