The Best Non-Alcoholic Drinks: Wine, Champagne, Beer, Cocktails and Social Tonics

Not drinking does not have to mean sparkling water with a lime wedge and a brave face.

The world of non-alcoholic drinks has become far more interesting in the last few years. There is non-alcoholic wine for dinner, non-alcoholic beer for the game, sparkling bottles for celebrations, canned cocktails for the fridge and an entirely newer category of drinks that are not trying to imitate alcohol at all.

That last group includes social tonics.

So, if you are drinking less, taking a night off or simply want something good at 4pm without writing off tomorrow morning, here is how the main options compare.

Non-alcoholic wine

Non-alcoholic wine is usually made by producing wine conventionally and then removing most or all of the alcohol. The idea is simple: keep as much of the aroma, acidity and structure of wine as possible, minus the alcohol.

Results vary. Some are genuinely impressive. Others remind you fairly quickly how much alcohol contributes to the body and texture of a glass of wine.

If you are looking for the best non-alcoholic wine, start with the occasion rather than the label. A crisp white or rosé can work well with food, while sparkling options tend to have an easier time recreating the celebratory feel people associate with traditional wine.

In other words, do not expect a perfect copy. Look for something you actually enjoy drinking.

Non-alcoholic champagne and sparkling wine

People often search for non-alcoholic champagne, although technically Champagne refers to wine produced in the Champagne region of France. What you will usually find in the non-alcoholic aisle is alcohol-free sparkling wine.

And honestly, sparkling makes a lot of sense.

Bubbles bring texture, acidity brings freshness and the whole thing already feels like an occasion. If you want something for a toast, brunch, wedding or dinner party, non-alcoholic sparkling wine is one of the easiest swaps to make.

Non-alcoholic beer

Non-alcoholic beer is probably the most established part of the category, and breweries have become very good at it.

You can now find alcohol-free lagers, IPAs, wheat beers and stouts that taste remarkably close to the originals. For anyone who genuinely likes beer but does not always want the alcohol that comes with it, this is a pretty straightforward win.

The downside is also obvious. It is still beer.

If what you are really looking for is a different kind of adult drink rather than a copy of something alcoholic, there are more interesting places to look.

Non-alcoholic cocktails

The non-alcoholic cocktail category covers everything from bartender-made mocktails to bottled aperitifs, zero-proof spirits and ready-to-drink cans.

Some are excellent. Some contain an ingredient list long enough to require a second drink.

The best versions focus on what makes a cocktail satisfying in the first place: bitterness, acidity, spice, aroma, texture and a little complexity. They are not sweet soda dressed up in better glassware.

That same thinking is what has opened the door for another kind of non-alcoholic drink.

Social tonics: something different

A social tonic does not need to pretend to be wine, beer or a cocktail.

Fable was built around that idea.

We start with the drink itself. Real fruit, herbs and spices. Adult flavors. Light sparkle. Recipes designed to be enjoyed slowly rather than tolerated because someone told you the ingredients were good for you.

Fable comes in flavors including Citrus Spice, White Peach Lemon-Rosemary, Blackberry Ginger-Mint and White Tea Honey-Lemon, with magnesium and L-theanine included as a little natural help for the transition from the day into whatever comes next.

Dinner. The couch. A dog walk. Friends coming over. Tuesday.

No big occasion required.

That is really the point of a social tonic. It gives you something that feels considered without making you feel like you are missing the “real” drink.

Which non-alcoholic drink should you choose?

It depends what you actually want.

If you love wine and want something familiar with dinner, try a good non-alcoholic wine. If you want a celebratory pour, sparkling wine is an easy choice. If you miss a cold beer, the non-alcoholic beer aisle is now genuinely worth exploring. If you want complex, cocktail-style flavors, there are plenty of excellent zero-proof options.

But if you are not looking for a replacement at all, try a social tonic.

Sometimes the best non-alcoholic drink is the one that stops trying to be alcohol.

Where to buy non-alcoholic drinks

Wondering where to buy non-alcoholic drinks? Most major grocery stores now carry at least some non-alcoholic wine and beer, while specialty bottle shops and online retailers usually offer a much wider range of non-alcoholic cocktails and sparkling wines.

If you are looking specifically for Fable, the easiest place to start is online at FableSocialTonic.com, with retail and hospitality availability expanding over time.

Because drinking less should still leave you with something worth drinking.

Want to understand what makes a social tonic different from the rest? Read What Is a Social Tonic?