To ask for your best non-alcoholic drink suggestions?

[WhatWouldKalindaDo]

I am making a real effort to drink less. My alcohol consumption really crept up over lockdown and lead to poor health and me feeling dreadful. I've now been alcohol free for a couple of months and am really proud of this.

However, Christmas is difficult when you don't drink! This will be my first alcohol free Christmas and I'd love to have some suggestions of some enjoyable drinks so I don't feel like I'm missing out.

Thanks!

Marks and Spencer's Sparkling Apple. I've bought it for Xmas Day as I don't drink any more and it is really lovely.

There are a whole host of zero alcohol beers that are very good too. I know some ex-drinkers avoid them but I was a wine drinker so 🤷🏻‍♀️
They are crisp and not too sweet.

Mango juice, lemonade and crushed ice is a fav of mine. Sometimes add orange juice too.

I love Teisseire sirops with sparkling water, especially the passionfruit and pink grapefruit flavours. So refreshing and, unlike pre-mixed drinks, you can control the sweetness and dilution levels to your own taste.

@DedalusBloom

Big fan of ginger beer with absolutely tons of ice and lime juice in it. The lime takes the sticky edge off the GB. However the only GB I can find that isn't full of sweeteners these days is Supermalt or Fentimans ( which isn't fiery enough.) I miss the Old Jamaica extra fiery

On a separate note, I would be happy to pay extra for full sugar varieties- it's not like I drink tons of them -and most artificial sweetener gives me awful shits. It's the absolute bane of my life that absolutely everything has gone down the no sugar route.

Oh god me too - I bloody hate artificial sweeteners!

They upset me so much even a mouthful can have an awful effect!

I used to love Ribena and Oringina but not any more

I'm drinking peach juice but only when ice cold!

Tall glass with lots of ice, add a few fresh mint leaves, a dash of elderflower cordial, cloudy apple juice then top the glass up with soda water. My favourite drink

Just discovered Cornish Orchards' Rhubarb and Apple 'semi sparkling' in a can. Gorgeous booquet of rhubarb as you crack it open and not at all over sweet.
Their ginger beer is punchy too.

Go to is Fever Tree ginger beer - again neither cloyingly sweet but not tainted by any discernible artificial sweetener.

And agree Robinsons Lime and Mint cordial is lovely.

Can you order the Cornish orchards drinks online, @HourglassTigger?

@PoppyGG

Martini has a non-alcoholic Aperitivo range. Two flavours - Vibrante (citrusy taste) and Floreale (delicate floral taste). Lovely with tonic water, and very refreshing.

This was recommended on a podcast I was listening to today. Although they started off calling it Martini Vibrate rather than Vibrante which sounded a bit alarming!

Merchant’s Heart Hibiscus tonic and Cawston Press Rhubarb are my favourites.

Purdey’s do a lovely drink that I have. I think it’s apple and grape. In a silver and green bottle or can. To me it has a “wine like” taste. Well I think it does,I don’t drink so I’m not certain! It’s good though

Kombucha!

I used to love Ribena

Rocks blackcurrant cordial, and Belvoir blueberry and blackcurrant cordial are both great as a substitute for Ribena.

in a glass, or pitcher:
2/3 to half cranberry juice
1/3 to half club soda
a twist (or three) of lime
ice (no ice is good, too)

I usually sometimes cheat and put
2/3 cranberry juice, and 1/3 Lime Perrier.

Either way, adjust the ratio to how you like, of course.
(Also, occasionally a splash of orange juice is good, too.)

I've discovered that booze-free holidays are much more
enjoyable than booze-filled holidays.
And with that -- any day!

For ginger beer lovers, the Belvoir one is amazing. No sweeteners and a great fiery kick.

Having eaten an amazing meal in a Syrian restaurant I can say I was blown away by their drink selection. As they don't drink alcohol they really do put the effort in to find the best!

stepfeed.com/11-delicious-drinks-to-get-you-through-ramadan-3884

Left Field Kombucha - esp the Oolong and Green Tea. The Three Spirits range, and I love Feragaia and ginger ale.

I was given a can of Tenzing this afternoon - I drank it from the can while I was out, but I think it would be really nice as a proper drink in a glass.
Plant-based sparkling drink with natural caffeine, electrolytes from Himalayan Rock Salt and vitamin C from Acerola. Inspired by a traditional Himalayan Sherpa recipe.

Depending on if you are ok with trace amounts of alcohol, a rock shandy is lovely drink. Equal parts lemonade and soda water, with a few drops of angostura bitters. It's very refreshing and not too sweet, which I find happens with many non alcoholic drinks.