But plenty of people are looking to celebrate without alcohol, for a variety of reasons. Luckily, an ever-increasing number of nonalcoholic options are just as festive as bubbly. In fact, in February 2021, a report by the beverage analysis firm IWSR forecast that the no- and low-alcohol drinks sector would grow 31 percent globally by 2024. Having some of these healthier alternatives to alcohol on hand on New Year’s Eve means everyone will feel invited to the party, including pregnant or nursing moms, those on medications that don’t mix with alcohol, designated drivers, and people in recovery. And anyone interested in a healthy lifestyle may want to consider sticking to nonalcoholic beverages or drinking them instead of a second or third alcoholic drink, says Derocha. “For any alcoholic drink you replace with a nonalcoholic drink, you’re avoiding the damaging effects of alcohol,” she says. Of course, not all nonalcoholic beverages are created equal. Depending on your personal health and nutrition goals, some are better than others. “You should watch out for sugars. I recommend keeping it to 10 grams or less per serving,” Derocha says. Here are nine festive options for your New Year’s Eve that get Derocha’s stamp of approval.
Instead of Champagne
You can go alcohol-free and still enjoy a celebratory glass of bubbles. Any of these three options would fit perfectly into your best champagne flutes.
1. Topo Chico
Derocha’s favorite alternative to alcohol is also the simplest. “I love sparkling mineral water,” she says. “It’s practically calorie- and sugar-free.” Her favorite brand is Topo Chico, which has lime, grapefruit, and tangerine flavors, or you can do as she does and add a splash of your own fresh juice to their unflavored sparkling mineral water.
2. Leitz ‘Eins Zwei Zero’ Alcohol-Free Sparkling Riesling
This fresh, fragrant sparkler tastes very much like regular sparkling wine. The big difference is calories. “A standard glass of champagne, depending on the brand, is about 110 calories. This has only 23 calories per serving,” says Derocha. She also notes that Leitz Eins Zwei Zero’s very low sodium content is a plus.
3. Noughty Alcohol-Free Sparkling Chardonnay
This is another great swap, especially for Chardonnay lovers. With only 18 calories per serving, it’s hard to overdo it on Noughty. “It’s not unusual for partygoers to drink the equivalent of a bottle during the long evening,” says Derocha. “If you switched to this instead, you’d save hundreds of calories.” You’d also be sparing yourself a rough New Year’s morning. RELATED: 6 Alcohol-Free Ways to Unwind at the End of a Long Day
Instead of Beer
If beer is your drink of choice, you’re in luck when it comes to nonalcoholic brews. There are more and better-tasting choices than ever before these days. “In general, the calories are lower, but people who are counting their carbs will want to look at the carb content in these — it can run pretty high,” says Derocha. She has one other caveat when it comes to nonalcoholic beers: most do contain trace amounts of alcohol. By law, nonalcoholic drinks can contain up to 0.5 percent alcohol by volume. One study found that about one-third of the nonalcoholic beers tested had more alcohol by volume than the label claimed. So if you want to be sure you are avoiding alcohol completely, another drink option may be best. That said, nonalcoholic beers make for a perfectly healthy swap for many beer lovers.
4. Wellbeing Heavenly Body Golden Wheat
“Though it varies brand to brand, most wheat beer has more than 150 calories per can or bottle, while this Wellbeing one has just 68 calories,” says Derocha. “When you think of coming into the new year, people have weight loss resolutions, and these beers can support that.”
5. Athletic Brewing Co. All Out Stout
Derocha says that regardless of other factors, it’s always healthier to choose a nonalcoholic beverage over one with alcohol. This Athletic Brewing stout has fewer calories than traditional stout, but it has a lot of carbohydrates on board. Fifteen grams (g) is considered one carb serving, according to the CDC, so if you are counting carbs, you want to be aware of what you’re drinking, says Derocha. RELATED: You May Be Drinking More Alcohol Than You Realize
Instead of Cocktails
An assortment of bottled and canned nonalcoholic cocktails are starting to fill shelves, all of which are an improvement, healthwise, over alcohol. Nonalcoholic cocktails can contain more sugar than other drinks. Derocha suggests thinking about your goals, looking at the label, and putting it into context for yourself. “A drink with more than 10 g of sugar can still be a healthy choice, especially if you are enjoying it instead of a sugary dessert,” says Derocha. “The healthiness of what you’re choosing to drink is always relative to what it’s replacing, as well as what you’re eating with it.”
6. Curious Elixir
Curious Elixir’s bottled nonalcoholic cocktails include six drinks that riff on the flavor profiles of traditional concoctions ranging from margaritas to negronis. Calories top out at 85 per serving, and none have added sugars — though there is natural sugar from fruit juice. “I love the No. 4,” says Derocha. “It’s citrusy and very flavorful, it has very natural ingredients, and it’s not overly processed.”
7. Hella Cocktail Co. Spritz Dry Aromatic
Hella makes several varieties, but the Spritz Dry Aromatic has the most authentic cocktail vibes and the best nutritional profile, with 0 g sugar, 1 g carbs, and only 10 calories. RELATED: 10 Mocktail Recipes So Good You Won’t Believe They’re Booze-Free
Instead of After-Dinner Drinks
These sophisticated sippers are inspired by Italian amaros such as Aperol and Campari. Mixing them with sparkling water turns them into a spritzer.
8. The Pathfinder
Based on fermented hemp, this nonalcoholic spirit is surprisingly complex in flavor, with assertive herbal notes. The Pathfinder contains 8 g of sugar per serving and just 35 calories.
9. Ghia
This floral concoction is pleasantly bitter and aromatic. Ghia has just 20 calories per serving and only 3 g of sugar.
