It’s the same old story. We have one glass too many which quickly devolves into five, six or seven before you know it. And as we slowly recover from week-long hangovers, many of us take the noble pledge to abstain from alcohol in Dry January, Dry July or indefinitely. Luckily for us, the market has caught onto the trend too, with some of the best non-alcoholic drinks developed over the past few years.
Whether it’s to detox your system after a boozy holiday or simply to develop some healthier habits, it’s as good a time as any to hop on the sober-curious bandwagon.
Here are the non-alcoholic drinks that prove there’s no need to be sombre when you’re sober.
NON
Famed for its chic-packaged presence, NON drinks are an awesome alternative for natural wine lovers.
Coming in a heap of delectable flavour varieties, they also make a great picnic accompaniment.
Elevated Kombucha
While Kombucha has been around for a while, brands like Monceau are giving this gut-friendly beverage a modern twist. Check out their range of pét nat-inspired formulations that include flavours like blood orange and pear.
Thompson & Scott Noughty
Thomson & Scott have changed the game with their non-alcoholic take on sparkling wine that comes with all the bubbles and flavour, just sans the killer hangover.
Seedlip Spirits
Attention all G&T lovers! This non-alcoholic spirit ensures you can join in on the fun with your mates, all while getting a fresh start to the morning as they sleep off their headaches.
Simply add some lime or cucumbers and tonic water to a shot or two of Seedlip’s spirits and you’re good to go. Or, if you’re not in the mood to mix yourself, grab one of their pre-mixed options.
Booze-Free Beer
If an ice-cold beer after a long, hot day is your usual respite, then fear not. Brands like Heaps Normal are pioneering new and innovative ways to make low-nonalcoholic beer… well, heaps normal.
Alternative Aperol Spritz
We wouldn’t blame you for being sceptical of such a concept but there’s actually more than one Aussie brand putting a non-alcoholic twist on spritz.
Lyre’s Italian Spritz is an ingenious (and low calorie) alternative to Aperol, for those who love a good spritz on the weekend.
Just mix it with a dash of non-alcoholic sparkling wine and some soda water and everyone else at the party will be none the wiser.
Then there’s Home Grown, with its Non-Alc Orange & Mandarin Spritz, which also includes verjuice and bitters for a deliciously balanced non-alcoholic drink.
Non-Alcoholic Cocktails
Not only can the sugar in most cocktails make them pretty deadly (given they go down a little too easy), but the sweetness also contributes to dehydration which makes your hangover worse and can generally be an energy-killer.
Enter: Monday pre-mixed drinks. With a wide range of very chicly-packaged beverages, this Australian company bottle up your favourite cocktails with none of the alcohol or sugar. The result is a pretty tasty treat that your head will thank you for come Sunday morning.
We’re particularly fans of the Dark & Stormy and the Classic Gin & Tonic flavours (duh).
