Alcohol Alternatives Healthy Ways to Relax Without Drinking

Studies by the National Institute on Drug Abuse show physical exercise helps lower anxiety and calms nerves better than drinks loaded with alcohols or mixers full of carbonation and sugar. Every drinker knows this calm feeling from having drinks “on the rocks” or enjoying an old fashioned cocktail at a bar after work. But alcohol use often disrupts sleep cycles by limiting rapid eye movement (REM), resulting in poorer rest quality and fatigue when hungover.

Try Non-Alcoholic Cocktails (“Mocktails”)

Perfect for parties and celebrations where you want to stay away from alcohol. In fact, part of the appeal is that these alternatives improve your cognition, sleep, and recovery. You’ll feel great, and wake up the next day primed to perform your best.

The Link Between Stress, Anxiety, And Desire to Drink

For those who want to unwind without alcohol, CBD-infused drinks offer stress relief and relaxation without the intoxicating effects of THC or liquor. Adaptogenic beverages, infused with herbs like ashwagandha and reishi mushrooms, help support stress management and mental clarity, making them a great evening wind-down option. Unlike alcohol, which can interfere with sleep and hydration, these functional drinks promote calmness while keeping you refreshed and balanced. Non-alcoholic beverages like mocktails, herbal teas, and sparkling water provide enjoyable alternatives. Engaging in activities such as yoga, hiking, or cooking can offer relaxation and socialization without the need for alcohol. Reducing alcohol intake by choosing alcohol alternatives has numerous health benefits.

Joy Organics Full Spectrum CBD Tinctures

I love how this one didn’t try to imitate booze, but rather became its own thing. The brand has a few other enticing botanical flavors, too, like Spice 94 and Garden, with notes of allspice and pea, respectively. From Lagunitas, a longtime king of craft brewing, Hoppy Refresher is actually sparkling water with a light hop flavor, bridging refreshment with the fun healthy alternatives to drinking alcohol of beer. These drinks make interesting conversation pieces, and some swear by them.

Hitting the gym or a fun workout class (think aerial yoga or kickboxing) with a friend or coworker can help you beat stress without the hangover. Even a quick 20- or 30-minute exercise session has calming effects—and research shows these benefits can last for several hours after your workout is complete. Due to the adverse effects of alcohol on the body, it is wise to stay off it. Although these are technically healthy ways to replace alcohol, you have to apply moderation in the consumption of healthier drink options, as too much can cause harm to the body. “People shouldn’t avoid drinking alcohol as a means of relaxing but they should try to stay within limits and not use it to deal with mental health problems such as anxiety, depression or PTSD,” Professor Nutt stated.

With a Harley Street address and busy online clinic, Rachel and her team empower you to eat according to your genes, using her method The DNA Way®. Published research in Epigenetics, Rachel, currently sits on the scientific advisory board of a number of health apps and guest lectures for the Nutrition & Genetic MSc at St Mary’s University in London. Mocktails’ Nitro pack contains all the favourites with an alcohol-free twist – like Espress0% Martini, Sansgria, and Mockupolitan. The best hemp-derived products are full-spectrum, containing high levels of all the important cannabinoids. Halfway house Make sure to get high-quality, ceremonial-grade raw cacao for the best effects.

Also, the ‘willpower method’ assumes drinking alcohol is awesome, an assumption Carr rejects outright. However, past alternatives to drinking beer have felt stodgy—O’Douls, anyone? Fortunately, a new generation of brewers is dedicated to capturing the hoppy flavor of today’s ales and IPAs in an alcohol-free beer. Alcohol-free ciders offer the familiar apple-based flavors and effervescence of traditional ciders without the alcohol content. As with nonalcoholic beer, nonalcoholic ciders are usually made using similar methods to traditional hard ciders.

If you’re new to the whole exercise thing, you don’t have to go running or lift weights to get the endorphin release. Anything that gets you moving and raises your heart rate will work. Just be sure to find something you enjoy, so you’ll be more likely to stick with it in the long run. The warm temperature and sunny days of summer call for a refreshing drink with plenty of citrus to brighten things up.

• A calming blend might include ganaxolone-like neurosteroids, gently activating GABA receptors without side effects that call for flumazenil treatment later.
• Men can reduce stress and improve their health by taking up fun hobbies like photography, poetry writing, or backyard camping.
• Kava has been a booze-free social brew for over 1,500 years in the South Pacific.
• Music releases dopamine, the same feel-good chemical that floods the brain when we drink alcohol, one study showed.

Because the umbrella of nonalcoholic beverages includes a wide variety of products, it’s hard to definitively say whether nonalcoholic beverages are universally healthier than alcoholic ones. You can explore various traditional drinks worldwide, such as Saké from Japan, Chicha from South America, and Ayran from Turkey. These cultural beverages often offer unique flavors and ingredients, enhancing your drinking experience without alcohol. Discovering flavorful non-alcoholic cocktails expands your beverage options while keeping social events enjoyable.

Benefits of alcohol alternatives

They have tons of creative flavor combos with just the right amount of tartness and intensity without booze. You can make your own shrub by boiling the fruit of your choosing with distilled water and either lemon juice or vinegar. Fancy up brunch without zapping your energy for the rest of the day with a virgin mimosa. A lot of craft breweries make low- or no-alcohol brews, so it’s worth hitting up local spots to see what they have. It’s all made the same way regular wine is, but the alcohol is removed at the end of the process. If you have rose water and sugar (or a pound or two of fresh rose petals casually lying around), you can find recipes to make your own rose syrup.