Want to get your buzz on but stick to alcohol-free drinks? This list of suggestions and tips will help you get started.
Whether you’re looking for a Dry January drink with a little bite to it or trying different options for feeling cozy after a stressful day, you might be searching for an alcohol-free way to get a calming buzz on.
Well, we’ve got you covered!
Many companies have leaned heavily into the healthier trend of people cutting back on alcohol, and with this has come innovative ways to replace the pleasurable effects of drinking without causing mental or physical harm.
Enter botanicals, adaptogens, nootropics, and neurotransmitter-targeting compounds. All of these are being used to form what is being marketed as “functional drinks,” which are perfectly legal drinks that claim to cause calmness, clarity, focus, better sleep, less stressful social interactions, and even a slight “high.” Ready to learn more?
What Are Botanicals?
You’ve definitely heard of botanical drinks, whether you’ve thought about it as such or not. For example, green tea is a botanical drink.
Botanicals are plants such as herbs or flowers used for everything from flavor and fragrance to health benefits and mood enhancement.
As the demand for natural and healthy food products continues, we are seeing an increase in botanical drinks. One of my favorites is lavender chamomile tea, a great way to soothe a weary mind before bed (without feeling gross later on).
Examples of familiar botanical flavors in drinks include peppermint, ginger, ginseng, hibiscus, spearmint, yerba mate, lavender, and chamomile. It is not unusual to see these offered in teas and natural energy drinks.
What Are Adaptogens?
Adaptogens are rising in pop culture, and it’s unsurprising once you understand their purpose.
In today’s stressful world, where people are tired, overwhelmed, and consumed with anxiety or too much on their plates, adaptogens take the edge off without the use of pharmaceuticals or other medications that can have unwanted side effects.
People are starting to understand that they may have been using alcohol as an escape from these uncomfortable feelings and are seeking a safer, healthier approach for the relief they crave.
Adaptogens are one answer. Adaptogens are plant substances like herbs, mushrooms, or roots that allegedly have properties that manage stress or restore balance and harmony in the body.
You may see adaptogens in many forms, marketed to help people feel better in their daily lives by helping treat conditions such as depression, insomnia, and anxiety. They come in the form of capsules, powders that can be added to drinks and smoothies, or premixed drinks or gummies.
Some examples of adaptogens are ashwagandha, lion’s mane, ginseng, and holy basil.
What Are Nootropics?
Nootropics are natural or synthetic supplements that supposedly boost mental performance and cognition.
Ever wake up in the morning feeling mentally groggy and knowing that your cup of coffee is going to turn that around? Congratulations, you’ve just decided to indulge in a nootropic!
Most people have consumed nootropics, whether they meant to or not. Even nicotine and amphetamines like Adderall are nootropics, but so are ginkgo biloba, omega-3, and L-theanine.
Nootropics are generally considered to improve focus, memory, and creativity. They are often prescribed or encouraged for the healing of brain injuries.
While people with medical need such as those struggling with cognitive issues like ADHD, narcolepsy, and dementia, might require a prescription for adequate aid, individuals who are feeling tired or overwhelmed by daily life can experience benefits from natural nootropics in smaller doses, particularly after longer periods of use.
What Are Neurotransmitter-Targeting Compounds?
As their name suggests, neurotransmitter-targeting compounds are substances that affect neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers in your brain that carry signals between neurons.
You may be most familiar with dopamine, the chemical messenger and hormone that has you “coming back for more.” Let’s use dopamine as an example to explain what a neurotransmitter-targeting compound does.
Dopamine decides whether or not a task is worth the effort (so you can sort of blame dopamine when you don’t fold your laundry week after week). The reward-seeking behaviors of things like eating delicious foods, intercourse, making money, and winning a bet or a game are all right up dopamine’s alley.
Dopamine is called the feel-good hormone because it fills you with happiness and a sense of motivation. Low levels of dopamine make you feel sleepy, crabby, and unmotivated. Enter our neurotransmitter-targeting compounds.
These are natural or synthetic substances that affect the way a message is sent and/or received.
Our friend dopamine, for example, loves alcohol (at least at first) because alcohol increases the dopamine levels in the brain. This is one of the many ways alcohol activates a reward system to tell you that you’re feeling great and having fun.
Substances other than alcohol can cause this same effect, which is why alcohol-free drinks can still give you a “buzz” with the right ingredients.
Note: It is important to know that all of the components of functional, alcohol-free drinks can possibly interfere with medications you may be taking, and may not be safe for those who are pregnant or nursing. Even natural supplementation is not always compatible with your lifestyle or situation, so ask your doctor before starting anything new.
