Raise a glass to finishing out 2021, and then put it back down again for the rest of January.
Many are hoping to participate in the month known as “Dry January” this year, which is 31 whole days of no alcohol following one of the booziest months of the year.
Honestly, these past two years have been pretty drunken, given the state of the world. According to a study by the National Institute of Health, there are many pandemic-related reasons why people have been turning to the hard stuff during these hard times.
“This may have been due to increased stress, loss of daily structure, greater time availability, or boredom,” reads the study.
An NYU article from January 2021 confirmed this, and correlated an uptick in drinking to those coping with anxiety and depression, creating a self-reporting survey of Americans in which 29 percent reported an increase in their alcohol use during the pandemic.
In addition to learning other healthy coping mechanisms and seeking help for serious drinking dependencies, for those that want to try alternative beverages sans alcohol, there are many companies out there ready to toast to that idea.
Aside from the health benefits of laying off alcohol for a bit, non-alcoholic drinks are perfect for pregnant people who want a fancy drink, under-21 folks who want to celebrate with their older peers and those who are the designated drivers of the group, to name a few.
Whether you want to quit alcohol cold turkey or just have a glass or two less per week, these tasty mocktails, bubbly beverages and non-alcoholic beers will get you through “Dry January” feeling healthier and we hope happier, too.
Create a new ritual this year with non-alcoholic versions of your favorite spirits.
Ritual Zero Proof makes non-boozy dupes of tequila, rum, whiskey and gin, allowing you to craft almost any cocktail with none of the alcohol. A single bottle of each costs just $29, while a subscription will save you some cash, at $26.09 for a 750ml bottle.
Don’t be bitter about going alcohol free when you have Ghia around.
This bitter-tasting aperitif is a great alternative to the hard stuff, made with notes of citrus, ginger and other botanicals. Choose the Le Spritz soda ($18+) for a carbonated drink or the classic Ghia Aperitif ($33) for a beautiful amber bottle to mix or enjoy on the rocks.
Does sober drinking have you curious? Satisfy that curiosity with Curious Elixirs.
The drink brand currently has a lineup of six different non-alcoholic concoctions, including drinks inspired by a Negroni, a Dark and Stormy, a Blood Orange Spritz and more, starting at $36 per bottle or a subscription at $30 per bottle.
Raise your spirits with a drink that is alcohol free but full of the flavors you love.
Spirity Cocktails are sold on Amazon in their four bestselling flavors: Mindful Mule, Mindful Negroni, Mindful Margarita and Mindful Apricot Sour. They are mindful, as they don’t contain any alcohol and are all 40 calories or less, making for a guilt-free way to sip through the year.
If you crave a gin and tonic but hate the hangover, try this next time.
Ceder’s has a new way to enjoy the botanical taste of gin without any of the alcohol, due to their distilling technology and proprietary recipe. They come in three different flavors including a classic one, a juniper-forward Crisp flavor and a more spicy and woody Wild drink, each sold on The Whisky Exchange’s website for $23.
For a fully stocked bar cart with none of the alcohol, Lyre’s has you covered and then some.
Not only are the bottles extremely aesthetically pleasing to look at, they come in an expansive range of flavors that any home-mixologist would go crazy for. Browse their selection and stock up on non-alcoholic spritzes, malts, aperitifs and more, each $35.99 for the 750ml size bottle.
We’re optimistic you can stick to your goal of not drinking as much, especially with these bottles at home.
Optimist Drinks is a beautiful botanical brand that we can’t wait to share with you. The beverages are not only alcohol free but also sugar free and calorie free, so you can drink and mix to your heart’s content. They come in three different flavors including the citrus-focused Bright, wild-herbs and anise flavored Fresh and a smoky and spicy blend aptly called Smokey, each sold for $35 for 500ml.
Be wild and free, without the temptation of alcohol.
Free Spirits are just that — an alcohol-free spirit inspired by bourbon, tequila or gin bit with none of the booze. Each flavor comes in a 750ml size for $37, or get all three for a discount, currently on sale for $80.
Here’s to you, 2022.
Raise a non-alcoholic glass of bubbly to the folks at Töst, who sells their two-pack of sparkling deliciousness on Food52 for $99. Get a rosé and a champagne-inspired drink, both made from tea and other botanicals and fruits to achieve the dry and bubbly taste of the classic drink without the headache afterward.
Set yourself free from alcohol, but don’t sacrifice your after-dinner glass of wine.
Fre is an alcohol-free line of wine from Sutter Home, now sold in an array of flavors at Drizly. They have the full wine cellar available in zero-proof options, including a sparking brut for celebrations, chardonnay, merlot, cabernet, rosé and more.
Beer lovers, here’s something for you.
More than something, rather, as Gruvi makes an IPA, a pale ale and a stout all 100% alcohol-free. They even have a Dry January Sampler Pack, which comes with a four pack of each of the beers listed above, as well as a four pack of rosé and a four pack of Prosecco for the wine-lovers, all zero-proof and all for $59 total.
Why have hair of the dog when Hairless Dog tastes just as great without the hangover?
Sample this zero-proof beer and more with the Better Rhodes Staff Favorite pack, coming with six different non-alcoholic beers in a six or a 12 pack to share with buddies. The selections are made by the team at Better Rhodes, which specializes in alcohol free wine, beer and spirits for a better road into 2022.
Bringing a bottle of wine to a party is old news. Bring this non-alcoholic mocktail set to your next gathering and be the star of the show.
The kit is sold on Amazon, and comes with four different flavors of Wildwonder probiotic sparkling drinks, that also make amazing mixers for those who do choose to drink or to combine with any of the zero-proof spirits from above. The set also comes with a silver jigger, shaker, muddler and a recipe book to help inspire their next favorite mocktail.