I love my nightly glass of wine, beer, or occasional cocktail. The problem is that when I crack open a delicious beverage, it's tough to have just one. I'm 36 years old, and at this point, I know what healthy drinking looks like and what it doesn't look like, and let's just say, I'm toeing the line.
Whenever I go to the doctor's (which I almost never do), I cringe at the "How much do you drink?" question. The reason is because I know that if I answer honestly, I'm way over what is considered to be healthy drinking.
Alcohol has greater impacts on women's health than men's, too, which is really unfair. Men can drink a bit more, but women shouldn't have more than one drink a night in order to stay within that obnoxious "healthy range." I really am not the best rule follower in the world. But the truth is that too much alcohol impacts my mental health, my weight, my sleep, and a variety of other things I don't want to really think or even know about.
I'm gonna come right out and say that I will never stick to not drinking more than one drink a night. But I am all for trying new things! I guess you could say I'm sober curious, but I'm also just interested in ways to be healthier and feel better in general. I already consider myself to be pretty healthy. I exercise and I strive to eat well. But if there's an area where I could improve, it would absolutely be drinking less alcohol, even if I have to trick myself into doing it.
For a few weeks, I set out to try to reduce my alcohol intake. What I found was that having a bunch of options on hand — ones that tasted good, were good for my gut, or had calming effects — was a perfect solution. Some nights, I was able to not drink any alcohol at all. And on nights when I really wanted a drink, I had one with lower alcohol. Or I swapped my second wine for a fuzzy drink with no alc. By the end of a couple of weeks, I was drinking way less than normal and was basically used to it.
Here are a few low and no alcohol drinks I tested to give myself a booze break and will definitely keep in the rotation moving forward.
1. Leilo
Leilo is a very cool drink indeed. It's booze-free but full of something else that will make you feel good: kava kava. The slogan is "calm in a can" for a good reason, too, because you really will feel a little more chill after a can of Leilo. They come in several yummy flavors, and you can order a six-pack or a 12-pack online now!
2. Poppi
I'm not a soda drinker, but if I was, well, I would just drink Poppi all the time. Not only is it better for you because it's a probiotic drink, but some of the flavors actually taste like soda. The orange flavor legit tastes like orange soda … but it's only 20 calories. It's also booze-free, so drink up. Grab a 12-pack today! The bubbles gonna get ya hooked.
3. Rowdy Mermaid
$47.99
from
Rowdy Mermaid
Rowdy Mermaid is a super-cool booze-free brand. I tried two different drinks from the company. One is a kombucha, and I've got to say, I've had a lot of different kombucha, but this one is so light and fizzy. It really hit the spot! I also loved that each flavor has a different goal, like "energy," "clarity," or "digestion."
The other is a drink made with adaptogenic reishi mushrooms. The drinks definitely do not taste like mushrooms, but there are tons of wellness benefits in each can. Based on flavor, I'd go for the kombucha. But I loved having a nightly beverage that had botanicals, herbs, and tons of immunity-boosting powers.
You can order a 12-pack of either, or both, online now.
4. Sunwink
Sunwink has both tonics and superfood powders. But they are both great healthy options that contain a ton of plant-based fuel. The drinks are super fizzy, which makes them a great booze replacement. It's a good-for-you nightly drink that tastes yummy, so it's really a win-win. Check out the variety pack online.
5. Drink Ramona
$20
from
Drink Ramona
If you really need your nightly booze drink, trust me, I totally get it. But if you really love wine, switching to a wine cooler can be a great option. They are usually a lot lower in ABV (alcohol by volume) than a standard glass of wine. This canned wine cooler is really delicious and only 7% ABV. Try a four-pack in a variety of flavors!
6. June Shine
$72
from
June Shine
This company kind of has it all. June Shine makes hard kombucha, so it has good-for-your-gut probiotics while also giving you a buzz. The drinks range in ABV from 4% to 6%, so you can take your pick. But let me tell you, they are ridiculously delicious. Grab a 24-pack and stock up for summer!
7. Sierra Nevada's Wild Little Thing
I always keep sour beers around. That's because I know they tend to have lower ABVs. This one from Sierra Nevada is one of my favorites. It's a mix of a sour and an IPA, so it definitely has a kick, while also having yummy lighter flavors like strawberry and hibiscus.
Snag a six-pack on Drizly!
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