What can I drink instead of Alcohol?

Cutting down your alcohol intake has a huge variety of health benefits. It boosts your long-term physical health, gives you a healthier appearance, can significantly improve your mental health, and even help you to lose weight. But once you’ve cut out these alcoholic drinks, you might find that you’re struggling to fill the beverage void left behind.

In the following article, we’ll take you through some of our favourite alcohol substitutes; what makes them so good, and why you should swap out your pints for them!

Non-Alcoholic Alternatives

Alcohol-free alternatives are an obvious first suggestion; encompassing drinks like alcohol-free beers, gins and many more. Alcohol-free drinks are particularly useful for those looking to wean themselves from regular drinking, as they offer something very similar to the real thing and serve as a smoother transition away from regular alcoholic drinks.

For example, if you’re the type of person that enjoys a drink at a certain time of day; maybe with your dinner, or when you get home from work, an alcohol-free alternative serves as a healthier substitute for this habitual behaviour. This allows you to enjoy that 6PM pint, without the negative effects of the alcohol. 

Kombucha

Kombucha is a fermented drink, made from sweetened tea and unique symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts; colloquially known as Scoby. It is a fizzy soft drink known for having a mildly sour taste, and has grown in popularity in recent years as it represents a healthy alternative to both processed fizzy drinks, and alcoholic beverages as well as potentially having a whole host of health benefits, due to the drink being a good source of healthy probiotics, vitamins and minerals. Plus, being under 0.5% alcohol makes it the perfect alternative to strong alcoholic drinks. 

Coconut Water

As the name suggests, coconut water is the clear liquid found inside coconuts; and with its wide array of general health benefits, it makes for the perfect alternative to alcoholic drinks. For one, it serves as an all-natural way to add minerals and key electrolytes like potassium and calcium to your diet, cut out sodium and keep you hydrated- all while being low in calories. You can find coconut water in a variety of different brands and flavours, making it a relatively easy (and healthy) replacement to find for your alcoholic drinks. 

Sophisticated Soft Drinks

With more and more people turning their backs on boozy drinks, there has been a rise in recent years of new brands of soft drinks, that are striving to provide the more grown-up tastes of alcohol but without the drawbacks. Drinks like Ginger Beer, the Belvoir range (which includes drinks like Elderflower Presse and natural Lemonades) and J20 Juices all offer interesting flavours that can help to replace your alcoholic evening tipples. Just be aware of their sugar content as they can be quite high – make sure you don’t overdo it! 

Shrubs

Shrubs are somewhat similar to Kombucha, in that they offer a unique, tangy taste that can be an effective replacement for your alcoholic drinks- especially when drunk alongside food. Shrubs are a non-alcoholic syrup, made with a combination of concentrated fruits, aromatics, sugar and vinegar, usually enjoyed as a mixed drink alongside things like soda water. They can also be made at home provided you have the right ingredients, giving you an easy alcohol replacement to enjoy at home or on the go. 

Tasty Teas

Tea is a well-loved national drink that comes in a wide variety of forms- and what they all have in common is that they make for a great alcohol replacement. Green Tea is probably one of the healthiest drinks on the planet, being loaded with nutrients, antioxidants, with many powerful effects on the body; including inhibiting blood clots, encouraging fat loss and improving brain function. Plus, there is a range of herbal teas, such as Elderflower and Liquorice, that can help lower the risk of chronic disease and boost your immune system. Shaun and Emma like to play herbal tea pot-luck! 

These were just a few of our favourite alcohol alternatives. Hopefully, you will have found something in this blog to incorporate into your diet, that will help you to cut down on the alcohol and live a healthier lifestyle! For more articles on how you can drink less, you can view our range of LiveWell Drink Less blog articles here or contact us about our services relating to cutting down alcohol.