Whilst many people have heard of alcohol-free beverages, fewer people have actually had the chance to try them. Non-alcoholic drinks are often written off very quickly based on untrue myths and misconceptions about them. So we are here to tell you the truth about the myths and misconceptions about alcohol-free drinks.

Myth 1: They Are Overly Full Of Sugar

It is easy to see where this myth came from. Some of the early non-alcoholic beers, ciders and especially wines, were quite sugary. But the alcohol-free market is growing and changing quickly and many non-alcoholic drinks are now made through a careful distillation process. This means that they often do not contain more sugar than their alcoholic counterparts.

In fact, most alcohol-free spirits are significantly lower in sugar and definitely lower in calories. And of course, they do not contain alcohol so they do not cause issues with insulin production.

As always, there are some alcohol-free drinks - most notably alcohol-free ciders and non-alcoholic wines, that still do contain a lot of sugar, so if you are trying to keep your sugar intake down then make sure to read the label on the drink.  

Myth 2: They Contain Unhealthy Food Additives and Flavourings

Now I am not going to say that all non-alcoholic drinks are healthy and good for you. But more often than not alcohol-free spirits, beers and some wines, are made entirely from natural products.

Alcohol-free spirits tend to be blends of fresh, natural botanicals, infused and distilled to create a deep and delicious flavour. More than being natural, these are often chocked filled with nutrients and vitamins that are good for us; for instance, iron, potassium, folic acid, zinc and B12.

But the good news is that due to labelling laws in the UK and the EU, non-alcoholic and alcohol-free products are required to tell you all the ingredients in any drink under 1.2% ABV. That means you can know exactly what is in your non-alcoholic drink, but do not know exactly what is in your alcoholic drink!

Myth 3: Alcohol-Free Spirits Are Just Flavoured Water

I have to admit before I tried my first alcohol-free spirit I really thought that non-alcoholic spirits were just glorified, flavoured water. But, having tasted a few different spirits I can appreciate that calling it flavoured water does really undermine the reality of alcohol-free spirits.

So what makes it different? Well, for starters most flavoured water is very sugary, whereas alcohol-free spirits really are not. But, beyond that, non-alcoholic spirits have a strong depth of flavour, and this comes from their very complex production process.

Most alcohol-free spirits are infused and distilled multiple times with a whole range of different botanicals. This means that they develop very complex, layered flavours. And oftentimes they do mimic alcohol very well.

It is also worth noting that some non-alcoholic spirits do also create a mental or bodily effect. For instance, the Sentia Gaba drink makes you feel like you are in the two-alcoholic drink sweet spot, whilst Matt and Craig’s CBD alcohol-free spirit helps you feel relaxed. Flavoured water never does that!

Myth 4: Non-Alcoholic Drinks Are Over Priced

Alcohol-free drinks avoid the taxes that alcoholic drinks face, so you would expect them to be cheaper. So why do they still sell at a similar price point to their alcoholic counterparts?

Well, the reality is that producing an non-alcoholic drink is an expensive process that is very much still in development. It requires very high precision distilling technology and a higher amount of raw ingredients to make the same rich flavour as an alcoholic beverage.

On top of that, drinks which go through the de-alcoholisation process end up losing a lot of the drink in the process.

Non-alcoholic drinks are not currently produced in the same bulk as alcoholic drinks, thus they are more artisanal, have higher production costs, and make the drinks more expensive to create. That said, even with all of this, they are still often the same price or cheaper as their alcoholic counterparts. So let’s see what happens in the future?!

Myth 5: Drinking Alcohol-Free Drinks is Boring

It can feel like you are a party pooper when you decide not to drink alcohol, taking the non-alcoholic drink route can make you feel like a boring. But let's be real, is it boring to be able to have fun without alcohol? Is it boring to enjoy your next day hangover free? Is it boring to enjoy a drink with a delicious taste? We say absolutely not.

Try JOMO To Find The Joy of Alcohol-Free Drinks 

Excited to explore the world of alcohol-free drinks now we’ve busted some myths? Then sign up for a JOMO subscription box or check out the JOMO bottle shop to see a thoughtfully chosen selection of delicious non-alcoholic drinks.

Each JOMO box is mindfully curated and contains:

• One full-sized bottle of alcohol-free spirits

• Mixers, garnishes and snacks to go with the alcohol-free spirit

• A selection of ready-to-drink alcohol-free drinks

• A magazine with alcohol-free cocktail recipes and everything you need to know about the drinks in your box.

This is the perfect way to discover your new favourite, alcohol-free drink.