Best places to buy non-alcoholic drinks
Article SUMMARY
Synopsis – This article looks at the various options sober drinkers (in the UK and US) have when it comes to purchasing non-alcoholic drinks. It digs into the top supermarkets in each country, looking at their range of different non-alcoholic drinks from beers and wine to spirits. The article also puts a spotlight on the best non-alcoholic online sites showcasing the various benefits to each one.
Best supermarket for non-alcoholic drinks
A few years ago when I started blogging about non-alcoholic drinks one of my post popular topics was ‘Which is the best supermarket for alcohol-free drinks?’.
Since I wrote this article the rise in alcohol-free drinking has been incredible. The demand for interesting quality non-alcoholic drinks has forced the supermarket’s hands and they’ve had to improve their choice for customers.
Given the rise in popularity of non-alcoholic drinks, I thought it was about time I updated the above post and told you which are not only the best supermarkets for non-alcoholic drinks but also which are the best online specialists. I’ve used the supermarket’s online inventory to calculate the choice but note that not each store may not have the full range.
Along with supermarket chains and online stores, you can buy a great range of non-alcoholic drinks from independent shops and its worth a browse of their shelves to find some interesting drinks to try out.
CLICK HERE IF YOU LIVE IN THE
UNITED KINGDOM
CLICK HERE IF YOU LIVE IN THE
UNITED STATES
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When it comes to supermarkets Ocado is the G.O.A.T. Their non-alcoholic drink choice is incredible. Every time I go back to the site the offering grows and grows. There is a selection of top brands that everyone knows, such as Alcohol-free Guinness or Tanqueray 0.0 but there are also lesser-known brands such as Seedlip or Clausthaler; something for everyone. Nice one Ocado, keep up the great work.
Check out Ocado’s site for more info.
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Over the years Sainsbury’s has been expanding their collection of non-alcoholic drinks which is great news for me as this is my nearest supermarket; in fact I’ve picked up many an interesting bottle when browsing the aisles. Expect to find the likes of non-alcoholic Moretti sitting next to a bottle of Kylie’s non-alcoholic Rose wine. I also like the fact Sainsbury’s are pretty balanced when it comes to drink category, something for everyone .
Check out Sainsbury’s full collection of non-alcoholic drinks.
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Morrisons have come on leaps and bounds since I last took a look at their alcohol-free drinks selection. There is now over 50 different non-alcoholic drinks to choose from including an impressive collection on alcohol-free spirits and pre-made mocktails such as Gordon’s GnT and Kopparberg’s Gin, strawberry and lime mocktail.
Check out Morrisons’ full collection of non-alcoholic drinks.
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Since I last wrote about which supermarkets were best for non-alcoholic drinks it seems Tesco hasn’t really improved. Don’t get me wrong they have a decent enough selection but given its size and reputation I would have expected a wider choice.
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Disappointingly unlike the other brands mentioned above Asda seemed to have gone backwards when it comes to their range of non-alcoholic drinks. Their choice in beers (including alcohol-free Asahi) and spirits (such as Caleno) isn’t bad but they are pretty weak in the non-alcoholic wine category. Hopefully Asda will start expanding their choice soon.
Disappointingly unlike the other brands mentioned above Asda seemed to have gone backwards when it comes to their range of non-alcoholic drinks. Their choice in beers (including alcohol-free Asahi) and spirits (such as Caleno) isn’t bad but they are pretty weak in the non-alcoholic wine category. Hopefully Asda will start expanding their choice soon.
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OTHERS
Lidl has always been known for its high-quality choice of wine but trying to explore their current inventory without traipsing round the stores is nigh on impossible; I did find an alcohol-free pilsner called Perlenbacher maybe I’ll give it a taste-test one day.
Aldi doesn’t have the easiest site to search for non-alcoholic drinks but I did come across the likes of Rheinbacher 0.0% as well as a alcohol-free Brewdog selection box.
ONLINE NON-ALCOHOLIC STORES
If you can’t find your favourite drink at your local supermarket you’ll most likely find what you’re looking for with these three non-alcoholic drink specialists below.
They all have their own unique sites and inventory so it can be worth shopping around especially if you are after a specific drinks brand. NB full transparency I do receive a small commission if you purchase from the sites below after visiting MyDryBar … and it all helps to pay the hosting fees 🙂
I’ve been promoting Dry Drinker for a number of years now due to their incredibly impressive collection of non-alcoholic drinks. A quick tot-up on their site shows over 100 AF beers, over 25 AF wines and a similar level of mocktails and alcohol-free spirits.
