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Forget reaching for alcohol to help you feel good – wine, spirits and beers can disrupt brain chemistry, induce stress and anxiety and impact our mental health in the long term.
That's because alcohol is a depressant. According to the Health Service Executive, the brain's delicate balance of happiness chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine depletes after that initial alcohol buzz.
The result? Feelings of depression and anxiety. Mix in the fact that alcohol can amplify negative emotions, affect your concentration and prevent a decent night's kip, it's no wonder that people are ditching the bottle in a bid to boost their mood.
Enter alcohol-free alternatives. Not only are alcohol-free drinks brimming with healthy ingredients, they can also deliver the perfect pick-me-up that straps rockets to your mood, making you feel happier.
Many alcohol-free drinks have been backed by studies that show their positive impact on wellbeing – from alcohol-free beers to botanical-infused sparkling wine alternatives, meaning you can enjoy them without worrying about the after-effects of feeling low.
The great news? We've plenty of non-alcoholic drinks that can make you feel good and boost your mood, all specially curated by our tireless Zerologists here at Zero.Zilch.Zip.
Here are five of our best alcohol-free, mood-boosting drinks to put a spring in your step.
Best alcohol-free drinks for boosting mood
Jing Jasmine Pearls Sparkling Cold Brew
This bubbly cold brew is deserving of a Champagne flute!
Made from a pure tea base, Jing Jasmine has all the sparkles of Champagne, but without the headache-inducing alcohol content. This sparkling tea is made from green tea buds and leaves that are gently heated to lock in their fresh flavour, then hand-rolled into pearls. Jasmine flowers scent the pearls using traditional methods to give them floral and honey sweetness then infused in cold water and delicately carbonated.
The intricate flavours of green tea and jasmine make this drink worthy of any celebration. Thanks to the antioxidants and caffeine in green tea, this drink is ideal for boosting mood and attention – perfect for a night of dancing and celebrating. The jasmine infusion can help relax the body and prevent insomnia, so you can have a peaceful sleep and banish hangovers (we know, it's almost too good to be true).
Drink on its own to appreciate the delicate flavours or as part of an alcohol-free cocktail.
Wildlife Botanicals Nude
#BubblesWithBenefits. A sophisticated, sparkling wine with natural pick-me-ups – oh, and it's vegan, too!
With an infusion of uplifting vitamins, botanicals and minerals, this plant-powered, low-alcohol (0.5%) wine can boost your mood and add some va-va-voom to your immune system. Each glass delivers between 15% – 60% of your daily reference intake of vitamins and minerals – the perfect excuse to have several glasses (you're welcome).
The minds behind the magic are the only sparkling wine producer with a naturopath on the team, guiding the wellbeing and taste of all the added botanicals and vitamins (sounds like a dream job!).
Hailed as 'the fabulous five', the botanicals include:
- lemon balm
- damask rose
- ashwagandha
- rosemary
- damiana
Their natural goodness helps support the body and mind. A drink you can definitely wind down with; the lemon balm can calm anxiety, while the damask rose and damiana can provide mood-lifting and aphrodisiac qualities. The added benefit of vitamins such as B12, zinc and vitamin C can help boost the immune system, making you feel like a new and re-energised version of yourself. Enjoy chilled in a celebratory glass.
Wild Eve Botanical Infusion
A new wave botanical infusion made entirely of plants foraged or grown on the Isle of Harris.
A fusion of herbs and adaptogens engages the body and mind for a full-body drinking experience. Wild Eve is similar to a spirit and is the equal of any top-shelf cocktail infusion with its deep red-pink colour and a hint of orange that remind you of glorious high-summer days. Made with Harris water and a plethora of herbs, this drink will boost your mood and ease stress. The notes of chamomile and ashwagandha can help reduce anxiety and promote calm vibes, making this the perfect drink for winding down in the evening and clearing away the pressures of the day.
Much like a spirit, Wild Eve is best served with ice on its own to enjoy the flavours fully or with a tonic for an alcohol-free G&T.
Real Kombucha Dry Dragon
As fierce as its name, Dry Dragon has all the good bits of a refreshing white wine, without the potential of an unpleasant hangover the morning after!
A fermented green tea, this kombucha is more than just a fad and is well worth the craze. Made by pan-roasting green leaves, this drink has a nutty flavour and features notes of lemons and grapefruit. Consisting of only green tea, sugar and kombucha culture, Dry Dragon comes packed full of health benefits, so you don't need any excuses for drinking a whole bottle by yourself!
With mood-boosting green tea and depression-bashing kombucha, this drink is the optimal choice for all-day, guilt-free drinking. Serve extremely cold in a Champagne glass – simple and classy.
Mother Root Ginger Switchel
There are few things better than an Aperol Spritz, and Mother Root Ginger Switchel is one of them.
A modernised version of Switchel, a popular drink in the 1800s for its refreshing pick-me-up qualities, Mother Root's take is ideal for a spritz and designed to help boost your mood. The warming combination of ginger, honey and apple cider vinegar benefits the body, mind and soul. Enjoy the stress-relieving qualities of the ginger, mood improvement from the honey and anxiety prevention from the apple cider vinegar during a chill time with friends or after a hard day of work – you've earned it!
A drink this spiced-up should be enjoyed over ice in a long glass, topped with soda. Garnish with some lemon or rosemary for added oomph!
Find these tasty tipples and a whole lot more here at Zero.Zilch.Zip, helping you avoid the supermarket queues and rush hour traffic! Bottoms up!
