The world of non-alcoholic drinks is both exciting and never-ending. Whether you’re fighting for sobriety, have recently decided to take a break from alcohol, or want a list of alcohol-free drinks to support loved ones struggling with addiction, you have lots of options.
You might be looking for a booze-free drink you can sip on whenever you previously turned to alcohol, but you might also want to explore festive options that lift your spirits or healthy choices that support recovery.
This list has a little bit of everything, so dive right in!
How to Choose Your Drink: Important Considerations for People in Recovery
Everyone’s path to sobriety is unique. Some people in recovery take a zero-tolerance approach, worrying that even “one drop” could lead to a relapse. That choice should always be respected, so our list of trusty and exciting alcohol-free drinks prioritizes your safety.
Many people are already familiar with the fact that fruit juices can sometimes begin fermenting, leading to a low alcohol content. People in recovery can lower this risk by only buying commercial fruit juices and enjoying them before their sell-by dates or by making fresh juices at home and consuming them immediately.
Just to be on the safe side, we’re excluding fruits that ferment more quickly and easily from this list. Fruits that ferment less easily include citrus fruits, berries (including cranberries), and pineapple. These fruits have higher acidity levels and, in the case of pineapple, fermentation-inhibiting enzymes.
Some people may find a “staple” drink they can rely on any time of the day or night, while others use their newfound sobriety to explore an exciting range of alcohol-free beverages. We’re here to help you in either case!
Easy Alcohol-Free Drink Options to Enjoy Throughout the Day
You won’t always have the time or energy to put complex drinks together. Try these options if you’re simply looking for an alcohol-free beverage to enjoy on the go.
1. Herbal Tea
Treat yourself to one of those fancy tea selection boxes and make yourself a nice cuppa whenever you want to.
People who prefer cold drinks can make homemade ice teas by putting several tea bags in a pitcher, filling them halfway, and brewing a strong tea. Once it’s cooled down, add some fizzy water and a drop of lemon juice.
2. Fruit & Herb Infused Water
Adding a touch of fruity freshness to your tap water or sparkly water is easy, and there are endless variations. See which options take your fancy, and simply add them to a pitcher of water for your enjoyment:
- Lemon juice
- Slices of lemon, orange, and grapefruit
- Cucumber cubes and basil
- A handful of berries — strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries all work (and if you don’t have fresh berries, frozen ones also do the trick)
- Pineapple chunks
- Lemon juice with thyme, rosemary, and basil
A little goes a long way, and you’ll have lovely flavored water before you know it! (Sugar is entirely optional.)
3. Lemon Mint Juice
This alcohol-free traditional Middle Eastern drink is wonderfully refreshing in summer and — thanks to its sweetness — also gets your blood sugar levels up in no time.
Here’s how to make it at home:
- Get out your blender.
- Add three to four lemons, 10 grams of fresh mint leaves, 100 grams of sugar, 150 grams of ice cubes, and 700 ml of water for around 3 liters of pure freshness.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour into a large cup and garnish with mint.
4. Coconut Water
Coconut water is the liquid extracted from fresh coconuts, and it makes for a tasty and mineral-packed drink that’s great for people in recovery. It’s commercially available. (Unless you live in a coconut-growing region, we don’t necessarily recommend using store-bought coconuts because they’re not always fresh and sometimes start to ferment.)
5. Cranberry Spritz
Cranberry juice is packed with antioxidants and vitamins that help with the alcohol detox process, but it’s also delicious. While it can be a little bitter on its own, one part cranberry juice and four parts sparkly water create a delightful spritz that won’t take you more than a few seconds to make.
6. Chai Latte
Chai Latte is a wonderful non-alcoholic drink commercially available from most major coffee houses. However, you can also make it at home. While there’s a complex way to go about it, this is the “easy drinks” section, so:
- Buy chai tea in bags.
- Heat milk in a saucepan but don’t let it come to a boil.
- Let the tea sit for five minutes, and remove the teabag.
- Add sugar or honey to taste.
- Enjoy!
Mocktails & Alcohol-Free Drinks for Special Occasions
Special occasions call for more festive drinks. These options prove you don’t need alcohol to have a great time!
