Nonalcoholic Beverages: Something Worth Toasting?

April 2, 2026

Happy athletic man drinking water after sports training outdoors.

Ever wanted to go to your local bar without consuming alcohol? Research published by Addiction, a journal of the Society for the Study of Addiction, states that nonalcoholic beverages are more popular than ever. That’s good news. Thanks to their growing popularity, new alcohol alternatives are popping up all over the place.

“There’s a growing number of people who are considered sober curious,” says Dr. Mashal Khan, assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine. “These individuals aren’t going alcohol-free. Rather, they’re practicing alcohol awareness and reducing their alcohol intake to levels that better match their values and goals.”

Reasons to Change Drinking Habits

There are many reasons why you may consider modifying your alcohol consumption and opt for nonalcoholic options when available. A few of these include:

Feeling better. Drink enough alcohol, and you’re at risk for experiencing drunkenness and a hangover. If you drink so much that you lose your balance, you may also experience injuries when you fall.
Improving your health. Over time, alcohol consumption can affect your physical and mental health. Alcohol is linked to heart disease, liver problems, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, dementia and more.
Making better and safer choices. Alcoholic beverages can impair your ability to make good calls. These lapses in judgment, such as driving under the influence, can have life-altering results.
Protecting the next generation. The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry reports that children whose parents have alcohol use disorder are four times as likely to have the same issue. Cutting back on your alcohol intake may reduce the risk that your children will drink excessively later in life.

Nonalcoholic Options

Whether you’re trying to keep going after Dry January or just want to curb your alcohol intake, there’s never been a better time. Many companies have taken note of the growing nonalcoholic movement. As a result, you can find alternative drink options almost everywhere you go. You can even find a number of them at your favorite bar.

Refreshing drink options that avoid the effects of alcohol include:

Flavored water
Mocktails with nonalcoholic bitters (zero-proof cocktails)
Nonalcoholic beer (near beer or alcohol-free beer)
Nonalcoholic wine
Soda
Sparkling water

Prefer to drink alcohol on occasion? Dr. Khan says that’s okay. Just use wisdom. Drink alcohol when it aligns with who you are and when drinking doesn’t pose a risk to yourself or others.

“What’s most important is that you evaluate your relationship to alcohol,” Dr. Khan says. “Doing this gives you the opportunity to take control of your habits. Unless you have an alcohol use disorder, you may not need to stop drinking altogether, but everyone who drinks should do so in moderation.”

A Sip of Nonalcoholic Options

Today, more people are trying out nonalcoholic beverages than ever before. Should you give them a try?

Reduced alcohol intake helps you feel better, make better decisions and improve your mental and physical health.
Drink options with no alcohol include mocktails and nonalcoholic beer.
If you choose to drink alcohol, do it thoughtfully and in moderation.

Want help moderating your drinking habits and enhancing your health? Find a doctor at Weill Cornell Medicine today.