The Non-Alcoholic Drinks Gift Guide for the Sober Curious

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Most of us couldn’t wait until we turned 21 to enjoy our first legal drink. And if you went to a notorious D-1 party school like me, then you couldn’t escape being around excessive alcohol consumption, either. But if you’re now rethinking your relationship with alcoholic beverages for whatever reason (or know someone who is), then this non-alcoholic drinks gift guide is the perfect gateway to flavorful beverages sans the booze.

For anyone sober-curious — meaning they’re thinking of giving up alcohol or no longer dabbling in liquid courage altogether — I have some great news: An October 2023 study shows that consuming non-alcoholic drinks “significantly reduced alcohol consumption, an effect that persisted for 8 weeks after the intervention.” So if you or a loved one is looking to forgo booze, like Bradley Cooper and Betty Buzz founder Blake Lively, then I got you both covered.

As for the difference between non-alcoholic and alcohol-free drinks, the Code of Federal Regulations sums it up best. “The term ‘non-alcoholic’ may be used on labels of malt beverages only if the statement “contains less than 0.5 percent (or .5%) alcohol by volume” appears immediately adjacent to it, in readily legible printing, and on a completely contrasting background.” On the other hand, “the term ‘alcohol-free’ may be used only on malt beverages containing no alcohol. No tolerances are permitted for ‘alcohol-free’ malt beverages.”

I asked my fellow editors to spill the tea on their all-time favorite non-alcoholic beverages. The majority of their highly-rated picks are available on Amazon, meaning you can order them a couple of days before hosting or attending a dinner party, and they can be at your doorstep just in time for the soirée. Happy sipping — and get ready to enjoy the mornings after again!

Craft Non-Alcoholic Beer Mix Pack

Our best overall pick earned very high praise from multiple members of our team: news editor Michael Natale and commerce editor Kevin Cortez. They note that Athletic Brewing Company is ideal for anyone who is into craft beers. With four flavors to choose from, the line is a no-fail choice, as it’s a refreshing, low-calorie option made with a blend of five hops.

“As somebody who came of legal drinking age during the craft beer boom, going clean seemed to mean closing the door on IPAs, Witbiers, and anything else that tastes distinctly like 2010s-era Williamsburg. But Athletic Brewing Company is keeping the good vibes going for folks like me, brewing for the drinker who loves beer for the taste, not the buzz,” says Natale.

Natale adds there’s a case of their hero product — Run Wild IPA — in his fridge right now, while Free Wave Hazy IP and seasonal options are sitting in his Amazon cart.

Cortez is also keen on the award-winning Run Wild. “It has as much of a kick as a typical IPA but without the actual buzz. It’s got a nice malty, bitterness to it and it’s so low on calories, you won’t feel guilty or bloated after drinking a few. It also goes down easy and pairs well with dinner, no matter how hearty or carb-heavy. Believe me when I say it’s the king of non-alcoholics.”

0.0% Non-Alcohol Beer

Before chatting with Natale, I had no idea beer giant Heineken made non-alcoholic beverages that tasted equally as amazing as their alcoholic counterparts.

“Sobriety can be a challenge for a former social drinker like myself because you miss more than just the buzz — you miss the taste, the texture, the scent of it. A lot of the oft-suggested alternatives are like if you can’t have pizza anymore, and somebody tells you to just have a cracker with some ketchup on it instead; everything feels off. That’s what I like most about the Heineken 0.0. It smells like a beer, feels like a beer, tastes like a beer, and doesn’t stand out from the crowd at a social function, so you can fit in without falling off of the proverbial wagon,” he explains.

Nightcap

Cortez is into Three Spirit’s plant-based mixers, but Nightcap is his favorite. “Perfect as-is over ice or mixed with a seltzer, Nightcap has a great, hoppy bite to it that helps me knock out when I’m otherwise wide awake and overthinking,” says Cortez.

He highlights valerian root and lemon balm are a wonderful duo to help calm his mind, while “hops give it a power that feels similar to alcohol. It’s an awesome way to end the day without relying on liquor.”