9. Virgin Mojito
This delicious mocktail is easy to make with lime, fresh mint, sugar or syrup, club soda or sparkling water, and ice cubes:
- Crush fresh mint leaves with a mortar and pestle, use a mixer/grinder, or chop them up. Add them to your glass.
- Fill your glass with ice cubes.
- Add club soda or sparkly water and a dash of freshly squeezed lime juice.
- Garnish with mint, and decorate the side with a slice of lime.
10. Pineapple Ginger Fizz
This tropical mocktail is another winner filled to the brim with health-supporting ingredients:
- Add plenty of ice cubes to your glass.
- Grate a fresh piece of ginger. Squeeze it into your glass to add a kick to your mocktail.
- Fill the glass with fresh or commercial pineapple juice, but leave some space.
- Add club soda or fizzy water.
- Garnish with a slice of lemon.
11. Pomegranate Spritzer
A pomegranate Spritzer is the perfect alcohol-free drink for people who have struggled with alcohol addiction, as pomegranate represents new beginnings and hope.
Here’s how to make your own:
- Fill your glass with ice cubes.
- Pour commercial pomegranate juice until the glass is one-third full.
- Squeeze one half of a small lime and add the juice.
- Top the rest off with sparkling water.
- Garnish with fresh pomegranate seeds.
12. Lavender Lemon Sparkler
This recipe calls for lavender syrup. We admit that not everyone will easily be able to find this ingredient, but lavender is a soothing herb that promotes calmness and better sleep — so it’s too good of a non-alcoholic drink not to include.
People who would like to try making a lavender lemon sparkler can:
- Add lots of ice cubes to a glass.
- Pour a tablespoon or two of lavender syrup in.
- Squeeze half a lemon and add half of the juice to the glass.
- Top your glass up with club soda.
- Garnish with some fresh lavender leaves if you can find them!
Recovery Elixirs: Alcohol-Free Drinks to Nourish Your Body and Soul
Recovering alcoholics often struggle with nutritional deficiencies, and zinc, B vitamin, and vitamin A deficiencies are most common. People working to get sober may also notice that a drop in blood sugar levels tends to cause alcohol cravings.
These alcohol-free drinks follow the principle of “let food be your medicine, and let medicine be your food.” They’re packed with nutrients that support your road to recovery and health.
(We won’t pretend they’re all equally tasty. Some are real winners, but others are more for health than pleasure.)
13. Green Boost
Blend spinach, cucumber, and kale. Add a royal splash of orange juice. Some Greek yogurt for extra protein complex this vitamin-C-booster.
14. Banana Power
Blend a banana with almond milk (until you achieve the right consistency) and raw almond butter, and add a touch of cinnamon.
15. Very Berry
Blend mixed (frozen) berries with a scoop of protein powder and cow or soy milk for a quick energy infusion.
16. Vit B Recharge
People affected by vitamin B deficiencies can benefit from orange juice with a scoop or vitamin B-based nutritional yeast.
17. Calcium Bone Builder
Recovering alcoholics with vitamin D deficiencies can enjoy a tasty blend to support their bone health. Simply add a dash of commercially-bought coconut water to a glass of orange juice, and add a drop of liquid vitamin D (available from any pharmacy and flavorless) to the glass.
18. Vitamin Explosion
One of our all-time favorites, this drink requires a juicer and combines equal parts fresh orange, apple, and carrot juice with a touch of ginger. This alcohol-free drink doesn’t just taste great, but it also contains lots of vitamin C, B vitamins, and vitamin A. Ginger has powerful anti-inflammatory properties.
Discovering the World of Alcohol-Free Drinks: A Final Word
We hope this list of non-alcoholic drinks has inspired you to immerse yourself in a whole new adventure — one where drinks can’t just be amazingly tasty but also support every aspect of your health and well-being.
Of course, you’ll also add less healthy options to your daily repertoire — nobody can argue that soda is great for your health, but it does give recovering alcoholics a quick blood sugar spike that helps suppress alcohol cravings. Fresh fruit juice can do the same thing, so stock up!
Let’s finish this list with a humble and often-overlooked but all-important beverage: water. You can’t do without the stuff, and most of us don’t quite get enough. Whenever you’re not quite sure what to drink, enjoy a large, cold glass of H2O — and remind yourself that every alcohol-free drink is a win!
