Proliferation of alcohol-free tipples something for Aussies to cheers about

No need to get bored this Dry July with plenty of new non-alcoholic beer, wine and spirit options on offer. Here are some of the best.

Charity initiatives such as Dry July that involve cutting out alcohol for a month to raise money for good causes can also be a good opportunity for drinkers to rethink their intake.

Studies have shown this country is one of the heaviest drinking nations in the world – an international survey in 2020 found Aussies got drunk more than twice as often as the global average and the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed one in four exceeded the guidelines for safe consumption.

Recent research from social change organisation Drinkwise has revealed that 43 per cent of drinkers want to cut down on their alcohol consumption but, with Australia still very much a pub culture, many find it difficult to do so for fear of feeling on the outer in social situations.

Alizee Fleming and Nathan Roach drinking zero alcohol cocktails in So Bar at Seadrift Distillery, in Brookvale, Sydney. Picture: Julian Andrews

But savvy companies are stepping up to provide solutions, leading to a proliferation of alcohol-free products, including beer, wine and spirits. Drinkwise stats have shown that low and no-alcohol drinks helped nearly a third of those surveyed about their reduction in alcohol consumption during the pandemic, with younger Aussies aged 18-44 twice as likely to drink them as the over 45s.

Here’s a few options to lose the hangovers, without losing your favourite tipple.

BEER

Low and no-alcohol beer has exploded in recent years with the proliferation of craft breweries meaning more and better options for a product that’s traditionally been a bit of a punchline. The market is growing at an astonishing rate of 62 per cent year on year with both the big players and smaller brewers getting on board. Favourites such a Heineken, XXXX, James Squire, Great Northern and Carlton all have options with less than .05% ABV, while companies such as Nord and Heaps Normal are thriving as no-alcohol beer specialists. More and more craft breweries, including Gage Road, Brick Lane and Nanny State are adding low-and no-alcohol products to their core ranges, with Victorian outfit Mornington Breweries revealing their Mornington Free Non Alc Pale Ale is now their biggest seller.

WINE

Non-alcoholic wine is just grape juice, right? Well, possibly once upon a time, but now many wineries are getting serious about providing options that keep the flavour and can be paired with foods, but don’t come with a hangover sting in the tail. Revered South Australian winery Hardys is using new technology to remove alcohol at a lower temperature while retaining the taste, with the ZERO Shiraz now available in Coles and a ZERO Chardonnay and ZERO Sparkling launching in Woolworths next week. New Zealand winery Giessen also has a range of traditional varieties including a sauvignon blanc, rose, pinot gris and merlot. The NON New Everyday range doesn’t try to emulate traditional wine varieties but rather experiments with bold new flavours such as Salted Raspberry and Chamomile, Toasted Cinnamon and Yuzu, and Stewed Cherry and Coffee.

Hardy's has a ZERO range of non-alcoholic wines.

SPIRITS AND COCKTAILS

Lyre’s is an official partner of Dry July and has just introduced Australia’s first non-alcoholic whiskey, Highland Malt, to their range of 18 other non-alcoholic spirits, including substitutes for gin, rum and bourbon from which they claim to be able to make 90 per cent of the world’s cocktails and mixed drinks. Alcohol-free gin is also well established in the market, by mixing water with botanicals, with gin giant Gordon’s now making a 0.0 version, as well as Aussie options including the Yarra Valley’s Banks Botanicals Non-Alcoholic Spirit and Sydney’s ALTD Spirits Golden Emperor Non-Alcoholic Spirit. South Australian outfit Polka also makes a Non-Alc Botanical Spirit, as well as a De-Alcoholic Sparkling wine.

Lyre's non-alcoholic Pink Gin. Picture: Supplied

RAISING THE BAR

If a trip to a bar when you’re trying not to drink alcohol sounds like your idea of hell, there are venues around the country where like-minded souls can meet for mocktails and more. Check out the following in your local city.

MELBOURNE

Brunswick Aces, 124 Weston St, Brunswick East

Born from a desire “to make everyone feel welcome in all social situations”, Brunswick Aces is the home of Australia’s first non-alcoholic distillery, bar and bottle shop. There are plenty of cocktails on offer – try a Gale Force, Rosemary’s Love or Estate Fizz – or pick up the ingredients and follow the recipes on their website.

Enjoying non-alcoholic mocktails at Brunswick Aces are (from left) Dez Ramadani, Diana Abelardo, Carolina Abelardo and Lauren Lombardi. Picture: Tim Carrafa

SYDNEY

Sea Drift, 1/12 Sydenham Rd, Brookvale

Nestled among the many brewers in this pocket of the northern beaches is Sydney’s only dedicated non-alcoholic bar. In addition to their own non-alcoholic spirits, Seadrift Classic and Seadrift Coast, they also stock a wide range of non-alcoholic beers and wines.

BRISBANE

Elska, 2/148 Merthyr Rd, New Farm; Exhibition, Basement 2, 109 Edward St, Brisbane City

Brisbane’s only specialist non-alcohol bar, Tolerance, has closed down but degustation-only restaurants Elska and Exhibition offer entire non-alcoholic pairings to go with their menus.

ADELAIDE

Mirra, 40 East Terrace, Adelaide

Billed as Adelaide first and only High Tea and mocktail specialist, Mirra offers 0% gin and tonics, martinis and sparkling wine mocktails, as well as an impressive range of teas and sweet treats.