The 9 Best Alcohol Alternatives

As we become more health conscious and addiction aware, abstaining can be a common practice. Find your favorite alcohol alternative among our top nine suggestions.

Finding the right alcohol alternative for you will depend on your personal preferences and desires. You might be seeking the perfect wine substitute to enjoy with dinner or something fizzy and refreshing to sip on a night out. We are spoiled for choice as breweries and producers battle to provide alternatives that look and taste just like their alcoholic counterparts.

We do not always have to part with our hard earned cash to enjoy alcohol alternatives though. Many delicious substitutes can be made at home – with minimal ingredients and very sustainably. Others can even bring a health boost instead of a hangover. Discover what might work for you among our favorite alcohol alternatives

1. Non-Alcoholic Beer

Non-alcohol beers make an ideal alcohol alternative and allow you to enjoy the refreshing taste of a cold beer without the guilt or hangover. Most alcohol-free beers are lagers, but there are some alcohol-free ales available. While the lack of alcohol makes it a healthier choice, these substitutes usually come packaged the same as their alcoholic counterparts — therefore they pose the same risks to the environment.

If biodegradable and non-toxic packaging is not available to you, choosing cans over bottles is the eco-friendly way to go. The Alliance To End Plastic Waste have indicated that cans contribute less to global warming than glass and plastic. They make this conclusion because the production of aluminium cans consumes less overall energy and resources. Cans are lighter than glass and aren’t made from fossil fuels.

Making glass does require heat generation from fossil fuels to melt it. It also involves mining raw materials such as silica sand and dolomite, and releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Aluminium can be constantly recycled without any change in its natural properties and requires no new material to be mined or transported. Both glass and aluminium are suitable for closed loop recycling – and make sure to always choose recycled packaging when you can.

2. Non-Alcoholic Wine

Alcohol-free wines are rising in popularity everywhere because like non-alcoholic beers, they provide the next-best alternative. They bring us the opportunity to enjoy the fruity aroma and grape flavors we get in traditional wines and can often be found in the organic section. Like their alcohol-free beer counterparts too,  packaging and production can impact the environment. The environment, in turn, is impacting wine production.

Rising temperatures and erratic weather patterns have already made some grape varieties unsuitable for growing in traditional wine-making regions of Europe. Wine will inevitably become more expensive and less available – alcoholic or not – if we do not protect the fragile climates that grapes rely on to grow. Therefore, you should try to select wine from sustainable producers. If your only selection is the traditional bottle of red or white, look for the recycled label. Recycled glass can reduce waste of raw materials by up to 80 percent, so don’t just focus on what’s inside the bottle!

3. Kombucha

Replace beer bubbles with the fermented fizz of kombucha as a quirky and “live” alcohol alternative. This lightly sparkling beverage can be poured over ice, mixes well with a variety of fruits and — in some cases — can even bring a pleasant and mild buzz to brain and body.

Kombucha is also rich in probiotics, vitamins and minerals and may even be associated with an array of health benefits. Try kombucha cocktails at home and welcome millions of beneficial live cultures into your body. 

4. Beet Juice

Beet juice can be an alcohol alternative and, in some cases, a boost for those suffering from cardiac conditions. This is because beets are rich in natural chemicals called nitrates, which begin a chain reaction inside your body that benefits heart health.  We respond to nitrates by transforming them into another compound called nitric oxide — which helps with blood flow, blood pressure, muscle contraction, endurance and metabolism among a massive range of other benefits.

This is also why nitrates are also used in a variety of prescription drug therapies – primarily for cardiac conditions. Plant, grow and harvest beets at home for an organic and super-healthy alternative to alcohol. You can eat beets raw or cooked – for extra antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, you can also add some apples, carrots and a dash of ginger. Simply chop and peel your ingredients, blend and enjoy the tasty benefits. 

5. Sustainable Mocktails

The secret to sustainable mocktails is getting the most out of the ingredients you have at home. Don’t dispose of your leftover herbs, garnishes, citrus peels, or fruits. Instead, freeze them for later, or let them infuse into water to add extra flavor to your concoction later. Some leftover frozen strawberries blended with ice and a dash of lemon or lime infused water is a delicious, thirst-quenching alternative to a traditional daiquiri on a scorching summer evening.

Because agriculture is the largest cause of global environmental change, learning how to grow a herb garden on your windowsill will add the extra sustainability factor to your alcohol-free mocktail menu. Always serve your mocktails with compostable straws and avoid disposable glasses when you can. 

6. Kanna Tea

If you miss that light sleepiness alcohol can bring, then kanna tea might just be the perfect alternative for you. Kanna is a strong, earthy South African herb that can be chewed, smoked or infused into a tranquil tea. Try pairing it with powdered cinnamon for a tasty treat.

Until fairly recently, the plant remained largely unknown outside of South Africa but is gaining attention in the US because of the range of benefits it may offer — particularly in relation to mood enhancement and mental health. So if you want an alternative to alcohol that helps you unwind and relax, kanna tea could be your newest alcohol alternative.

7. Hawthorn Iced Tea

Hawthorn iced tea is a refreshing alcohol alternative with an easy recipe of only three ingredients — dried hawthorn berries, sugar, and water! Used for centuries in herbal medicine, research to date suggests that hawthorn may provide a safe, effective, and nontoxic way of improving cardiovascular health.

Hawthorn has these effects because is causes blood vessels to relax and dilate slightly. This can also bring a relaxed and chilled sensation to you and your body, that adds to this beverage’s appeal as an alternative to alcohol.  

8. Matcha Tea

Matcha is a vibrant green Japanese tea made from powdered dried tea leaves and is growing in popularity as an alcohol alternative. It has a slightly bitter taste and has been part of traditional Japanese tea ceremonies for centuries. Emerging research about its benefits for human health— including heart health, disease prevention, inflammation, liver function and weight management, among others — has made matcha tea a popular drink here in the US.

Matcha tea can be easily made by sifting one to two tablespoons of matcha powder in a cup of hot water. When shopping for a good powder, choose a certified organic brand. Alternatively, if you find tea a little boring and would like to spice up your chosen drink, try a delicious golden matcha vegan latte and enjoy the same effects. 

9. Fruit Juices

Fruit juices provide a refreshing and sometimes bubbly alternative to many alcoholic drinks. They look good, taste good and are packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Many juices also come without the artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup and hangovers associated with wines, mixers and champagnes.

Some research even suggests that red and purple grape juices provide the same heart benefits of red wine — including reduced cholesterol, blood pressure and risk of clots. Fruit juices are one of the healthiest alternatives to soda and alcohol-based drinks.

Read more:

• Rose Water Drink: Benefits and How to Make it
• How to Make Dandelion Tea and Why You Should Drink It
• Moon Milk: Make This Trendy Ayurvedic Beverage Yourself

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Tags: Guide Healthy Living Vegan