According to reports over 130,000 Brits took part in Dry January in 2022 and 35% of Americans participated too, successfully completing the month without a drop of alcohol. This health challenge first came about as part of a 2012 public health initiative driven by the charity organisation Alcohol Change UK, and since then, it’s become something of a worldwide phenomenon.
If you’re taking part this month, to help keep you on track, here are 9 booze-free essentials to choose from while you’re off the hard stuff.
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1. JUST Water infusions
The opposite of dehydrating yourself with alcohol and winding up with a banging headache is to go alcohol-free and stay well-hydrated, so let’s start with some delicious water options. Sitting around socialising for hours while everyone sips away at their wines, beers, and cocktails can get pretty dull if all you’re slurping on is plain water. If you really want to stick to super healthy alternatives, try JUST Water’s range of delicious infused waters, in lemon, mint, cherry, and blackcurrant flavours, available on Amazon.
2. Liquid Death Sparkling Water
Another water alternative is this sparkling water from Liquid Death. Not only is it a refreshing, bubbly mountain water that’s pure health, the design of the can will make it look like you’re drinking a beer or other boozy beverage.
3. Poppi Sparkling Prebiotic Soda
For an even greater health benefit to going alcohol-free, you can’t beat Poppi Sparkling Prebiotic Soda. With just 20 calories and a maximum of 5g sugar per can, these drinks feel like a treat while being good for you – the prebiotic component created with unfiltered apple cider vinegar will help to keep your gut happy, your skin glowing, and your immune system firing on all cylinders. Made with fresh fruit, these sodas come in Raspberry Rose, Strawberry Lemon, Orange, Watermelon, and Ginger Lime flavours.
4. Alcohol-free Heineken
If you’ve difficulty facing the month without the refreshment of a crisp, cold beer, then look no further. Dutch multinational brewing company, Heineken offers a non-alcoholic version of its famous malt brew with Heineken 0.0 – made from all-natural ingredients, Heineken 0.0 contains 0.05% alcohol at most, making it as good as alcohol-free.
5. Non-alcoholic Wines
As featured in the New York Times’ preferred choices for non-alcoholic sparkling rosés, we recommend the following:
Pierre Zero Rosé – with a subtle fruitiness, this rosé offers up a refreshing acidity, balancing out the richness.
Chateau Del ISH Sparkling Rosé – fruity, tart, and beautifully balanced.
Thomson & Scott Noughty Sparkling Rosé – floral and fruity, with a hint of strawberries and an appealing finish
For lovers of Chardonnay, the St. Regis Chardonnay is a crisp, delightful wine featuring subtle hints of apples and pears.
6. The Free Spirits Trifecta
The Free Spirits Trifecta is a collection of non-alcoholic Bourbon, Gin and Tequila from Free Spirits is a great option for party hosting, allowing you to serve up a variety of options to non-drinkers and those taking on Dry January (yourself included).
The Spirit of Bourbon is rich and oaky, the Spirit of Gin smooth, floral and bright, and the Spirit of Tequila features the same bold, fiery complexity as the real thing.
7. Ritual Zero Proof Gin and Tequila Alternatives
These award-winning gin and tequila alternatives from Ritual Zero-Proof are delicious, built for cocktail making, and keto, paleo, and low-carb diet-friendly.
The tequila alternative features the familiar zest of Mexican lime and earthy blue agave that traditional tequila provides, while the gin alternative gives a mouthwatering juniper and cucumber taste akin to the real thing.
8. Betty Buzz Ginger Beer
Blake Lively has followed in her equally famous husband’s footsteps and launched into the world of beverages, offering up a non-alcoholic brand called Betty Buzz. While Ryan Reynolds ventured into the alcohol space with Aviation Gin, Blake focused on making booze-free options that are worth the buzz. Full of bubbles, these mixers, including grapefruit and ginger beer varieties, also make for deliciously refreshing stand-alone drinks to treat yourself to.
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9. Unspiked by Cann – Variety Pack
Another non-alcoholic beverage range worth trying is Unspiked by Cann. These sweet, crisp, tasty craft tonics have just 35 calories or less per can for guilt-free indulgence. Flavours include Grapefruit Rosemary, Lemon Lavender, and Blood Orange Cardamom, all of which can be snapped up in a variety pack, so you don’t have to choose between them.
You do you
Deciding to commit to successfully completing dry January can be a lofty goal for some. Not only do some people drink regularly both at home and when out and about, but drinking alcohol forms such an embedded aspect of socialising for many, so it helps to have a plan. This range of booze-free options offers up both healthy choices and alcohol-esque options to help you feel part of the fun. Ideally, we shouldn’t ever feel pressured or compelled to drink alcohol because of the attitudes of those around us, but if you’re worried that a case of FOMO might make it hard to stick it out, you can use this list of inspired alternatives to get you through.
