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submitted 3 weeks ago by Luvs2Spuj@lemmy.world to c/casualuk@feddit.uk

I'm doing my best to stop drinking, but my local only has Heineken 0 available. What else do you lot drink that I can reliably get in the pub, which isn't full of caffeine or sugar?

Water is about all I can think of but I'm wondering if there is something I can ask for that I'm overlooking. I'm hoping this will be like when I learned about pesto; I couldn't believe I had gone so long before eating it.

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[-] wiccan2@thelemmy.club 24 points 3 weeks ago

Guinness 0% is the only alchohol free thing that I've found to actually taste like it's original counterpart. Most places seem to have it these days.

Avoiding sugar is going to be difficult as it's the default for non alcoholic drinks. As others have said lime (or other mixer) and soda is probably the best bet.

To add insult to injury I'm finding that a lot of the non alcoholic options tend to be priced higher too.

[-] Luvs2Spuj@lemmy.world 13 points 3 weeks ago

I've heard it justified as it being expensive to remove the alcohol, but so much of the original drinks price is alcohol taxation that I think it's just because they can.

[-] wiccan2@thelemmy.club 5 points 3 weeks ago

I was thinking more along the lines of half a pint of coke costing more than a full pint of larger ☹️

You're right though the non alcoholic beers are usually more too.

[-] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I’ve heard it justified as it being expensive to remove the alcohol

That's bullshit. all they do is add small shot of alcohol dehygrogenase enzyme, then aldehyde dehydrogenase.

It's made from yeast and cheap.

[-] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 2 points 3 weeks ago

Wait, so could we just have a dropper of that in a pocket and use it tactically to neuter drinks during an endurance session?

[-] hayvan@piefed.world 19 points 3 weeks ago

I'm a fan of ginger beer or any soft drink with ginger bitterness.
Straight tonic is also a good one.

[-] Rcklsabndn@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 weeks ago

I was going to suggest tonic, too, BUT, depending on the market, the tonic out of the gun can have loads of sugar, in the US at least. Bottled tonic like Fever Tree is pretty low sugar.

[-] Munkisquisher@lemmy.nz 14 points 3 weeks ago

Lime and soda or soda lemon and bitters.

[-] Luvs2Spuj@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago

I'll try this tonight and report back, thank you.

[-] Skua@kbin.earth 4 points 3 weeks ago

In a similar vein, I quite enjoy a cranberry and tonic

[-] yakko@feddit.uk 3 points 3 weeks ago

Somebody mentioned soda and angostura bitters and I quite liked that. Slightly similar.

[-] Luvs2Spuj@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

This was a good one, I started here and landed with apple and soda.

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[-] Naich@piefed.world 10 points 3 weeks ago

Orange juice and lemonade is way nicer than it should be.

[-] Luvs2Spuj@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

I like the idea of a glitch drink.

[-] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago
[-] Luvs2Spuj@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

The 'way nicer than it should be' phrasing just made me think that way

[-] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 10 points 3 weeks ago

A very popular non-alcoholic drink in Germany is "Apfelschorle". It's half apple juice and half soda water. While apple juice is still pretty sugary, you cut that in half by adding water. In British pubs they often have fruit juice in small bottles, so just pour that in a pint glass, add soda and you're done.

[-] Luvs2Spuj@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago

This was the favourite last night, thank you for this. It's tasty and looks normal around the usual beers and ciders at the table. I'm probably going to keep drinking them.

[-] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

But be careful. Before you know it, you'll be reporting people to the police for throwing their rubbish into the wrong bin.

[-] wewbull@feddit.uk 1 points 3 weeks ago

I do the same thing with orange juice.

[-] erusuoyera@sh.itjust.works 8 points 3 weeks ago

Lime and soda was always a popular pub drink for non-drinkers.

[-] Luvs2Spuj@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago

I've been in the booze echo chamber and it never rooted as an idea until now. Thank you

[-] FarceOfWill@infosec.pub 2 points 3 weeks ago

Isnt the lime sugar though?

[-] Luvs2Spuj@lemmy.world 10 points 3 weeks ago

A bit of sugar is ok, I just wanted to avoid the frightening amount in things like coke.

[-] Krudler@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Ask for a glass of tap water and tip $10

You'll likely get free non-alcoholic drinks free the rest of the night.

I'm 10 years sober... I started the tip thing because I didn't think it was fair to go to an establishment, listen to the music, enjoy the scenery, and pay nothing to anybody. Especially because I cannot emotionally justify spending $7 on a diet pepsi that's 60% ice.

