No Booze, No Problem: The Best Non-Alcoholic Drinks For Dry January
January is always a time for reflection on the year just gone, and for a sense of renewal and optimism about the one ahead. After the Christmas and New Year festivities — and their inevitable excesses — it’s only natural to draw up a few healthier resolutions for the coming months. For many, that means giving up alcohol altogether, or at least cutting back.
What’s changed, however, is that this shift is no longer confined to Dry January (or Sober October later in the year), nor is it a passing fad. One third of UK consumers now regularly choose a no- or low-alcohol “spirits” drink when out socialising, and crucially, they’re doing so all year round rather than as a temporary reset.
The numbers back it up. Nearly 100 million people were recruited into the category in the post-COVID years between 2022 and 2024, according to the IWSR — with 61 million entering the no-alcohol sector and a further 38 million opting for low-ABV alternatives. Those surveyed spanned Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, South Africa, Spain, the UK and the USA, underlining the truly global nature of the shift.
The result is an ever-growing selection of sophisticated, award-winning drinks that deliver genuine depth, balance and complexity — all without the hangover. What was once a niche corner of the bar has become a fully fledged category in its own right, with supermarkets and specialist retailers now offering extensive no- and low-ABV ranges.
From spirit alternatives designed for proper mixing, to modern soft drinks and easy mocktails that feel considered rather than compensatory, the choice has never been broader or better. Here are seven standout options, and a few smart ways to drink them.
7 Non-Alcoholic Drinks to Try Now
Botivo
This handcrafted non-alcoholic aperitif is the current zero-per-cent darling of the bartending world. Made in small batches on Lannock Farm in the English county of Hertfordshire, Botivo is rooted in a distinctly slow, considered approach to production.
The recipe combines apple cider vinegar, honey and a carefully balanced selection of botanicals, including rosemary, thyme and wormwood. The result is a complex, heady flavour profile with real bite and depth. Served long with soda or tonic — or used as the backbone of a low-effort cocktail — Botivo delivers a natural, grown-up alternative to alcohol that never feels like a compromise.
Guinness 0.0
Arguably the best zero-per cent beer on the market right now. While many alcohol-free beers suffer from a watery mouthfeel or lacklustre flavour, Guinness has absolutely nailed it. Since launching in late 2020, Guinness 0.0 has taken the world by storm, helped along by glowing consumer feedback, celebrity fans and characteristically smart advertising.
Most importantly, there’s virtually no difference in taste or experience compared to a regular pint of the black stuff — whether poured properly in a pub or cracked open from a can at home.
Smooth, creamy and unmistakably Guinness. Genius, frankly.
Ish Cocktails
Danish producer Ish describes itself as ‘the mindful drinking company,’ and it’s a positioning that feels well-earned. The brand has built an impressive portfolio of zero-per cent options spanning wines, spirits and, most notably, an excellent range of pre-mixed cocktails.
These ready-to-drink mocktails have won awards around the world and include standouts such as the refreshing Gin-Ish & Tonic, the Spritz-Ish aperitif, and the zesty Lime Daiquir-Ish — a convincing, citrus-forward take on the classic rum daiquiri.
Well-balanced, genuinely enjoyable, and dangerously easy to keep stocked in the fridge. Try them. You won’t regret it.
Lyre’s
The Lyre’s collection of non-alcoholic ‘spirits’ is second to none. With one of the most diverse portfolios in the category, the brand offers convincing 0% alternatives to gin, whisky, rum and even absinthe — all designed to mirror the structure and flavour cues of their alcoholic counterparts.
It’s the liqueur-style expressions where Lyre’s really flexes, though. The Italian Spritz (and we defy anyone to taste it and say it’s not Aperol), Aperitivo Rosso (ditto for Campari), plus both sweet and dry vermouths, are impressively close to the real thing.
Add in a superb range of pre-mixed canned mocktails and you’ve got a brand that deserves a permanent spot on your drinks shelf.
Seedlip
Seedlip was the first non-alcoholic brand to truly break into the mainstream retail and bar scene. Since launching in 2015, it has grown from a curiosity into a genuine category pioneer and market leader, helping to reshape how we think about alcohol-free drinking.
Crucially, Seedlip doesn’t attempt to replicate the flavours of existing alcoholic drinks. Instead, it focuses on creating distinct, botanical-led liquids that are versatile, mixable and deliberately their own thing.
The range comprises three expressions — the fresh Garden 108, zesty Grove 42, and peppery Spice 94 — all of which make excellent zero-per cent G&Ts and reward a little experimentation.
Tanqueray 0.0
Arguably the best zero-per cent ‘gin’ on the market — and one with the awards to back it up. Tanqueray 0.0 recently won a coveted Master medal at The Spirits Business No & Low Masters, going on to take the Taste Master prize as Best in Class for 2026.
The replication of Tanqueray’s signature citrus-forward profile, balanced with juniper and gentle spice, is exquisitely handled. It delivers the familiarity gin drinkers crave without feeling thin or compromised.
Ideal in a crisp, refreshing G&T, but equally enjoyable served simply over ice.
Toby & Co. ‘The Green One’
The Green One is aiming to redefine what a soft drink can be. This debut release contains no added sugar, artificial colours, preservatives or sweeteners, and is suitable for vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free lifestyles without the compromise.
A carefully chosen mix of natural ingredients creates something genuinely distinctive. Green tea, reishi mushrooms, ginseng and sea salt form the backbone, supported by English, Alpine and Mediterranean herbs. It’s complex, savoury and quietly energising. Excellent over ice on its own, or used as a mixer with a zero-per cent ‘spirit’ when you want something more involved.
3 Modern Mocktails To Try
The rise of no- and low-alcohol drinking hasn’t just reshaped what’s on the shelf — it’s changed how we drink, too. Increasingly, alcohol-free options are being treated with the same care and creativity as classic cocktails, designed to be mixed, garnished and enjoyed properly rather than simply sipped as substitutes.
From next-generation soft drinks to easy, impressive mocktails, these are the bottles and builds proving that flavour, ritual and occasion don’t need alcohol to shine.
The No-groni
This non-alcoholic take on the classic Negroni delivers surprising depth and is built in exactly the same way as the original. The beauty of a Negroni is its simplicity — three ingredients, equal parts, no fuss.
For your No-groni, use Tanqueray 0.0, Lyre’s Aperitivo Rosso and Lyre’s 0% vermouth. Add equal measures of each to a tumbler filled with ice, give it a gentle stir, then garnish with a twist of orange peel.
Bitter, balanced and convincingly grown-up.
The Pal-no-ma
The Paloma is one of the world’s most popular tequila-based cocktails, prized for its freshness and drinkability. A satisfying alcohol-free version can be made by swapping agave spirits for a botanical base such as Botivo, whose earthy, herbal notes work beautifully here.
To build, fill a tumbler or highball glass with ice, add 25ml of Botivo, then pour in 75ml of grapefruit juice and top with soda water. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit.
Fresh, uplifting and dangerously easy to drink.
The Shirley Temple
This sweet, non-alcoholic classic predates the modern mocktail movement by decades. Created in the 1930s for child film star Shirley Temple, it was designed so she could enjoy a special drink alongside adults at Hollywood events — although Temple herself later claimed it was too sweet for her taste.
To make it, fill a tall highball glass with ice and pour in ginger ale (lemon-lime soda also works) almost to the top. Stir through two teaspoons of grenadine and garnish with a maraschino cherry.
Nostalgic, playful and still a crowd-pleaser.
