Why do you drink alcohol? Is it to uplift you? To escape reality for a bit? To fit in? There are countless reasons, but past the first few minutes of a buzz, we’re all left with nothing more than a body working its hardest to return to a state of equilibrium against a powerful depressant – and one that stays in your system for at least a week. Plus, most of us don’t even make it a week before we’re drinking again! Well, if you’re a little “sober curious” and eager to wake up in the morning refreshed instead of confused, here’s what to drink instead of alcohol that still makes you feel all the good stuff.
*This piece contains affiliate links, but they are all guaranteed to save you money.
Zero-Proof Non-Alcoholic Spirits
What do you think of when you think of Tequila? Is it the taste of blue agave? The burn in the back of your throat that makes its way to your stomach? Well, what if I were to tell you that you can get all that without the alcohol or the nasty hangover that comes with it? The Ritual brand makes a Rum, Gin, Whiskey, and Tequila alternative, and the ingredients are all-natural with almost no calories.
My favorite for drinking straight is the Tequila, which, when poured into a crystal glass, can feel like a night out in your living room.
Although the Whiskey supplies that same “alcohol burn” I described above, the taste is not as close as the Tequila, so I recommend using it in cocktail blends instead. That’s actually how the company intends for you to do it.
If you like Mezcal, my favorite brand is Cut Above, whose Mezcal leaves a smoldering aftertaste long after your glass is empty. Natural flavors used to recreate this feeling include Cubeba pepper extract, Persian lime oil, and a touch of smoke. It actually won Mezcal of the Year for 2024.
Photo Credit: Cut Above
Are you a straight-up Martini with Olives kind of person? The Ritualtini below features 3 oz. Ritual Gin Alternative, 1/2 oz. dry vermouth, olive brine, and olives. It’s technically a low-ABV cocktail due to the dry vermouth, so you can sub-in grape juice if you’d like to stay completely zero-proof.
Where to Buy: Purchase the Ritual brand and many others through the Zero Proof website, which has subscribe-and-save options and FREE Shipping oCut Above Spirits also offers different monthly sales including FREE Shipping when you purchase two bottles from their website. Their bottles sell for an average of $34.99.
Ritualtini
Non-Alcoholic Canned Cocktails by Free AF
This popular New Zealand brand features canned non-alcoholic cocktails in flavors like Apero Spritz, Vod%a Spritz, Cuba Libre, and Paloma. What makes these cocktails special AF is that they include the natural botanical Afterglow™, which mimics the heat of an alcoholic beverage. These cocktails are also low in calories, coming in at 50 calories or less a can. As far as replication goes, the Vod%a Spritz hit the mark the most for me, and it’s only five calories a can.
Where to Buy: Order directly from the website or go through Amazon for free shipping. The cost is $39 for a 12-pack.
Apero Spritz
Dealcoholized Wine
What’s naughty with the a taken out? A Noughty Sparkling Chardonnay without the alcohol! The Thomson and Scott brand has crafted an organic, vegan, sparkling chardonnay with less sugar and absolutely no alcohol. The taste is great, and you don’t need to feel guilty about that second (or third) glass. Dealcoholized wine has less than 0.5% abv, which is about what you get in a ripe banana.
Noughty Sparkling Chardonnay
If you’re a Rosé Wine lover, I recommend Surely Sparkling Rosé, available in both cans and large-format bottles. It tastes exactly like the Rosé wines you’re used to because it comes from high-quality Sonoma winemakers; it’s just had the alcohol extracted.
Another great brand from Sweden, served in Michelin-starred restaurants, is Oddbird. It comes in elegant varietals, including Blanc de Blancs and Sparkling Orange. The grapes are sourced from France and Italy, aged for up to three years, then gently dealcoholized to retain the flavor without the ethanol. Oddbird is crisp and elegant, full-bodied, and fruit-forward, which makes it perfect for meal pairing.
Where to Buy: You can pick up Noughty and Surely from Total Wine. Shipping over $99 is free in the U.S., or you can pick it up for free with no minimum. The price is less than $23 a bottle. For Oddbirdyou’ll be ordering through The Zero Proof, which carries the whole line, including the Blanc de Blancs for $24.99. Shipping is free over $125.
Blanc de Blancs Photo Credit: Oddbird
Sparkling Water
Before you throw your device across the room at the thought of drinking Sparkling Water instead of alcohol, hear me out – this isn’t Club Soda I’m talking about :).
Sparkling Water has gotten boosted with complexity over the years, including this one from oHy. Not only is it organic, but it’s hydrogen-infused, which gives it the bubbles naturally and removes the harsh burn of other brands. It has no calories and is naturally rich in magnesium, which helps support muscle function and reduce stress. And if that wasn’t enough, the taste is awesome, with flavors like Cherry Lime, Strawberry Lemon, and Pure.
