The rise of the mocktail.

Everyone’s relationship with alcohol is personal and, frankly, no one else’s business. Mocktails have been increasingly popular over the last few years, and while I wasn’t sure if that trend was for me, I’ve been drinking more mocktails than ever!

I’ve discussed my relationship with alcohol and shared some of the mocktails I like to drink here on the blog. But I thought it was time to put a more robust post together to share where I’m at and help anyone else who’s considering the mocktail life 🙂

Why are Nonalcoholic drinks becoming more popular?

I kind of hate the word “mocktail,” but it’s still a quick way to understand what I’m talking about 🙂 Nonalcoholic spirits and drinks hit the scene around 2017, which seems like forever ago. Of course, people have been non-drinks since the beginning of time, but consumers have now made a case for wanting more than just a soda if they’re choosing not to drink booze.

There are loads of reasons why someone may not want to drink. I find it a little wild how much we’ve normalized drinking alcohol to the point that, when someone chooses not to drink, that it’s viewed as weird or different. Alcohol is a depressant, and it’s not for everyone, period.

People choose not to drink for many reasons, including financial, health concerns, social issues, or… maybe they just don’t like the taste or its effects. Why you choose to drink or not is no one’s business (friendly reminder).

Why I’ve been drinking more mocktails

A little more than a year ago, I stopped drinking on weeknights. I was working retail at the time, and I realized that even having one drink the night before a morning shift would not do me any favors. So, I only had drinks on weekends, or if I had the following day off.

I followed that routine for awhile and really enjoyed it. There were a few times I craved a drink on a weeknight but I never caved, and never regretted it.

And today, I haven’t had an alcoholic drink in two months. I didn’t really mean to do it, but I have just had no interest. My mental health has been a struggle, and I’d rather just work on staying as healthy as possible.

After my dad passed away in 2018, I didn’t drink for almost two years. I was afraid I might have a mental breakdown if I got drunk (any panic attack I’ve ever had has happened after drinking), so I just didn’t drink.

I’m not saying I’ll never drink, but to be honest, I feel like I don’t have time to drink! Drinking means I’m doing nothing for the rest of the day or night — I can’t read a book, watch TV, or successfully work on my Etsy shop while drinking. And even after the night is over, I’ll have to carve out time for feeling like crap the next day.

I really just don’t have the time or energy for it. So, right now, a vacation is probably the only time I can see myself drinking. This may change at a later time, but it’s where I’m at now.

How I handle not drinking in social situations

I used to think I would not be able to handle social situations without a drink, but turns out, it’s really kind of nice! When I drank, I would worry the next day about the things I said or how I acted. It doesn’t happen that way when you’re not drinking.

I have certainly found that people get a little weird when you say you don’t drink, or are not drinking that night. But I chalk it up to their problem and not mine. I personally think it’s weird that anyone would ask or comment about what I’m putting into my body, and in the name of progression, I think we should be above this line of conversation.

Me drinking or not affects no one, and there’s so much more to life than what’s in our cups.

In any situation where there’s likely to be drinking, I am happy to bring my own drink (I like canned mocktails and nonalcoholic wine), and typically, no one ever even notices.

I’ve been in situations where people have tried to explain my own drinking relationship to others in order to clear up that I’m not “sober” or not an “alcoholic” and it’s just awkward and unnecessary. If someone wants to think I’m sober or an alcoholic, I don’t care. I also don’t care if someone wants to judge me for not drinking! Not my issue 🙂

Mocktails I’m currently loving

Having said all of that, I still make myself a special lil drink pretty much every night — it just doesn’t have alcohol in it. I keep my home stocked with canned nonalcoholic drinks or ingredients to make them, and I enjoy trying new ones I see at the store or online.

Here’s what I’ve really been enjoying lately:

* Ritual Zero Proof spirits – I like the tequila and the whiskey for margaritas and smashes, respectively

*Aplos Chili Margarita – This is canned and tastes SO good (not overly spicy)! I like to put it in a glass with a fresh squeeze of lime

*Louie Louie Blackberry Lemon Seltzer – This has CBD and THC in it, and it tastes like a craft cocktail, all in a can. It’s one of the most delicious mocktails I’ve ever tasted and I am excited to taste their other flavors.

*Athletic Brewing – I’ve tried at least 10 different types of their non-alcoholic beers and have never been disappointed. I’ve tried other N/A beers, but nothing beats Athletic.

*Surely wine – Their bubbly red and bubbly rose is some of the best N/A wine on the market. I didn’t love their white blend, but ya can’t win them all!

Mocktails are now in my Etsy shop!

Given that I drink a lot of nonalcoholic drinks and they’re gaining in popularity, I’ve added some Mocktail recipes to my Etsy shop!

There’s the Classic Mocktail List, which includes some great staples. But there’s also the Lavender Drinks List and the Campfire Drinks List, both of which are half mocktails, half cocktails.

If you’re ready for the holidays, there’s also the Very Merry Mocktails List, too!

All of these lists are instant downloads, so there’s no wait time or shipping costs. You get the visual list of drinks, plus 3-4 pages of detailed recipes so you can make all the drinks. Bonus: they’re all under $4!

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