Recess Zero Proof Sampler

Digital content producer Amber Joglar is a fan of these non-alcoholic craft mocktails from Recess. The variety 12-pack includes three of each flavor: Lime Margarita, Grapefruit Paloma, Moscow Mule, and Watermelon Mojito.

“I’ve tried several canned mocktails and the sampler pack from Recess is by far one of my favorites. The flavors are great and the drinks are only lightly carbonated, which I appreciate because even seltzers can be too much on my stomach,” says Joglar. “I don’t know how much you can really feel the effects of the adaptogens if you’re looking for something mood-altering, but either way, it’s nice to have an alcohol-free drink to sip on in social settings.”

Sober October 6-Pack

Most wines give me headaches, which is why I converted over to natural wines. But my favorite, the Wonderful Wine Co., was discontinued (RIP), so I just skipped drinking wine altogether for several years because I couldn’t find a nice alternative.

Proxies is all about flavorful non-alcoholic wines that even earned snaps from Michelin-star chefs and sommeliers. I appreciate that they don’t taste just like grape juice — each bottle has a complex flavor.

For example, Red Clay is medium-bodied with notes of cherry, blackberry, cranberry, black tea, and hops, while Pink Salt and Banchan are rosé alternatives.

Phony Negroni

A negroni is easy to make — Campari, gin, and vermouth — but its complex, bitter taste might scare off newbies. So if you’re gifting someone a bottle of this editor-approved non-alcoholic beverage, be sure they actually enjoy a bitter drink before purchasing.

That said, senior service editor Melanie Yates highlights this as one of her favorite non-alcoholic beverages. “The Phony Negroni is such an elegant, ready-to-drink mocktail — it nails the bitter/sweet balance between cool juniper and bracing citrus rind. Plus, the ruby-red color looks stunning in any rocks glass,” says Yates.

And don’t just take our word for it: Phony Negroni is a three-time winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2022 and 2023.

Old School Classics (Vintage Cola and Root Beer)

If your loved one is anything like our senior parenting editor Cat Bowen, then they drink “a shit ton of Diet Coke.” As a former Diet Coke obsessive, I get it, but a healthier alternative is the popular prebiotic sodas from OLIPOP.

The brand has 16 flavors — Strawberry Vanilla is my all-time favorite — but I wanted to spotlight picks inspired by cola and root beer for a classic soda alternative. These two flavors are especially enjoyable on their own or when mixed with spirits or non-alcoholic drinks. Best of all, each can contain between 2-5 grams of sugar and 9 grams of plant-based fiber.

Convicted Melon Sparkling Water

After getting served the viral Liquid Death Superbowl online ad, I was SHOOK. Young kids were chugging from black-white-and-gold cans covered with a giant skull and turning TF up. Even a pregnant mom-to-be was in on the action, and I was immediately concerned — until the brand clarified at the end it was just water.

Rebellious marketing aside, Liquid Death is actually delicious — and I’m a self-proclaimed water snob. I tried their plain still and sparkling water and love them. However, if you’re looking for a nice mixer or flavored sparkling water, then you’ll love their other options.

SEO analyst Kori Williams and I were especially keen on Convicted Melon in the red can. While I am a sparkling water girly, Willaims is not — at least until she tried Liquid Death.

She says, “Having not liked other sparkling water brands, I really didn’t want to give Liquid Death a try at first. The marketing caught my eye but that was the extent of it. But now that I’ve tried two flavors, it’s really good. It feels like the flavor was a priority instead of an afterthought.”

Energy Drink Sparkling

We all know Red Bull is the ultimate energy drink of choice for college students, but if you’re looking for something that energizes without the jitters, opt for GORGIE.

Each sugar-free can is infused with 150 mg of green tea caffeine, so your favorite student is alert and focused for class and definitely not hungover from going out the night before. GORGIE is also infused with vitamins B6 and B12, L-theanine for clarity, and biotin for youthful skin and stronger hair and nails.

“I love energy drinks, but I can’t have all the sugar most of them contain. I tried Gorgie and loved it! There is no crash and it’s been great for my early mornings or late nights,” says a 5-star Amazon review.

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