Gransnet forums

Chat

Grown up non-alcoholic drink

(38 Posts)
Mazgg Sat 30-Apr-22 18:20:49

I am going to my grandson's wedding which will be an afternoon through to evening 'do'. I drink wine usually but need a substitute as I want to keep a clear head. Any suggestions for something that looks like a 'real' drink?

M0nica Mon 02-May-22 14:47:36

Why not just order a soft drink you like and not bother with 'grown-up' soft drinks and all that nonsense.

I have never drunk much and have been ordering or choosing from the tray, fruit juices, J20s, sparkling water, what ever takes my fancy, since I went to university, which is a long time ago.

Occasionally, very occasionally, there have been remarks, but so what?

Callistemon21 Sun 01-May-22 20:52:58

I do enjoy elderflower presse but it's not always available
So do my not-yet-grownup DGC!

I really dislike squash of any kind.

Mazgg Sun 01-May-22 19:09:01

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions. I think I will probably go for tonic with a slice of lemon. I do enjoy elderflower presse but it's not always available. For the record I don't drink to excess but as it is going to be over a long period I am looking for an alternative to the usual orange juice .

Baggs Sun 01-May-22 07:58:43

Perhaps the words "grown-up" in the title influenced the take some people took, chardy. There's nothing un-grown-up about water or any other non-alcoholic drink, as I think shelflife was trying to say in the post before yours.

As it happens, nearly all the drinks suggested do not appeal to me. What is it with adding lemon to water? That's a yuck from me. Plain water in a champagne glass is what I'd have if I didn't want something alcoholic.

Chardy Sun 01-May-22 07:27:28

Isn't this another thread about other people's perceptions of an individual's choice?
Because of more discussion about issues like alcoholism, I thought that whether folk choose to drink alcohol or not was not a topic for discussion.
The last wedding I went to over a third of the people there were going to drive afterwards.

Shelflife Sun 01-May-22 07:24:42

Mazgg , don't be concerned about having a drink the looks real !! Why on earth should you feel that way ? a drink is a drink , it may contain alcohol and may not. I enjoy a glass of wine but NEVER if I intend to drive. Failing that I order soda and lime - a long cool and refreshing drink. Nothing wrong about not ever drinking alcohol!! Enjoy the wedding,
have a wonderful day .

ElaineI Sun 01-May-22 01:01:10

Unless I was driving would take the wine and gin!

Redhead56 Sun 01-May-22 00:58:17

Ginger beer with ice and lemon.

Doodledog Sat 30-Apr-22 23:15:31

Luckygirl3

I don't understand the need for it to look like a "real" drink - I have not drunk for decades and wherever I am I drink what I fancy and couldn't give a what people are thinking about me. Most likely they are not thinking about me at all - and why should they?

Sparkling elderflower is good.

I don't expect that anyone is thinking about me either, but just as 'drinkers' enjoy having something different from the children at a party, so do I.

The only people who think about what I am drinking are the ones who comment that they don't understand why I am drinking 'substitute' drinks, and I would never comment on their choices.

Those recommending things from M&S etc - the OP is going to be at a wedding, so is unlikely to be taking her own drinks grin.

mamaa Sat 30-Apr-22 22:56:29

M and S non alcohol Rose is very good- unless you’d been told you’d be hard pressed to spot any difference from alcoholic Rose.

Luckygirl3 Sat 30-Apr-22 22:42:03

I don't understand the need for it to look like a "real" drink - I have not drunk for decades and wherever I am I drink what I fancy and couldn't give a what people are thinking about me. Most likely they are not thinking about me at all - and why should they?

Sparkling elderflower is good.

geekesse Sat 30-Apr-22 22:14:49

I like cranberry juice with soda - light, refreshing and no alcohol.

J52 Sat 30-Apr-22 22:12:36

M&S sell a drink called 0%, it’s non alcoholic but tastes like a G&T. Serve chilled and even better with ice and lemon.
The best bit is it’s £3 a bottle.

Mancjules Sat 30-Apr-22 22:02:58

I love the odd Guinness but trying to cut out alcohol. Their 0% in cans is great!

Doodledog Sat 30-Apr-22 21:36:10

Different venues have different things on offer, so the chances are you will have to see what is available and choose on the day.

I don't drink alcohol, and find that there is a huge variation from places offering a wide range of non-alcoholic 'grown up' drinks to those where the best you can hope for is a diet Coke or an orange juice.

You will find that everyone has an opinion, though - nobody bats an eyelid if you have a G&T or a glass of wine, but if you decide that you want something other than squash you will be told not to 'pretend', or be asked why you aren't drinking, or why you want something a bit different from sweet children's drinks. It's strange, but it happens every time.

I don't like Nosecco, but there are other brands of non-alcoholic fizz that are acceptable, and some N/A wine is quite good nowadays. Otherwise, I go for soda water with ice and a slice, or a shot of Seedlip if they sell it.

MawtheMerrier Sat 30-Apr-22 21:23:04

Tonic water with ice and a slice looks like G&T
Ginger ale could pass for whisky
Sparkling elderflower looks like champagne
Flat elderflower looks like white wine
I suppose Ribena would look like red!
But why pretend? Many people do not drink for very valid reasons- health, medication (antibiotics) or because they are driving
Why hide it?
(Personally I find the non-alcoholic wines a bit eurgh and Nosecco is a No-buy again for me. )

Barmeyoldbat Sat 30-Apr-22 21:12:25

There are non alcoholic beers, wines and even gin

Tricia2 Sat 30-Apr-22 21:06:15

Ginger Ale on rocks-looks like you have a little bourbon in it.

Galaxy Sat 30-Apr-22 20:49:32

I stopped drinking for all of last year, although have had the occasional drink this year. I would say that most of the non alcoholic beer is good especially Moretti but it is quite hard to find a decent non alcoholic wine. I havent yet found a decent red one.

Shinamae Sat 30-Apr-22 20:37:35

Lime and soda, no ice, slice of lime..

Callistemon21 Sat 30-Apr-22 20:33:49

Septimia

Elderflower pressé is what we usually default to.

My choice of non-alcoholic drink

Marydoll Sat 30-Apr-22 20:32:26

I had a both Beck's and Moretti non alcoholic beers, on holiday the other day. They were very like the real thing. However, the Nastro Azzuro one, I have tried in the past was awful.

I would prefer the real thing, but my meds prevent drinking alcohol. I don't usually miss it, but now and again, I have a desire for a dry Italian white wine.
At least I have a clear head at functions. wink

crazyH Sat 30-Apr-22 20:25:25

Yes, I’ve heard of Nosecco. My neighbour has given up alcohol ……she drinks Nosecco. She tells me that M&S do a non-alcoholic wine , which is quite nice

Marydoll Sat 30-Apr-22 20:21:41

I drank, Nosecco, at my son's wedding. I can't really tell the difference from the real thing now. It looked as if I was toasting with champagne like all the other guests, instead of with a non alcoholic drink.
All major supermarkets sell it now.

baubles Sat 30-Apr-22 19:21:04

Lime & soda if I want a long drink or ginger ale. I also like ginger beer and lime but that may be an acquired taste. ?