Cutting down on or quitting drinking alcohol is a healthy decision. Even 1 drink a day increases the risk of some cancers. And new research suggests that 1 drink a day also can increase the risk of dying of some forms of heart disease.
If you want to reduce your alcohol intake but still have a drink at your neighborhood barbecue, consider making the switch to mocktails. Mocktails are cocktails without alcohol.
Feeling included in social events is just one benefit. Mocktails are also:
- Less expensive than alcoholic drinks.
- Hydrating and won't leave you feeling hungover the following day.
- Safe for people who are pregnant or taking medicine.
- Discreet. They don't draw attention to the fact that you're not drinking alcohol.
"We generally have very little concern about these types of drinks," says Tyler S. Oesterle, M.D., M.P.H., an addictions psychiatrist at Mayo Clinic. "They are a healthier alternative to alcoholic drinks. The sugar is a drawback but is generally considered preferable over alcohol."
Are mocktails part of a healthy diet?
When deciding if a mocktail is a healthier choice, compare it to what you otherwise would have had, says Tara M. Schmidt, M.Ed., RDN, LD, a registered dietitian at Mayo Clinic.
If your usual cocktail is a margarita, skipping the tequila will save calories. But if you usually sip a 100-calorie glass of white wine, a virgin margarita with sparkling water, juices and syrups will be higher in calories and sugar. You might consider a drink with less sugar.
"You have a wide range of choices in the mocktail space," Schmidt says. "A mocktail made of sparkling water, muddled strawberries and a mint leaf could be significantly healthier than an alcoholic beverage."
If you have medical conditions, talk to your health care team about what is best for you. People with diabetes might need to limit mocktails due to the sugar content. People taking blood thinners should avoid mocktails made with grapefruit juice.
Dr. Oesterle doesn't recommend nonalcoholic beers for people in alcohol use disorder recovery. That's because these drinks occasionally contain small amounts of alcohol.