Dry July is a movement that encourages us to avoid booze, either for the whole month or for shorter periods. Funds raised go to services to support cancer patients, a commendable purpose. Details are available at dryjuly.com

For those of us who like a glass of wine, a cocktail, or a beer there's a problem. Most non-alcoholic alternatives have always been pretty ordinary. Soft drinks are usually very sweet, mineral water is boring, and you can only have so many cups of tea. Recently a new wave of non-alcoholic drinks has arrived to offer something a bit different. Some good zero-alcohol beers have been reviewed here previously, with Heineken 00 and Holsten's brew scoring well, and other alcohol-free drinks, "spirits" and mixers have arrived to offer attractive, and sometimes surprisingly good alternatives. These new wave drinks employ different fruits, spices and extracts to replicate the warmth, complexity and flavour interest of normal high-octane drops. Explore them, they are fascinating.

Lyre's Italian Orange 700ml, $45

Lyre's drinks open up a new world of non-alcoholic aperitifs, cocktails and mixers to keep you respectable. This bright red Italian style is Campari-like, combining sweetness with bitterness, orange and aromatic herbs in excellent balance. Makes a great negroni with other Lyre's spirits too.

Stockists include: check lyres.com.au

NON 3 Toasted Cinnamon & Yuzu 750ml, $30

NON offers several non-alcoholic blends. Less overt than some, this yellow, cloudy, still drop has appealing notes of exotic spice, orange and mandarine-like yuzu, a very subtle sweetness and a tangy, dry, sustained finish. A good wine alternative. Crown seal.

Stockists include: Blackhearts & Sparrows stores (Vic); P&V Wine & Liquor, Newtown (NSW)

NON 1 Salted Raspberry & Chamomile 750ml, $30

Bright reddish pink with a foaming, frothy bubble, NON 2 has lovely raspberry and floral chamomile aromas. It's quite "winey" with a lovely feeling of purity, a dry, smooth, fruity palate and a clean ending. (crown seal)

Stockists include: Blackhearts & Sparrows stores (Vic); P&V Wine & Liquor, Newtown (NSW)