Alcohol-Free Beer and Mocktails Offer Alternatives for Reducing Alcohol Intake, but They’re Not Suitable for Everyone

Several years into her sobriety, Logan Denzer decided to try nonalcoholic beer and mocktails while others around her drank real booze.

“Many people often feel out of place,” mentioned a 27-year-old from Los Angeles, referring to times when others are drinking. For them, these beverages are “an excellent solution.”

Millions of Americans share this sentiment, including those recovering from addiction, individuals reducing their alcohol intake, and the growing number of young adults who have decided to completely avoid alcohol.

This trend has led to a thriving industry. Recent studies indicate that consuming less alcohol or abstaining completely is a much healthier choice, as alcohol is associated with cancers, injuries, and numerous other issues.

However, health experts caution that nonalcoholic drinks aren’t suitable for everyone, especially if they might provoke cravings for alcohol. These so-called NA beverages are crafted to resemble alcohol in various ways, such as how they look, smell, and taste.

“It’s vital to understand that these products aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution,” stated Stanford University researcher Molly Bowdring. “While peers, friends, or family members might use them without issues, it’s crucial to reflect on your personal experiences.”

‘Zebra striping’ helps cut back on booze

Sales of nonalcoholic wines, beers, and spirits soared to $823 million last year. This data comes from market research firm NielsenIQ, which notes that more than nine out of ten NA customers also purchase alcohol.

“They’re wanting to not necessarily drink during the week, or they’re wanting to switch out at a particular occasion,” said Marcos Salazar of the Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association. “So they may have an alcoholic beverage and then an adult nonalcoholic beverage. That’s called zebra striping … and it kind of extends the night.”

Retiree Ann Kopp Mitchell, who recently tasted various NA beverages at Monday Morning Bottle Shop in San Diego, does a version of this.

“If I want a glass of wine with my dinner, I don’t feel guilty. I can enjoy that glass of wine. And if I wanna have a spirit because we’re celebrating someone’s birthday, or champagne, I will do that. But I’ll only have one, and then let it go, and then maybe go to a nonalcoholic,” she said. “It’s a way of continuing with that social pattern of drinking that I enjoy.”

While a typical beer has about 5% alcohol by volume, NA drinks are only allowed to have up to 0.5%, about the same as a ripe banana. People sometimes pick them when they don’t want to be intoxicated, like before exercise or driving.

More mocktails on the menu is a positive health trend — but watch the sugar

An online survey Bowdring conducted with colleagues found that the vast majority of people who drink both beverages say NA drinks help them reduce their alcohol use.

That makes their growing popularity a positive trend overall, said Dr. Joseph Lee, CEO of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, an addiction treatment and advocacy organization.

“More and more when I go to restaurants, mocktails are just offered, like they’re on the menu and it’s just part of the norm now,” said Lee, an expert in psychiatry and addiction medicine. “Those are really healthy things to see on a broader public health level.”

But there is a catch: Some drinks, like mocktails made with soda and sweet syrups, have high levels of sugar. The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to no more than about six teaspoons a day for women and nine teaspoons a day for men. A 12-ounce can of soda on its own contains 10 teaspoons.

Who should be wary of NA beverages?

The picture gets murkier for people with drinking problems.

Those entering treatment for alcohol use disorder say they’ve had mixed success using NA beverages to reduce or stop their drinking, Bowdring said.

“They do contain a lot of the alcohol-related cues,” she said. “Because they are so similar to alcohol, it could be that they actually trigger craving for full strength alcohol and may lead people to revert to alcohol use.”

When Denzer first got sober seven years ago, she and her friends avoided drinking NA beverages.

“We were pretty opposed to it because we were like, ‘Well, this tastes like beer and we’re a year sober, and so we’re going to associate that taste with actual alcohol,’” said Denzer, who was treated at Hazelden Betty Ford. “As time went on, we became more open to it.”

But it’s not for everyone, she said, “particularly for people who are either newer in recovery or who are on shaky ground.”

Experts agreed that NA drinks are more appropriate for those further along in recovery.

“Everyone’s journey is going to be a little bit different,” Bowdring said. “I encourage folks to just sort of be aware of how these drinks are impacting them.”

That’s the bottom line, even for those who aren’t dealing with alcoholism.

You should have “an honest appraisal, without judgment, about your own health risk in much the same way that most people can look at their family history and gauge their risk for everything from diabetes to breast cancer,” Lee said. “What it comes down to is: You really need to know yourself.”

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Video journalist Javier Arciga contributed to this story from San Diego.

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