Didn't really realize it was going to happen, but it seems like staff really appreciates that and then treats you really kind in turn.

[-] mech@feddit.org 6 points 3 weeks ago

I drink tonic water. Yes it is also full of sugar, but going to the pub is never the healthy choice.
Otherwise, sparkling water with a slice of lemon and lots of ice is very good, too. At home I put a shot of apple vinegar in it, gives it a cider-y taste.

[-] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Worst thing about ordering non-alcoholic drinks (like NA beer or mocktails) at a bar is that they charge you the same fucking price as drinks with alcohol. That’s a ripoff.

I like HOPWTR. Guinness - there’s two versions, one properly carbonated like real Guinness and the other version which is carbonated like soda pop. The “real” one is fantastic, hardly tell the difference between that and real Guinness. i find the majority of Athletic’s NA selection mediocre at best, but they have a few decent standouts like their Moscow Mule. Corona makes a really good 0.0% beer, it’s close to the real thing. Franziskaner Weissbier is a good NA, too. Tanqueray makes a 0.0% gin and tonic, decent, and you can make a decent a fake Aperol Spritz using NA prosecco and one company (Monetto) makes the fake Aperol.

The desire for NA drinks is really growing. The difficulty is finding a decent shop that carries a good variety.

I quit drinking ~3 years ago, and I don’t miss the buzz anywhere near as much as I miss the huge variety of flavors that alcoholic beverages had.

[-] LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone 5 points 3 weeks ago

I have lime and soda, all bars do that You could also try googling dry bars in your area.

[-] FBJimmy@lemmus.org 4 points 3 weeks ago

Non-alcoholic gin and tonic can be pretty good, but is often a rip-off.

Guiness 0% or the Brewdog AFs are pretty good. My favourite was Nanny State, but it's hard to find.

[-] Luvs2Spuj@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

They only sell Heineken, so I'm out of luck for other 0 beers. I'm not sure about the 0 spirits though, but I think it's also a no. Thanks for the recommendation.

Also as a separate thing, I won't buy Brewdog. I know this makes me seem really difficult with my list of things I won't drink:

  • Caffeine
  • Excessive sugar
  • Coke/Pepsi
  • Alcohol
  • Brewdog
  • ...
[-] FBJimmy@lemmus.org 4 points 3 weeks ago

Yeah I am also boycotting Brewdog after the takeover farce. Finding alcoholic alternatives is no problem, but they are very good at the AF stuff.

And we're also trying to avoid all Coke/Pepsi owned products, which is almost everything sugary in a pub - fine for me as I'm not into sweet drinks, but leaves my wife on lime and soda often.

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[-] Hossenfeffer@feddit.uk 2 points 3 weeks ago

If you can find it, try Drop Bear. Better than Brewdog and without the troubling social injustice (as far as I know).

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[-] Tim_Bisley@piefed.social 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Where are the soda bars at? I've been making my own at home with club soda and various fruit sweeteners like elderberry.

[-] Rcklsabndn@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 weeks ago

I've seen a couple soda/dry bars open in my city. One only lasted until the Kickstarter money ran out and the other quietly rebranded and started serving alcohol.

Certain markets just don't work, unfortunately.

[-] Kolanaki@pawb.social 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

What else do you lot drink that I can reliably get in the pub, which isn't full of caffeine or sugar?

Water.

Only thing at a bar you can reliably get that isn't alcohol, full of sugar, or caffeinated is water. Aside from soda, they'll have cranberry and orange juice for mixers; but juice is even more sugary than soda.

[-] codexarcanum@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 weeks ago

When I'm feeling like not drinking, I usually go for ginger ale or ginger beer, but they're quite sugary. Cutting them with water or a lot of ice can help. Juices universally are pretty sugary too so cutting with them is delicious but not really healthier.

My other go to is soda water with bitters or a small splash of bitter liquor. Bitters are high alcohol but you only get a few drops at a time which is comparable to "0 proof" drinks which can have some trace amounts of alcohol still. Many bars have a variety of bitters and aperitifs so its a bit like having an herbal tonic soda jerk. A squirt of lime or other citrus, or a few syrupy cherries, will also add to such a mocktail.

To be fair, beer and liquor are poisons, and they have tons of calories from unfermented sugars and the alcohol breaking down into more carbs in your body (hence beer guts). If your goal was to lose weight, stick to water. But if it's just to cut back on booze, juice and sugar soda aren't so much worse for you.

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this post was submitted on 11 May 2026
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