Up until very recently, no or low-alcohol options were relegated to back pages of drinks menus, often coming in the form of sugary or bland mocktails. Gazing into a crystal ball even five years ago, and seeing the explosion of low and non-alcoholic options in the world of Australian drinks today, and you’d be doing a double take. 

Low and non-alcoholic products now form one of the fastest-growing drinks categories – a tsunami of products that range from zero-booze beers and no or low-alcohol wines through to pre-batch zero-alc cocktails and category-defying drink ‘switch-outs’ that flex the creativity of their producers. 

Despite the image of Australians as booze warriors drinking at Olympic levels, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has reported that some 400,000 Australians became teetotallers between 2016 and 2019, with these numbers climbing. Further, that an increasing and even greater number are just ‘getting on it’ less, part of a movement nimbly named the ‘sober curious’. 

Part of the driving factor behind this has been charity-led abstaining months Dry July, Ocsober and febfast. An interest in better living, cleaner living and overall health has coincided with this. Pile on top the growing ranks of clever and concerted drinks producers who are focusing on low/no booze products, and you’ve a perfect good-for-you storm. 

It’s now possible to find no-alcohol beer that tastes decent, with prior efforts often little more than watery junk with little relation to the real deal. Dissatisfied with the status quo of the category, Heaps Normal became leading lights of the non-boozy beer industry. 

“There just weren’t many non-alcoholic beers that actually tasted like genuine beer,” says Andy Miller, CEO of Heaps Normal. “Existing non-alcoholic beers on the market didn’t really resemble beer at all – they were more like watery, malty, sweet, sort of fizzy drinks.”

Heaps Normal has catapulted into the consciousness of drinkers alongside the excellent, Aboriginal owned-and-operated Sobah and rising star Lightning Minds. As Miller says, “It’s more about that beer-drinking doesn’t have to equal getting wasted. It can be for not drinking at all, or for pacing and spacing things out when you are.” 

Wine without alcohol is a work in progress. De-alcoholising wine is a laborious and tricky process that often strips away a lot of the original style’s character. By my tasting regime, just about all fail at the texture test, and are largely propped up by sweetness and fake flavours. 

Barossa Wine Cartel produces a refreshing ‘rosé’ by using riesling verjuice, cherry juice and salt. It does well with texture, flavour and refreshment factor. It’s my current favourite and delivers a satisfying experience. 

A creative approach to finding wine-like drinks is echoed by the excellent NON beverages. Also using verjuice as a base, NON is crafted from teas, tinctures, reductions, essences and steeping – all resulting in complex, serious drinks that neatly fit any wine occasion. The NONs range from lightly sparkling ‘wines’ to textural whites, rosés, reds and more. They’re damn delicious, and particularly versatile with food. 

Related story: 7 of the best non-alcoholic and low alcohol beers to try

Similarly, non-alcoholic cocktails are on the rise. While Melbourne-based bartender Matt Bax works magic with his incredibly good Gruppetto Spritz (they taste so much like the real deal!), T.I.N.A Drinks (This Is Not Alcohol) has defied the category and produced tea-based ‘cocktails’ that feel detailed, refreshing and serious to drink. Notable mentions to Yes You Can Drinks and Monday Distillery’s range of pre-made non-booze cocktails, too. 

Alongside this, there are success stories in the non-alcoholic spirits department from the likes of Lyre’s Spirit Co, with its broad-reaching collection of alcohol-free gin, whisky, rum, tequila, vermouth, absinthe and, to my mind, the best Italian Orange (Campari switch-out). ALTD Spirits and Ovant are notable additions to the non-alc spirit market from Australia, with original takes on herbal, botanical and inventive spirit switch-outs. 

This breadth of offering and application in daily life has created great energy around the non-alcoholic category. It’s understandable that some folks may find creatively crafted non-alcoholic drinks a head-shaking anomaly or a waste of time, but they can’t deny that this category is growing exponentially as consumers look to switch off, switch out and not feel left out of the high-quality drinks loop. I say, cheers to that. 

Try

Heaps Normal Half Day Hazy Pale Ale ($6)
Now we’re talking! This one feels, tastes, smells and sips like proper-proper craft beer. Heady with herbal hoppy spicy scents and with a cloudy-silty texture, brisk bubbles and a strong swish of bitterness, this is a superb new release from Heaps Normal. Drink cold from your esky. 

T.I.N.A Drinks 0.2 Raspberry Lime Leaf Waxflower ($7)
A brilliant cocktail-like beverage made from a base of jasmine pearl green tea and bolstered with floral and botanical characters. It ends up sort of like a light, cocktail spritz, but with dryness, fruitiness and botanical complexity in tow. Serve in a tall glass on ice. 

Gruppetto Spritz Veneziano ($8)
Cocktail supremo Matt Bax delivers us the perfect non-alcoholic spritz. It’s got the taste, texture and vibe of Campari/Aperol spritz drinks, with a perfect and pleasing balance between bitterness and sweetness, vigorous bubbles and a bony, dry finish. Drink from big wine glasses with an orange wedge garnish. 

Related story: Mike Bennie shares his top wine and cocktail picks for party season