Mental health is at risk too, as alcohol use disorders and depression have a causal relationship. Building a bar cart can be a little trickier with nonalcoholic spirits, says Meehan. As the industry grows, he notes, a wider variety of options will make bottles more interchangeable. In the meantime, the category is also seeing some traditional spirits companies introducing full lines of N/A spirits, such as Martini & Rossi’s nonalcoholic aperitivos. Ginger beer and ginger ale are two of the top low-calorie beer options to go for if you’re looking to cut back or do more mindful drinking. Much like kombucha, ginger beer has a sizzle to the taste that lightly resembles beer and it looks much the same as lager too, so no one would notice the difference.

• Using these alcohol alternatives correctly can not only help you stop drinking, but they can be a fun and tasty way to do it, too.
• Many of us don’t actually crave wine itself, but rather the feeling that comes with it.
• Kava is proven to elevate mood and feelings of well-being, meaning it can serve a similar anti-anxiety function as alcohol.
• Tonic water is a great choice because it has the bubbles of sparkling water, but you’ll get a bit more flavor in every sip.

Because these drinks rely heavily on outside flavoring to mimic the liquor, gin is one of the easiest to make and most common to find. Consumers are also becoming more health conscious and are adapting their lifestyles. The beverages business is also aware of these changes and is stepping up to the plate to offer us healthier alternatives without forgoing taste (and losing their market share and profits).

Alcohol Alternatives for All Situations

For some, it can also be an indicator of alcohol use disorder, a medical condition characterized by drinking more than you want despite walking to cut down. Much like Matcha tea, adaptogens like reishi mushroom, lemon balm, and passionflower can be wonderful alternatives to alcohol thanks to the relaxing effect they have on the body. “Compounds such as adaptogens can aid in relaxation and switch us from fight or flight to rest and digest,” explains Cox.

• De Soi is sold in screw-top bottles, but we love the variety pack of cans.
• If you or someone you know is living with an AUD, the good news is that there are many different treatment options, and your doctor can help you choose the best one for you.
• With fun Gen-Z branding and an aesthetic Instagram presence, Kin has been everywhere lately.

Known for the juniper berry scents that make a gin martini taste like nothing else, it is a hard spirit to replace with a non-alcoholic variety. The current events of the pandemic and the election in the U.S. certainly qualify as the type of stressful events known to trigger anxiety, stress, and increased drinking. A July, 2020 survey found 35% of respondents qualified for anxiety disorder, up from 8% a year before. Americans are highly stressed about the 2020 election, and 80% of voters believe “things are out of control” in the U.S. Drinkroot is a brewed kava juice, filtered, and dehydrated to an extremely low moisture content.

Alcohol use disorder

Sip on some of these non-alcoholic beverage alternatives instead. He said if someone plans to drink at these types of events, but wants to limit how much they drink, they should eat before the event and drink water in between each alcoholic beverage. “For stress relief at the end of the day, people can try to exercise, walk in nature, practice yoga, or chat with close friends,” Martins said. Kombucha may also offer probiotics, though studies have shown that the amount and type of microbes vary greatly between different brands. And if you want to avoid alcoholic content entirely, you might want to consider other beverages. Between boozy brunches, post-work happy hours, pub trivia nights, birthday parties, and weddings, giving up alcohol might feel like giving up your social life.

• We’ll look at some of the trendiest, tasteful, and health-conscious options below.
• Alcohol-free gin uses the traditional juniper-berry flavoring to recreate the bitter taste gin is famous for.
• Addiction psychiatrist Akhil Anand, MD, offers these tips to help you persevere.
• Uncorking the bottle, pouring a glass, and sipping it slowly while you make food, eat dinner, or soak in a tub becomes a kind of ritual for relaxation.
• Alcohol-free “gin” is still prepared by distilling juniper berries and adding steam-distilled botanicals and herbs.

Excessive drinking can lead to various negative biological effects, such as weight gain, changes in appetite, fatigue, insomnia, decreased libido, and difficulty concentrating. And this is about as close to healthy alcohol what to drink instead of alcohol as we can get for now. So as much as avoiding alcoholic cocktails is easy in a bar, restaurant, or at home, be sure to check the ingredients before ordering if you’re concerned about having sugar cravings down the line.