The yummiest alcohol-free drinks

Give me a glass of wine and you might as well already order me a second glass. God, how often I have rolled into my bed thinking that I should have been home at least two hours earlier with five glasses less in my body, and the evening would still probably have been just as wonderful.

Or I decide on enjoying an alcohol-free night, but then my mind is changed within 10 seconds of arriving. Buttt, sometimes I have to be strict (or boring, unfriendly, whatever you feel like calling it) because I get a hangover on very little alcohol and it is not my best friend. In fact, I cannot be soothed and I sit fretting for hours and promising myself that I will never drink alcohol again. Okay good, perhaps you can empathise.

Are you planning (planning hey) to choose for a non-alcoholic drink at dinner and looking forward to a fresh (sober) morning, or maybe you’re pregnant, in any case here are a few options for what to order in place of wine. And I’m not talking boring sparkling water, I mean something a little more festive so it looks like you’re taking part.

Spritzer

Okay, I’m already cheating, because there is a alcohol in this one but only a little. I mean you can decide on the strength. White wine with sparkling water.

Crodino

An Italian aperitif with a slightly bitter-sweet taste that is (usually) served in a champagne flute with an ice block and a slice of orange.

Ginger ale with mint and lemon

You can order Ginger Ale just about anywhere and you can pimp it up with mint and lemon. The soda is quite sweet, but the lemon makes it slightly more sour and you can drink it all evening. Fair is fair, there is quite a lot of sugar in this one but not nearly as much as in a glass of wine.

Bionade

Not every bar or restaurant sells this, but if they do it is worth trying. Biological lemonade in different tastes (Elderflower, Lychee, Ginger, Orange) with only natural sugars.

San Pelegrino limonata

Sparkling water with a lemon taste. Delicious and if you ask for it to be served in a wine glass, it will feel like you’re joining in with the rest.

Cheers! And hey, you can wink at everyone else the next day.