Drinking has become a staple in Australia. May it be any occasion, Australians love to get a pint from the nearest pub with friends and family. According to the National Alcohol & Drug Knowledgebase (NADK), 59% of Australians can drink up to 4 standard drinks.
However, alcoholic drinks can cause serious health issues. The National Drug Research Institute (NDRI) has reported that 5,785 Australians had died in 2015. Their deaths were the result of diseases and injuries related to alcohol drinking.
Even though the statistics were posted many years ago, it is still impactful with today’s society. With Christmas around the corner, others might want to cut back on alcoholic drinks and switch to alcohol-free drinks.
Benefits of Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Australians nowadays prefer non-alcoholic drinks more than their counterparts. This preference can be seen more in the younger generation. Here are some of the benefits that non-alcoholic beverages can give to anyone:
- Stay hydrated – alcoholic drinks with alcohol by volume (ABV) of 2% or more can make anyone feel dehydrated. This feeling is due to the diuretic effect of alcoholic beverages. However, zero-alcohol drinks can help people stay hydrated by lessening the urine output.
- Fewer calories – alcoholic beverages contain a lot more calories than expected. According to MedlinePlus, beverages with alcohol can have a calorie count of 97 and can reach up to 200. Although there are still some calories in a non-alcoholic drink, anyone can still guzzle many of these beverages without getting fat.
- Less hangover – chugging down an alcoholic drink with high ABV can result in intense hangovers the next morning. Unlike with a zero-alcohol liquid, there will be less chance to experience hangovers.
- Better sleep – alcoholic and zero-alcohol drinks have a sedative effect on its drinkers. However, alcoholic beverages make anyone’s sleeping a bit harder. A non-alcoholic drink has a much subtler effect and can make drinkers fall asleep faster.
Types of Non-Alcoholic Drinks
There are several non-alcoholic drinks in the market today. Primarily, there are two main categories of zero-alcohol beverages, and they are the following:
- Alcohol-free drinks – this kind of zero-alcohol beverage has no alcohol at all. People who avoid alcohol are more inclined to get alcohol-free drinks. Moreover, recovering alcoholics favours these drinks more.
- Low-alcohol beverages – this kind of drink contains less alcohol than usual. A low-alcohol drink has less than 0.5 ABV. The chances of being drunk are minimal, and they are best with moderate drinkers.
Non-Alcoholic Drinks for Christmas Parties
Choosing the right zero-alcohol beverage for any party may become a challenging task. Here are some examples of non-alcoholic drinks Australia that will light up any Christmas party:
Lindeman’s Low Alcohol Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir
Founded in 1843, the Australian winery Lindeman concocts inexpensive yet quality wine. With the rise of sober conscious generation, Lindeman created a sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir with an ABV of 0.5%. Like other Lindeman sparkling wines, this one has a crisp taste and inviting bubbles.
The drink also has a distinctively sharp yet dry taste, which most people favour with their sparkling wines. This sparkling chardonnay works well as a great way to warm up the party. It’s also best served with any seafood or chicken dishes due to its fruity flavour.
NON-Non-Alcoholic Box
Based in Melbourne, NON is a company that makes zero-alcohol wine alternatives. They pledge to improve the selection of drinks with full flavour like alcoholic drinks but with no alcohol. NON’s alcohol-free drinks are best relished after a hard day’s work at the kitchen preparing food for the Christmas party.
NON’s concoctions are technically called a tisane, an infusion of spices, herbs, and dried fruits in hot water. NON’s Non-Alcoholic Box comes with three different flavours, and all of them are equally flavourful and have no alcohol. The flavours are Raspberry & Chamomile, Yuzu & Cinnamon, and the newest edition, Hibiscus & Lemon.
Sobah Low Alcohol Finger Lime Cerveza
Entirely Aboriginal owned, Sobah is run by Clinton and Lozen Schultz. It is the first non-alcoholic craft beer company in Australia. Sobah was formed to give Australians possible, practical, and mindful drinking and soberness choices. Sobah’s Finger Lime Cerveza has only 0.3% ABV, which is low compared to low-alcoholic beverages.
The Finger Lime Cerveza is brewed Mexican style, making it tangy, light, and hoppy. However, it also gives a sweet and nutty taste. Its main ingredient, the finger lime or ‘gulalung,’ is native around Northern NSW, SE QLD, and throughout Bundjalung Nations lands. The fruit is packed with folate, potassium, and Vitamins C and E, making the drink a healthy choice.
Carlton Zero Non-Alcoholic Beer
One of Australia’s non-alcoholic drinks, Carlton Zero, is 100% Carlton but without the hangover or calorie count. Carlton Zero Non-Alcoholic Beer boasts itself with its 0% ABV. Its unique flavour has a rich and fruity scent and visible hops in the background.
Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic American Malt Spirit
Non-alcoholic beverages are a thing of the past with Lyre’s American Malt Spirit. This beverage encapsulates the essence of the classic American bourbon. Its flavour mainly consists of vanilla and roasted nuts flavour with herbal notes. Lyre’s American Malt Spirit has 0% ABV, which is excellent for an evening of fun-filled Christmas parties.
The Hills Cider Company Virgin Apple Cider
Launched in 2010, The Hills Cider Company aimed to create the best-tasting apple cider in Australia. After a decade, it has produced their Virgin Apple Cider with 0% alcohol. The company boasts itself with no added concentrate, water, sugars, or flavours.
The Hills Cider Company’s Virgin Apple Cider has an incredible apple taste with a lemon and lime sherbet. Moreover, it has a fresh and sweet yet zesty taste. The flavour is made possible with its ingredient, especially 100% fresh Adelaide Hills grown apples.
Jiva Kombucha
Locally made, Jiva Kombucha is excellent with Christmas dinner parties and barbecues. Jiva Kombucha comes with an array of flavours, from its original one to blueberries. All the ingredients are locally sourced and are always fresh. Even though it has less sugar and calories, it still preserves the great taste. Moreover, this kombucha has no preservatives or flavouring.
Seedlip
Seedlip gives a very distinctive alcoholic taste but without the punch. The company has a selection of drinks, from cocktails to aperitifs, all are zero-alcohol drinks. Seedlip creates their signature drinks by combining fruits and herbs to give them subtle yet complex flavours.
PS Soda Myrtle Soda
PS Soda is a Sydney-based beverage manufacturer that specializes in craft soda. Its non-alcoholic drink is vegan and free from gluten, eggs, nuts, and soy. They use locally harvested native ingredients to create seasonal beverages.
PS Soda’s Myrtle Soda is light soda water with no sugar, acids, or preservatives added. The soda water only has two ingredients, water, and lemon myrtle. It has been filtered thrice for extreme clarity, like a vodka. Myrtle Soda is best on its own but can be mixed with other zero-alcohol drinks to make mocktails.
Conclusion
Reducing alcohol consumption is optimal for one’s health, but holding back from drinking can often leave anyone sad. Moreover, deciding to switch from alcoholic to zero-alcohol beverages is a bit tough, especially during Christmas. However, with a myriad of non-alcoholic drinks Australia, it will become an easy transition.