It is also important to note that it’s best to try these drinks at home or in a home environment in the presence of safe people when you do not have to drive, work, or operate machinery. While it isn’t alcohol, you don’t know how it will affect you until you try it, so stay safe and stay smart! Even a slightly unpleasant side effect such as increased anxiety can be difficult to manage without the right setting or support system.
Specific Alcohol-Free Drinks You Could Try
Here are nine alcohol-free drinks that will still give you a buzz:
This drink has relatively high positive user ratings and can come in a sample pack of powder packets that can be added to water, smoothies, or even coffee or tea.
With magnesium, L-theanine, electrolytes, and passionflower, Recess contains calming adaptogens, minerals, and added hydration for an overall good feeling.
I’ve tried the canned peach ginger Recess drink at bedtime once, to see if I liked it. I did not notice any effects in my abilities or cognition, nor did I feel drowsy in an unpleasant way.
I’d happily try it again.
Recess also makes zero-proof mocktails for those who want some of the familiar flavors, like margarita or cosmo, without the booze.
Juni Sparkling Adaptogen Drink
Juni offers a sparkling decaffeinated tea drink with ingredients such as ashwagandha, reishi mushroom, acerola cherry, and lion’s mane for antioxidants and adaptogens.
Customers are raving about the taste, with the price being the only negative point for most reviewers.
Moment Sparkling Adaptogenic Soda
This sparkling soda contains botanicals and adaptogens that supposedly make you feel chill and relaxed without the addition of alcohol.
With a variety of flavor combinations, including a few mocktail varieties, this certainly seems worth trying.
Heywell Sparkling Adaptogenic Water
Heywell brings an adaptogenic drink to the table that also has some caffeine if you’re seeking a boost.
The addition of adaptogens to this energy drink is meant to be felt over time as resilience to stress is built with repeated use, though some reviews state that they felt the calming effects right away, despite the caffeine. One of the top reviews even states that this drink helps “curb the craving for alcohol.”
The high user ratings on this drink speak to its flavor and apparent positive effects.
Ryze Superfoods Mushroom Coffee
This is a great alternative to straight-up coffee or the use of coffee in mocktails, as it has that same slightly bitter taste but seemingly a lot more health-related benefits.
I have tried Ryze and find that I need to add creamer and sweetener to it to make it a viable option for me. However, I also don’t have my coffee black, so do with that what you will.
Ryze is made of adaptogenic mushrooms and has an earthy flavor that not everyone will love right off the bat. However, I have told friends and family that the flavor became more pleasant to me over time, so give Ryze a decent try if you want a drink that makes you feel happier or lighter.
This company has a collection of drinks with ingredients to match your mood or needs.
The website claims that Livener creates a euphoric feel, Social helps create “connected bliss” (users report that it took the edge off in social situations and helped them feel more at ease), and Nightcap is supposed to help you wind down in the evening.
These drinks are infused with plants and mushrooms to create the desired effects while skipping the alcohol.
Neurotransmitter-targeting compounds are used in this drink that activates GABA receptors to create a feel-good sensation.
While reviews are mixed on the flavor, plenty of people agree that it has a pleasant after-effect, making this one a possible flavor gamble that could be worth the effort.
These drinks are not “sober” drinks in the sense that while they do not contain alcohol, they DO contain either THC or CBD.
Sprig is federally legal for adults 21 and older.
As a refresher for those who are considering dabbling in this drink, CBD is a molecule in hemp and is thought to be calming but not intoxicating. THC is a psychoactive molecule in hemp, and is intoxicating.
THC is not for everyone. While many people report relaxing and calming effects, some find themselves feeling anxious or uncomfortably high. First-time users should try a max 5mg serving to get a feel for the effects and decide if it’s right for them. Users should also allow time to pass to feel the full effects of each serving before adding more.
Similar to alcohol, Sprig is not for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Self-proclaimed “mindful social tonics,” Hiyo drinks contain adaptogens, nootropics, and botanicals to create a mood-boosting lift that the company calls “the float.”
Hiyo is advertised as an alcohol alternative, and the overwhelmingly positive reviews speak to a product that has hit the mark. The variety pack allows consumers to try every flavor, and there are great reviews on each.
All of this is to say there are many different drinks on the market, both with and without intoxicants, that can help people reduce their reliance on alcohol while also feeling some pleasant and possibly even beneficial effects.
These alcohol-free drinks can be consumed as-is or used as a replacement in mocktails, like our pineapple mocktail.
When out on the town at a bar, being familiar with some delicious mocktails to order in advance can also help you consume less — or no — booze.
If you’re looking to avoid alcohol but enjoy beer, we’ve explored non-alcoholic beers as well!