Dry Drinker has also very recently had a very snazzy site redesign making it incredibly easy to locate and buy your favourite non-alcoholic drinks. In addition, you can now buy single cans which wasn’t the case last year.
If you want to discover new and exciting non-alcoholic drinks then this is a great company.
Official retailer (by Alcohol Change) for Dry January, Wise Bartender is a must-go destination for people looking to discover all their favourite brands and more; and just like Dry Drinker they have benefited from a great new site design and look.
Offering well over 50 non-alcoholic beers and cider, 30 AF wines and a vast selection of alcohol-free spirits this is another website you must visit if you are serious about alcohol-free drinks.
If you want to discover new and exciting non-alcoholic drinks then this is a great company.
The Alcohol Free is one of the most established sites around (in its seven year) and they continue to bring all the latest and greatest non-alcoholic drinks to the masses.
When it comes to their collection of non-alcoholic beers its pretty outstanding and one of the go-to sites for me looking for something a bit more unusual and unique.
The Alcohol Free’s selection of red and white non-alcoholic wine is also just as impressive. Certainly a site you should be checking out.
Buying non-alcoholic drinks in the USA
A lot of my web traffic comes from the United States and although I live in the UK I thought I would help out my pals across the pond and investigate some of the stores over there.
As you can imagine it is trickier for me to research non-alcoholic drinks available but I have delved into a number of the most famous stores and attempted to catalogue their alcohol-free collection online. With the exception of Walmart, the offering is limited (when compared to the UK) so it may be best to use an online retailer (such as the ones I’ve listed below).
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Walmart easily has the best selection when it comes to non-alcoholic drinks. I found their alcohol-free beer selection to be particularly impressive and there were some familiar ones I’ve tried, such as Bravus Brewing and Corona Cero but also ones I’ve not tried such as Partake Craft Brews. There was also a great collection of mocktails and non-alcoholic spirits to purchase. Overall this would be my go-to destination (were I based in the States).
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Food Lion certainly smashes it out of the park if you are looking for non-alcoholic cocktails thanks to their range of mixes (Taste of Inspirations and Master of Mixes). They also have a few different NA beers to choose from such as Athletic Brewing but are very limited in the non-alcholic wine category. Overall though not a bad destination for non-alcohilic drinks if you are in the Southeast or Mid Atlantic regions.
Check out Food Lion’s full collection of non-alcoholic drinks.
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Operating out of 16 states you would hope Kroger would have a decent selection of non-alcoholic drinks but they fall short (especially compared to Walmart). They do have some classic drinks available such as alcohol-free Budweiser and mocktails from the likes of Kul but they should increase their overall choice.
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With almost 700 stores across 10 states in the US you would expect them to have a decent supply of non-alcoholic drinks for their customers but IGA stores fall very short. Interestingly they seem to have gone heavy on alcohol-free wines (such as McGuigan Zero Shiraz) over other drinks categories and there
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BEST US ONLINE NON-ALCOHOLIC STORES
As mentioned above, US supermarkets on the whole have quite a limited range of non-alcoholic drinks. The good news though is that there now a number of great alcohol-free online specialist retailers featuring 100s of different drinks, some of which I’ve listed below.
Ever since starting MyDryBar, Proof No More has been my go-to destination for locating non-alcoholic drinks in the US. Why? Well for starters they have almost 150 different non-alcoholic beers to choose from including IPA’s, stouts and radlers.
It’s not only beers Proof No More focuses on, they also have a wide range of both alcohol-free wines and spirits from a range of producers.
Overall this should be a must-visit site for all those looking to continue with their sober adventure.
No and Low was set up by Louis & Massimo, two brothers who wanted to create a collection of the best non-alcoholic products online.
If you are looking for a great range of non-alcoholic spirits then this is a great place as you’ll find classics such as Ghia and Lyre’s. When it comes to AF wine you’ll be able to pick out some classic producers along with No and Low’s own sparkling wines.
As featured in Vanity Fair and Good Morning America, Raising The Bar have created an interesting concept where you are sent zero-proof cocktail ingredients to craft three unique cocktail recipes … and elevate your non-alcoholic cocktail-making skills.
If you are planning on throwing a party or want to indulge yourself at home then this is a great idea.
I have tried to be as accurate as possible with the numbers quoted above however if you feel there are any inaccuracies then please contact me and I’ll make the relevant amends.