Where to Buy: You can find the brand at Ralph’s, Erehwon, and on Amazon, where a 12-Pack is $17.99.
Photo Credit: oHy
Wine Proxies
Jukes Cordialities was created by a critically acclaimed wine writer to mimic the complexities of wine using fresh produce and an apple cider vinegar base. Flavors include Jukes 1, “the white”; Jukes 6, “the red”; and Jukes 8, “the rosé.” While there is a premixed Sparkling collection, the real fun is finding the blend you like best when you add the concentrated bottles to still or sparkling water. They all pair well with food, and the packaging is gorgeous and sophisticated.
Where to Buy: Order directly from the Jukes Cordialities website to save 10% on first and recurring orders and FREE SHIPPING over $30. A box of 9 1-ounce pours makes 18 glasses and costs $60. I’m also a HUGE fan of the Sparkling collection, which requires no mixing at all ($75).
Photo Credit: Jukes Cordialities
Another great brand in the wine alternative space is Kally, founded by Katie and Scott Mitic. What makes them different is the use of Organic Verjus grapes with an acidity that creates the perfect base for a great non-alcoholic wine. The verjus is then infused with botanicals like decaffeinated tea, spearmint, and no added sugar. The taste is so sophisticated that it’s on the wine lists of several Michelin-starred restaurants in California.
My favorite is the Golden Sparkler,which offers a Champagne-like experience that is both refreshing and relaxing. It’s made with Chardonnay Verjus, Jasmine, Spearmint Extract, and a blend of Decaffeinated Teas.
Early Chardonnay – a slightly effervescent white wine alternative crafted from early-picked Sonoma Chardonnay grapes, and the Early Cabernet, which has flavors of dark cherry, subtle herbaceous notes, and a hint of spice for deep conversations and crafted from early-picked Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.
Where to Buy: The price is $39 a bottle or $33.15 if you become a subscriber and purchase through their website. You can also find them on The Zero Proof online marketplace at a lower price.
Golden Sparkler from Kally
Adaptogens and Social Tonics
Since beginning my own journey into a more alcohol-lite existence, this has become my favorite category of drink. Adaptogenic beverages include a mix of plant-based, functional herbs that generally cause mood-boosting or relaxing effects. Popular ingredients include ashwagandha, cordyceps mushroom, and l-theanine. It’s similar to having a cup of tea but with a little more oomph. As with anything, please don’t overdo it. Just like you wouldn’t drink coffee all day, don’t crack more than one or two of these cans open at a time.
The Kin Euphoricsbrand is described as “functional, non-alcoholic adult beverages to balance body, mind, and spirit.” The brand was founded by model Bella Hadid, who is the ultimate spokesperson with over 50 million Instagram followers. The High Rhode flavor is meant to stimulate your social side with ingredients like 5-HTP and Gaba. The Dream Light flavor is all about winding down and stress relief and includes melatonin and reishi mushroom, among other ingredients. Kin Spritz and Lightwave offer the same upper and cool-down effect, but come in neat Kin cans. Newcomer Luna Morada is an outright health drink, with antioxidants and metabolism boosters.
Photo Credit: Kin Euphorics
Hiyo Functional Seltzer is also a great place to start if you’re just getting into Adaptogens. You will feel a definite relaxation element, but it’s also got all those extra goodies like lion’s mane mushroom extract and l-theanine to uplift you ($15). Another great brand is Curious Elixirs, which has different numbered beverages that both mimic cocktail blends and include herbs used in Ayurvedic medicine. I’m partial to Curious No. 9, which features rose, California poppy, fermented echinacea, South African kanna, and chardonnay grapes sans alcohol. It’s both relaxing and uplifting ($4.50 a serving from the website).
Where to Buy: Order Kin Euphorics directly from the Zero Proof Website, where a Pack of 4 will run you $16. If you’re local to Los Angeles, head to Boisson for a 4-pack of Sunshine for just $20. You can find Hiyo Functional Seltzer on their website, where a 12-pack is $44.99. There are also deals for 10% off or 15% off, plus free shipping when you subscribe. Curious Elixirs also does a great Monthly Variety Pack for $98, which may seem hefty, but it’s for 24 cocktails!
Photo Credit: Bonfire
Social Tonics from Bonbuz
Although Social Tonics are pretty similar to Adaptogens, I wanted an entire category dedicated to my new favorite beverage brand for 2025. Bonbuz is a female-owned brand that comes in both cans and larger format, cocktail-mimicking creations. It combines adaptogens, nootropics, and amino acids for a buzzy feeling without any alcohol. It’s great for day drinking because it does have 50 mg of caffeine, but the taste is spicy and grown-up, so this isn’t like a sugary energy drink. Somehow, you can also feel energized and relaxed all at once without any comedown. Best of all, it’s low in calories and sugar, too. I recommend trying a can of Bad Enough Already if it’s your first foray into Bonbuz. Next, I love me some Slowburn, which features the kick of a spicy jalapeño along with the flavors of blood orange – and yes, it’s warm going down.
