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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To Not understand the purpose of alcohol free beer/wine/spirits

167 replies

MsJD · 12/03/2023 21:14

I am almost as afraid of buying alcohol free beer/wine/spirits mistakenly as I am of putting diesel in my petrol car. Why would anyone buy alcohol free gin? If I dont want booze, I drink orange juice. Dont get it.

OP posts:
mildlydispeptic · 13/03/2023 09:20

@Poppins2016 I'm trying Strykk Not Aperitivo with Thompson & Scott nonalcoholic sparkling Chardonnay. It's not quite as day-glo orange or as sweet as Aperol but it's about 90% the same. I'm looking to try Crodino, which got a few mentions on another thread.

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 13/03/2023 13:18

rioseco · 13/03/2023 07:30

Why are alcohol drinkers so unhappy and scathing about AF or low alcohol products?
I think low alcohol cider is great.

Because they want to be able to be happy without boozing it up like teetotallers

olympicsrock · 13/03/2023 13:22

I really enjoy drinking alcohol free lager - taste, how refreshing it is. Great accompaniment to a curry.

Gives me the same feeling of chilling out without the booze, calories or hangover. And I can still drive .

WorkingWhileStressed · 13/03/2023 13:25

Because most standard soft drinks are disgustingly sweet. Alcohol free beer or gin is not.

Scarlettpixie · 13/03/2023 13:37

After drinking too much during lockdown one I decided to quit. Initially for a month then 3 then a year. Alcohol free cider, lager and occasionally wine helped me battle those initial cravings. It is also a nice way to make you feel more involved in social events.

i now only drink rarely and other than over christmas or on my birthday never alone. I am a social drinker and even then now, not at every social event.

Alcohol drinks are not for you and that’s fine but we aren’t all the same. How odd you cannot see that without making a post about it.

Florenz · 13/03/2023 18:55

Do alcohol free beers/wine/spirits count as "soft drinks"?

What makes alcohol free cider different from Appletiser/Tango Apple and the like?

sleepwhenidie · 13/03/2023 19:03

TragicMuse · 12/03/2023 21:50

I absolutely loathe soft drinks. Can't stand coke/pepsi, lemonade etc., they're just hideous.

I don't drink fruit juice much and don't want to spend the night on soda water.

I value AF lager as an option and like it.

totally agree

sleepwhenidie · 13/03/2023 19:04

Florenz · 13/03/2023 18:55

Do alcohol free beers/wine/spirits count as "soft drinks"?

What makes alcohol free cider different from Appletiser/Tango Apple and the like?

The taste and very often, the amount of sugar!

TowerRaven7 · 13/03/2023 19:06

Wine gives me migraines but I like the taste. When I drank I didn’t drink to get drunk. What is so hard to believe about that?

Quisquam · 13/03/2023 19:51

DD can only have one drink with lunch for medical reasons. Her life is massively impacted and having AF drinks makes her feel like she can have a “normal life” at least in that respect!

knittingaddict · 13/03/2023 20:24

YABU.

I don't like sweet drinks, get a bit bored with water and need low carb, low calories drinks for health reasons.

I like some non alcoholic beers and my husband drinks them in the week. I'm going to try some non alcoholic gin soon for a bit of variety. I've never tried a low alcoholic wine that was drinkable, so I give that a miss.

You must lack imagination if you can't think why they might be a thing for many people.

knittingaddict · 13/03/2023 20:31

When we go on holiday soon I'm going to stick to my 2 glasses of wine over the weekend. To make it feel more like an event I'm going to find a non alcoholic gin that I like and mix it with some Fevertree light tonic and have that with my evening meal.

I really have no choice if I don't want my health to suffer and end up on insulin. Its a great motivator.

CeriB82 · 13/03/2023 20:43

I drink mostly AF beer. Especially when out .

i love nothing more than seeing people like the OP getting legless and making a twat of themselves, complaining about people drinking AF beer.

Elvis1956 · 13/03/2023 20:45

Because I love and I mean love a drink. I like the way it tastes, the smell ...but I'm getting on and can't drink in a school night anymore...so a few min alcoholic beers does the trick

Florenz · 13/03/2023 20:48

I'd rather just have a cup of tea.

FantaIsFine · 14/03/2023 07:41

Hi see my user name - non alcoholic drinks for me personally are so helpful with no booze, although in the main I find the gins and wines disgusting. I thought from some posts that some might find these good to know:

Particular favourite is Thatchers Zero (cider) and so much so my local started stocking it on my recommendation. Sold out before I even got to buy my first one there, once they did

Lyres is brilliant as Aperol replacement, their Italian or Orange Sec. I haven't tried everything from them, there are loads more (Amazon, not cheap). Sainsburys do a branded AF aperitivo which is also nice, cheaper too at approx a tenner. I do with some tonic and some Nozeco

Freixenet Zero is seriously good and not sweet (big Sains or Tesco only, or online). Some pubs serve in mini bottles.

There's an Angosture bitters that is orange flavour you can stick in tonic (handbag sized too) for a kick. Lasts years as you don't need a lot (Wrose)

Another good orange is 1883 Blue Curaçao syrup with tonic. Expensive but lasts yonks

Twisst Irish Cream if you like Bailey's

Rochesters Ginger (I buy Light) instead of a neat Scotch, nice and fiery. (Health food shops)

Agree w AF beers, even Mum has started drinking them. Partly in solidarity I think

In the winter I mull bottles of blackcurrant squash and stick into hot black tea, instead of mulled wine

Lemonade and balsamic vinegar (I kid you not) in a jug with fruit and you can barely tell it isn't Pimms. Recipe quantities online I think 1:4

I tend to overcontribute for parties now cos the drinkers like my spritz and Pimms so much too!

Oh - Nozeco is v cheap in B&M. The AF fruit cider more often in pubs ARE sweet but same as original - Kopparberg etc

Hope others find those recommendations interesting!

Crikeyalmighty · 14/03/2023 10:28

I'm on beta blockers and also pre diabetic and hence now stick to 2 drinks only on Friday and Saturday . The AF drinks are great in my situation if you feel like a G&T and it's Tuesday

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