Is it time to replace the term ‘mocktail’?

The explosive rise of the non-alcoholic beverage market is anything but fake. No longer the domain of Dry July or Sober October, a growing number of alcohol avoiders are seeking adult drink options beyond sugary sodas and sparkling or still water.

The gorgeous branding of Lyre’s spirits, Voyager Estate’s grape juice, Maggie Beer’s sparkling chardonnay and Altina’s La Vie En Rose go a long way toward destigmatising non-alcoholic beverages. 

As a known gut irritant, avoiding a hangover isn’t the only reason people with chronic gut health issues such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) have a love-hate relationship with alcohol. There are some alcoholic options that are ‘safer’ than others (ie., low in fodmaps) but often it’s the sugar-fueled mixers or fruit juices that trigger unwanted flareups.

This week, the sober curious team at Noisy Guts did a taste-test of some of the non-alcoholic beverages available this festive season. One of our favourites was Lyre’s Italian Orange with tonic – a bitter orange aperitif that exuded sophistication and styling.