Where to Buy: You’ll find the best prices on their website, where you can get 10% off when you put that order on repeat. A 12-Pack of Bad Enough Already can be as low as $4.28 a can. A Bottle of Slowburn is less than $40. They also have great limited-time bundles. Shipping is FREE on US Orders. You can also find a small selection at Bristol Farms or Lazy Acres Market.
Bonbuz Buz Combo
Mood Pouches
This product is BRAND NEW for 2026 and is called “Nature’s MDMA.” These mood pouches are made with Kanna, which is a plant that increases serotonin levels and reduces stress all at once. The first feeling is a natural energy, which is followed by a calm flow. The pouch also includes adaptogens and nootropics. It’s recommended to only have one every 24 hours.
The pouch form is made to be carried with you if you choose. You can throw it in a bag, and pregame with it before a night out. Personally, I still like a cocktail, so I put mine in a glass and add sparkling water to make it a proper drink.
Where to Buy: Mood pouches are only available on Bonbuz’s website at this moment, but I guarantee the industry will catch on soon enough to this amazing product. So watch out for copycats! Quantities range from 3 to 24 in a box. Pricing begins at around $7 a pouch but the more you buy, the less it is, and FREE SHIPPING kicks in at $70. So load up!
Bloody Mary sans the Mary
Have you seen the kind of Bloody Marys restaurants are serving these days? Most come with their own sidecar of mini hamburgers and hot dogs attached. So, for a completely satisfying drink without the alcohol, just go for broke with a fancy Bloody Mary at a restaurant. If you make it extra spicy, you won’t even miss the spirits.
Where to Buy: Two of my favorite spots to get them are Connie and Ted’s and Breakfast Republic in West Hollywood.
Photo Credit: Tuck Room Tavern
Non-Alcoholic Beer
Mango Cart Wheat Ale has all the taste of a light wheat beer with less than 0.5 % ABV. It’s available at Golden Road Brewery locations in Los Angeles, or you can pick them up in stores like Total Wine and Spirits.
Other non-alcoholic beer brands that don’t sacrifice on taste include Athletic Brewing Company. They specialize in Craft Beer made for people who prioritize their bodies, but still want to drink a full-bodied brew. They make a wide variety of flavors, like a Dark Coffee Lodge Life and a citrusy Sunset Stoke IPA. You can purchase on their website or even at your local Trader Joe’s.
Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% has also landed stateside, and the taste has that same grittiness that you expect from a Peroni, thanks to the Nostrano dell’Isola maize, but without the alcohol.
Where to Buy:Total Wine and Spirits sells a 6-pack of Mango Cart for $9.99. You’ll find Athletic Brewing Company on their website, where a 6-pack is about $13.99, and shipping is free over $50. Lastly, Peroni Nastro Azzuro 0.0% is also at Total Wine and Spirits for $9.99.
Cannabis-Infused and CBD Herbal Tea
Kikoko brand Cannabis tea is a female-owned company created by Amanda Jones and Jennifer Chapin following the passing of a dear friend with cancer who could never quite crack the cannabis code to get the relief she deserved. Together, they developed a brand of low-dose THC teas that use the different CBD oils necessary to tap into the parts of your brain to give you what is promised on the outside of the package. Sip a Tranquili-Tea if you want to sleep or a Positivi-Tea for improved mood and joy. You are promised a cup of hangover-free happiness.
Where to Buy: Kikoko is specific to California and is sold at many dispensaries and on their website.
Fancy Herbal Tea
If Cannabis Tea feels like you’re just swapping one vice for another, consider a more traditional herbal refreshment instead. What I love about tea is that it can be as much of a ceremony as a glass of wine at the end of a long day. Use a nice cup and saucer and really take in the smells and taste of a Chamomile Tea. Better yet, invest in a luxurious tea for yourself from a company like Tea Forte that offers stunning pyramid tea infusers with flavors like Blueberry Merlot and Turmeric Tantra Chai.
Where to Buy: Anywhere, and for as little as $3 a box! Tea Forte sells a chest of 40 Teas for $66.
Zero-proof cocktails are having a moment in Los Angeles. The days of going out and settling for seltzer with lime have been replaced with crafted cocktails like an Espresso Martini, from BOA Steakhouse, which uses lyre’s cane spirit, espresso, and strawberries to create a superb alcohol alternative. The Wine Station in DTLA also has a line of Zero Proof Cocktails to rival their wine pairings.
So go out and explore! And don’t be surprised when your drinking buddies start getting jealous of what you’re drinking instead of alcohol.
Tea is the best to substitute for alcohol for me. I prefer Tetley tea especially the raspherry and pomegranate
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