Dry January isn’t just a one-time fad. For some it bleeds into the rest of the year or takes turns with Sober October. It’s a movement born out of the realization that, for some, alcohol wasn’t making their lives better even if they didn’t have a serious problem with it. Now in the wake of the Surgeon General stating that alcohol should be listed as a carcinogen, and bestsellers such as QUIT LIKE A WOMAN, Allen Carr’s classic THE EASY WAY TO STOP DRINKING are gaining ground with the sober curious, it’s always good to think about fun, flavorful non-alcoholic options for your event.
Here are some resources for you to source:
BETTY BUZZ – vegan, kosher, caffeine-free, gluten-free, with no sulfites and natural instead of refined sugars, actress Blake Lively’s brainchild Betty Buzz offers bubbly beverages with high quality ingredients, and of course, is completely alcohol-free.
CURIOUS ELIXIRS – gluten-free with no preservatives or refined sugar, Curious Elixirs boast mood-boosting ingredients like damiana and rhodora and adaptogens such as ashwaganda, elderflower, and magical mushrooms (no, not those kind).
FIGLIG – This brand, flavored with rose, bitter orange, and cloves, is free of artificial colors and sugars and, according to its label has “no impact on serotonin levels” (so, not chocolatey or made with chocolate). It also wins the packaging award because everything from the bottle to the font on the label is absolutely gorgeous.
THREE SPIRIT – non-alcoholic but does contain caffeine, so sort of like the adaptogenic non-alcoholic version of Red Bull. This one does alter serotonin levels, as ingredients include cacao, adaptogenic berries, damiana, valerian, and lion’s mane mushrooms.
HUZZY SMART SIPS – Mahisha Dellinger’s fizzy drinks are loaded with adaptogen and nootropics so that you feel the buzz without the hangover fuzz. Vegan, Gluten-free, with no refined sugar or GMOs, flavors come in Berry Banger Margarita with Basil, Spill the Tea Long Island, and Siesta Sip Sangria with Blood Orange among others.
MOCKTAIL CLUB – Founded by Pauline Idogho in 2018 so that she could maintain her social experiences and still avoid chronic diseases, Mocktail Club offers tasty solutions for the sober. Bali Breeze blends coconut, lychee and lemongrass, while Havana Twist is a new age take on the Mojito. Her website offers recipes and a store locator.
And then there’s always the old standbys, Martinelli’s Apple Cider or good old-fashioned water. To make your water really effervescent, steep it with slices of lime and cucumber and a few sprigs of rosemary.
Or you can make some of your own cocktails and after-dinner drinks with simple ingredients. Here are some examples below:
Salted Caramel White Russian
- 4 tsp instant coffee
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp Thrive Market Organic Vanilla Coconut Sugar
- 4 tbsp salted caramel sauce
- 1/3 cup coconut cream
- 4 rosemary sprigs, to serve
Non-Alcoholic Mojito
- 1 apple, cored and chopped
- ¼ cucumber, peeled and chopped
- 1/2 lime, juice only
- 4 mint leaves, only
- 100ml (3 1/2fl oz) sparkling water
Grapefruit sparkler
- 1 red grapefruit
- 1 lime
- 3 rosemary sprigs, plus extra to serve (optional)
- 4 cups sparkling mineral water
Tumeric Latte:
- 1/4 tsp turmeric
- 1.5 cups almond or oat milk
- 1/4 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- black pepper
- 1 tsp maple syrup or honey
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Topped with dried roses
Keep in mind that events with food and drink generate about one pound of waste per person per meal, so for all your live and post event cleanup, consider PopUP CleanUP’s comprehensive, sustainably-minded services.
