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?

Another vote for Belvoir ginger with sparkling water it's my go to drink - I love it.
I also super enjoy Tanquarey 00 - I think NA gin is generally pretty good as you can have the botanicals without alcohol.

Most of the non alcoholic sparkling wines are very sweet but I quite enjoy the Thompson and Scott Noughty sparkling wine - there's also a rose.

Not a spirit, but we like Impossibrew, which is a very low alcohol lager. Not too high in calories either 😀

I‘ve moved on to cheese…

Sparkling water with a slice of lemon can feel surprisingly decadent.

0.5% lager or sessions white wine 3% with a dash of elderflower cordial

I love Crodino, as mentioned by a previous poster, and Fevertree tonic with ice and lime (and perhaps a teaspoon of gin).

Low-alcohol wines are also growing in popularity - there are some really delicious Rieslings in the 7-10% zone.

I’ve been drinking wine or Prosecco but mixed with soda water op! I’d be sipping the same glass for ages cus I topped it up with soda 🤷‍♀️ I guess your kind of having a drink but mostly it’s just soda 🤣🤣🤣

Iv Just gone to sparkling water different fruits in it. Any alcohol now make me ill, weirdly tonic water gives me insomnia and headaches

Louis thanks for this - looks great - just ordered

Get a liver scan.
Alcohol intolerance in middle-age is a sign of fatty liver disease.
Non-alcoholic beers still contain up to 0.5% of alcohol and are full of additives which also stress out your liver.

Wine is delicious but your liver literally ends up as foie gras.

I have recently given up drinking also as the after effects were just awful- even after just 1 or 2.
I find Hip pop soda or kombucha a really good for when I want something different or Belvoir cordial or the sparkling cocktails are really nice. I am also trying to avoid artificial sweeteners so find these options fit

And yet you drink alcohol, statistically the worst drug of all time, just happens to be legal.

I like kombucha, the Stowe press Rhubarb but really love the G Spot Soothe, it has some sort of mushroom in it that does make you feel a bit relaxed.

I agree that the Gordon's 0.0 Gin & Tonic tastes just like the real thing, in a nice glass just add ice & a slice of lime/lemon

I also like Belvoir Farms Pink Grapefruit Paloma Mocktail once again in a nice glass with ice & slices of lime & lemon.
https://belvoirfarm.co.uk/drink/paloma/

www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/belvoir-farm-non-alcoholic-pink-grapefruit-paloma-750ml

I mean Crawston press. That paloma cocktail looks nice. Not a fan of no alcohol wines and spirits , taste too chemical

It's not sophisticated but grapefruit juice and soda water is my go-to for being refreshing and not too sweet. Mind for drug interactions though - there are a few medications that can't be mixed with grapefruit.

Another vote for Crodino.

But also, drink better quality booze, so champagne is good or English sparkling wine done by the same method. Some of the prices for non alcoholic alternatives are actually competitive with fine wine when you look at how much you consume

Champagne is also low calorie compared to some of these alternatives

I'm like you, OP, (46) and following with interest.
I drink water, tea and damn hot chocolate.
Not that enticing, but cannot cope with alcohol at all anymore.
Something about a certain enzyme in the liver, which in some women depleats or disappears for good, as we age.

Love a fizzy elderflower with ice

Ha, the 0% Guinness has been in my fridge for ages and I didn't dare open it. 😆

Tonic sadly.

When I was young and cool I used to love a Cheeky Vimto, now I just drink Vimto.

Lime cordial and soda is my go to.
Belvoir cordials are mostly lovely.
After my oncologist told me alcohol is toxic at any level I’ve gone completely t total and don’t miss it at all!

I tried San Pellegrino blood orange flavour today, nice and cold and refreshing and I didn’t find it at all sweet

My liver may be foie gras, but I have tried to find a palatable alternative to alcohol, and I don't think there is one. As I am already 70, I shall have a few alcohol free days most weeks, and take my chances. Having seen my DMIL live to 94 in discomfort and knowing my DF is only being properly cared for because his second wife is just 7 years older than me, I am not convinced that I want to get old old!

If the Op can’t touch artificial sweeteners then Crodino is no good. I tried it as doing Dry January and it tasted so chemically to me. I was going to try Pavari 17 next but can’t find out if it has sweeteners too. I do have Angostura bitters at the back of the cupboard so might try as PP suggested.