A quick guide to non-alc drinks – and 6 to try

Not so long ago, if you wanted a non-alcoholic drink, you had a choice of soft drink or juice – or maybe a combination of the two dressed up to look like a cocktail. But gone are the days of super sweet, uninspired alcohol-free drinks – we now have a vast selection of genuinely delicious options. 

From zero% beers that actually taste like beer and alcohol-free wines in every style to spirit alternatives that cover the full spectrum, these drinks are thriving. And it’s not just about us having more choice – these are real, quality drinks. If you’re keen to know more, and ready to try some great ones, read on.

There are obviously a lot of drinks that are naturally non-alcoholic, but in this context, we’re talking about alcohol-free alternatives to traditional beers, wine and spirits. Despite the name, however, many non-alc alternatives have an official ABV of 0.5% or less, so there are still traces of alcohol to be mindful of in there.

Most importantly, they offer excellent options for non-drinkers – being able to cheers with a flute of non-alcoholic sparkling wine instead of a can of soft drink is a worthy experience. But everyone else is increasingly adding them to their usual rotation, too – there’s barely a drinks list without a solid non-alc selection these days. It’s now pretty common to start a night with a non-alcoholic beer or crack a zero% premix in the middle of a party, especially when they taste this good.

Most of the traits and characters we love in alcoholic drinks comes from the actual alcohol. This is what gives wine, for example, its acidity and texture – that grippy feeling on the palate with each sip – but those making non-alc wines are focused on blending and finessing it in the winery to make it as complex as it can be. 

For anyone not going completely alcohol free but looking for lighter options, mid-strength wines can provide excellent options. Sitting at around 7% to 8% ABV, there are some good examples that balance lower alcohol with texture and flavour. That said, non-alcoholic wines have improved in recent years, particularly across sparklings, whites and rosés.

The same can be said for spirits, but brands like Lyre’s and Noot are among the growing number of producers delivering an array of alternatives, from bitter red liqueur swaps to rum, gin and more. Use them as a base in all kinds of cocktails, and you’re in for a very good time. And if your idea of prepping a drink involves nothing more than opening a can, there are also plenty of refreshing zero% premixes now, too.

That leaves non-alcoholic beers, which remain the best dupes of the lot. There are so many great options out there, with brands like Heaps Normal leading the charge. But now so many different brewers, both here in Australia and overseas, make a quality non-alc beer. They’re fizzy, flavourful and refreshing, which is just what we like in a beer.