If you’ve had to regretfully quit/ decrease booze in perimenopause, what are your grown-up ‘treat’ drink alternatives?

[DelinquentSnails]

I’m currently sitting on the sofa with a hangover, having had a sleepless night as various teens in sporty attire wander past with judgy eyes. After a mere two glasses of Malbec last night. Nowadays, I can have a glass of lightish white wine twice a week, but anything more leads to physical misery and existential angst.

I’ve never been a huge drinker, but love good wine and detest very sweet drinks. I can’t touch artificial sweeteners. I love non alcoholic beer and drink that in preference to normal beer, with a bbq or curry.

Any tips for lovely, non alcoholic tipples I can put in a posh glass with ice and lemon for a treat?

I like the non-alcoholic gin and tonics in a can - I haven’t tried the bottled stuff but assume it would be similar. I think because the tonic has such a strong taste you don’t really notice the lack of gin.

I like Trip drinks.

Absolutely love Mother Root, with a slice of lime and soda. Its isnt cheap but less than I spent on gin and lasts much longer as I just have one

Mother Root Ginger | Award Winning Alcohol-Free Aperitif – MOTHER ✸ ROOT https://share.google/LCSkR5wLSGlMvo2ib

Thank you! I’m going to buy a bottle of Mother Root and to give it to go.

This is a really stupid question about Trip drinks and I was clearly heavily influenced by the 1980s ‘just say no’ campaign, but do they actually have psychic effects or are they just a nice tasting drink?

Kombucha.

I like the Fevertree tonics on their own, esp the blue Mediterranean one.

But mostly I just drink tea now! 🙈

Martini vibrante - serve over ice with citrus peel

Posh tonic water with rosemary and ice

Sparkling water with fresh lime juice - and a dash of tabasco.

A lot of it is in the serving - a nice heavy glass, and ice.

Tonic, ice and a slice of lemon. I can convince myself I'm drinking gin.

Cranberry juice and sparkling water. Looks so pretty in the glass and very refreshing.

Belvoir ginger cordial with tonic with ice and a slice. It's got a proper kick - all natural ingredients and a darn sight cheaper than Mother Root!

I just can't get on board with these non-alcoholic beverages at almost £30 a bottle when there is not even any tax or duty on them. Feels like daylight robbery.

For sparkling then Nozeco is pretty good and inly about £3.50 a bottle and widely available. In a flute it hits good for the ritual feeling of having a treat.

Perimenopause had zero affect on me drinking, which was a shame as I was drinking too much! So I cut down for that reason.
Fever Tree do an Italian spritz (like aperol spritz) which is lovely. And I like Real blush which is a fake rose but it actually tastes like an alcoholic drink. Waitrose do them both in cans at 4 for the price of 3. That’s what I tend to drink on alcohol free nights.

They do absolutely nothing. Zero relaxation effect for me. Just a nice(ish) sparkling drink. Not even that nice tbh - the taste doesn’t merit the price.

I feel your pain on the drinking front. I really like Guinness 0%. I think it’s the best of the non alcoholic beers.

I went to a friend’s birthday party last night and had two pints, came home and barely slept and now have a headache. So tedious. I used to love a big night out!

Purdy’s is the go to treat here. There are different flavours which are good too but we prefer the original.

This made me chuckle as I'm also influenced by the 'Just say no!' of the 1980s - I don't want to end up like Zammo! I haven't tried any CBD drinks as a result, but I knock back wine without a second thought, until recently, when it means I feel like I have not slept at all the next day. Damn perimenopause.

I do quite like the mexican lime Punchy drinks.

I love Tanqueray 0% gin with The London Company blood orange & elderflower tonic water (both available at Tescos). Gin £12 with a clubcard atm. I first had the gin at a pub & genuinely thought the barman had made a mistake. Remember getting emotional as I believed I had fallen off the wagon!

I second Belvoir cordial but have mine with sparkling water.

Another Mother Root fan here, also Pentire coastal spritz

https://pentiredrinks.com/
Which I prefer to the sip Smith type drinks.
Captain Morgan zero goes very nicely with the fancy ginger ales.

Agree on the pricing, but I like them and it gives DH something to buy me as a present so i put up with it.

This is fab. Add ice, lime and a straw!

My picture of non alcoholic gin under review

Don't worry, the Trip drinks do absolutely nothing. There is a brand called Good Rays which has more CBD- I find their flavours a bit nicer and they give a very slight numbing effect on the tongue (woohoo party! Rock n roll kids) but I find a glass of tonic water is usually my go to when I want a drink that's not water, and not sweet.

Second this. I have just discovered Remedy in cans from Tesco

This sounds weird I know but in summer I like to drink fizzy water with a splash of red wine vinegar, just enough to give it a tinge of pink. Because it’s not sweet it actually feels like a grown up drink if you can forget how you made it! I think I saw it recommended on here originally.

Trip
Mother root, although I shall give the Belvoir ginger a go as well.
Nozeco

i find the presentation of any alternative is partly what helps it to ‘work’ so nice glass, ice, lemon, whatever floats your boat.