Throughout the course of my adult life, my relationship with alcohol has evolved. After my dad passed, I was scared to drink (out of fear I’d have a breakdown), so for almost two years, I didn’t.
When the pandemic came, I realized I missed trying new wines and sometimes having a glass with dinner. So, I signed up for a wine subscription.
Since then, I’d consider myself a pretty regular drinker; not paying much attention to the day of the week.
But when I was working my retail job, I realized drinking — even just one glass of wine — the night before a shift wasn’t ideal, especially if I had to work before 10 am.
I’m my best self in the mornings, so if I wake up tired or groggy, then I ruin the best part of the day.
So, I started looking more into mocktail options or perhaps drinks with less alcohol.
What I saw, online at least, was that more and more people are experimenting with a sober lifestyle because of how busy they are, or because of the health benefits, among other reasons.
The next time I went to the store, I came across a canned mocktail (I’ll share more specifics in a bit) and bought one.
It was delicious, and it tasted so much like an actual alcoholic beverage!
I wanted to try more, so I bought one can of non-alcoholic beer next. Again, it was delicious.
With these options, I decided to stop drinking entirely the nights before I have to work. For me, that means only drinking Friday and Saturday night.
After doing this for a few months now, it has helped me so much. I sleep better, and I don’t wakeup tired or bloated.
Sometimes, I’m tempted to have a drink on a Sunday, but I refrain — it’s not worth it!
On weeknights when I want a drink, I turn to a canned mocktail, or non-alcoholic wine or beer. Here’s what I’ve tried and continue to buy:
SipClean Non-Alcoholic Wine
When I started looking for non-alcoholic drinks, I didn’t even think there’d be a wine option out there. I came across SipClean, which is actual wine, with the alcohol spun out. What?!
There’s a white option and a rose option, and my mom gifted me a sampler pack for my birthday, so I was able to try both. While both are good, I really LOVED the white. Its light, crisp, and it even has a bit of a bubble to it (I’ve since purchased multiple packs).
SipClean is also female owned and operated, which I love.
Athletic Brewing Co Non-Alcoholic Beer
I buy nearly all of my groceries from Imperfect Foods, and they started carrying two flavors of non-alcoholic beer from Athletic Brewing. I’d never heard of the brand before, but I started by buying just one can when I ordered my food for the week.
The beer — their golden called “Upside Dawn” — was absolutely delicious! I could not get over how much it tasted like an alcoholic beer. I started buying one can a week with my groceries, and even ordered extra cans when I was heading on a road trip.
I started following Athletic Brewing Co. on Instagram and saw that they had tons of flavors — not just the ones I saw during my grocery selection — and some of them were online exclusives. Why hadn’t I thought of this earlier?
I signed up for their newsletter and got a coupon in return, and decided to try several flavors. I got four different beers to try and a pack of their sparkling water. I’ve tried everything I bought and have not been disappointed!
Free AF Non-Alcoholic Mixed Drinks
I saw Free AF canned mocktails on a cocktail-themed Instagram account I follow, and thought it sounded interesting. A few weeks later, I randomly saw individual cans for sale at Sprout’s!
I bought a single can of the Paloma to try. Within a few days of buying it, I put the paloma in my cocktail shaker with ice and poured it into a margarita glass with a sueeze of fresh lime. It was SO good! I know I keep saying it, but I couldn’t believe how much it tasted like an actual paloma.
Free AF talks a lot about a myserious ingredient (or set of ingredients) that creates a warmth in your cheeks and body that mimics how you feel when you drink alcohol. I have had two cans now (one paloma and one apero spritz) and haven’t noticed it, but I still love these drinks!
These are the main canned mocktails I’ve been turning to throughout the week. Other “special drinks” I turn to include Olipop prebiotic soda, Recess mood-enhancing drinks, and any kombucha.
Have you tried any of these drinks?
This review is not sponsored — nor are any of the reviews on this blog. I am a beauty and skincare junkie and enjoy sharing the products I love right here! For more reviews and similar posts, please subscribe to the blog by clicking subscribe on the right side of your screen. Cheers!
The Bitter Lemon 
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