What Can I Drink at Night to Replace Alcohol?

How do you unwind after a long day? If it’s with a boozy drink in your hand, you’re not alone. Based on alcoholic beverage sales data, the average American consumes 1.35 drinks per day. Whether it’s beer, wine, or a cocktail, it’s easy to get in the habit of having a drink at night with dinner, or while watching your favorite show before bed.

If you’re looking to cut back, you might be wondering: what can I drink at night to replace alcohol? The good news is, there are dozens of alcohol alternatives that have hit the market over the last decade. Many of them taste identical to their full-proof counterparts.

Today non-alcoholic options go way beyond a club soda with lime, although that is an easy swap for your nightly vodka cocktail! You can now visit your local liquor store and find non-alcoholic beer, alcohol-free wine, and even zero-proof spirits.

Restaurants and bars are also starting to add mocktails to the menu. Replacing alcoholic drinks at night has never been easier.

What Is a Good Replacement for Wine?

If drinking red, white, or sparkling wine is one of your nightly rituals, here are some delicious alternatives.

• Red wine: If you love the sweet and bold taste of red wine, try substituting pomegranate or cherry juice. If you want something a little more authentic, ARIEL has an alcohol-free Cabernet Sauvignon that will pair perfectly with your dinner. You could also try sipping on the non-alcoholic California red blend by YOURS.
• White wine: If you enjoy the crisp, dryness of a glass of white wine, a simple alternative is a glass of apple or white grape juice. And for fancier occasions, you can sip on alcohol-removed chardonnay from Fre Wines. Another genuine substitute is the non-alcoholic Sauvignon Blanc by Surely.
• Sparkling wine: If you’re a fan of champagne or prosecco, sparkling juice is an easy swap. Martinelli & Co sparkling cider has been popular with adults and kids for over 100 years. Another more adult option is TÖST alcohol-free sparkling beverages. You can also go with Noughty dealcoholized sparkling chardonnay.

Are non-alcoholic beers really non-alcoholic?

In the United States, products labeled as alcohol-free and non-alcoholic must not exceed 0.5 percent alcohol by volume (ABV).

You may find some beers at the store that have 0.0% on the label, but in many cases, they will still contain small traces of alcohol. For example, Heineken 0.0 contains 0.05% ABV. When consuming a non-alcoholic beer that has 0.5% ABV, you’re consuming the same amount of alcohol as a commercially brewed kombucha, or a ripe banana. If you’re looking to drink less beer at night, having a non-alcoholic beer is a simple solution.

Non-alcoholic beers have fewer calories and will most likely not cause any intoxication. Some authentic options are Athletic Brewing and Two Roots Brewing.

Do non-alcoholic spirits taste like alcohol?

More recently than alcohol-free beer and wine, non-alcoholic spirits have made a debut on the market. Similar to non-alcoholic beer, most non-alcoholic spirits contain up to 0.5% ABV.

These alcohol-free spirit alternatives taste almost identical to their full-proof counterparts, allowing you to craft authentic mocktails. If you’re really after the taste of alcohol, make sure to look for brands that use traditional distillation methods, instead of a syrup and water method.

Spiritless, a non-alcoholic spirits brand, uses a proprietary reverse distillation process to capture all the familiar notes of your favorite bourbon and tequila, giving your nightly cocktail the exact taste you’re looking for. With Spiritless, you can enjoy a non-alcoholic margarita, or a non-alcoholic whiskey sour, without any guilt!

Can non-alcoholic drinks give you a hangover?

By switching to zero-proof or non-alcoholic drinks, you’re cutting out most of the negative effects of alcohol consumption, including the hangover. Alcohol is said to cause dehydration, poor sleep, and inflammation, all of which may result in an unpleasant next morning.

If you want to wake up feeling your best, stick to low-sugar and decaffeinated non-alcoholic beverages. If you’re drinking sodas instead of beer, the caffeine and sugar might result in a headache the next morning.

Another benefit of not drinking alcohol at night is preventing hangxiety, which is defined as having anxious feelings the morning after consuming alcohol. Often a couple of drinks can cause us to act a way we normally do not act, resulting in feelings of embarrassment and regret the next morning.

How many alcohol-free nights should you have?

If you’re consuming alcohol every night of the week, it could be difficult to stop completely. Try setting goals, like cutting out alcohol one night a week, then two nights a week, and continue to cut back in a way that is sustainable to you.

After incorporating alcohol-free options into your nightly routine, you can even try the goal of going alcohol-free for an entire month. Research has found that those who participate in Dry January find themselves consuming significantly less alcohol in the months following.

Having more alcohol-free evenings throughout your week gives your liver more time to recover. And should also help improve your sleep!

How can I destress without alcohol?

Boozy drinks are not only consumed because of their flavorful taste but they are also enjoyed for their relaxing effect. Drinking alcohol is a form of habit. For example, after a long day of work, you find yourself pouring a glass of wine the second you get home. In order to break this habit, you need to have a plan for when you are triggered.

For example, after a long work day, you plan to react by calling a friend, going on a walk, or journaling your thoughts. You should then reward yourself with a glass of alcohol-free wine later in the evening while watching a funny show. Rewards are a big part of forming healthy habits.

Regular exercise has also been proven to manage stress levels and improve quality of life. Even just 10-minutes a day can make a huge difference!

Planning to give up alcohol? Try Spiritless.

Once you join the low- and no-alcohol community, you will find that the options of what to drink at night are almost endless! You will soon discover all the alcoholic drinks you used to have at night can now be enjoyed alcohol-free, with the same flavors and feels.

Spiritless non-alcoholic bourbon, non-alcoholic tequila, and non-alcoholic cocktail cans are some of the best substitutes out there. Get 15% off your first order with discount code FIRST15. Don’t love every sip? That’s okay, they have a money-back guarantee!