DRINKS 101** Sober Curious? Dry this July? We’ve got you covered

I’m going to throw it out there, being sober curious isn’t a trend that’s going to disappear any time soon. Arguably Dry July is the optimum time to explore what life might look like without the long dreaded hangovers and foggy brains.

If you’re thinking of trying out a life without alcohol on for size, turns out you’re not alone with 25% of people aged 17-29 identifying as non-drinkers.

Also, over 400,000 Aussies have made the decision to drink less this year, so don’t forget, just because it is alcohol-free doesn’t mean those drinks at a dinner party have to be water.

So those on mission to adopt an alcohol-free lifestyle, we’ve tried to make it that little bit easier with tasty alcohol free, and delicious alcohol removed options.

Whether a thirst-quenching mocktail, alcohol free spirit and delicious mixer or a zero beer, we want to ensure you don’t miss out. Here’s our round up of the best spots, sips and sober curious perfect pairings to consider.

The Alma Group (a delightful coastal Mexican restaurant with locations in Avalon and Freshwater) consider themselves pretty forward thinking in the alcohol-free space having offered sophisticated low and no alcohol spirits for a while now, with takes on cocktail classics like the margarita given a ~delicious~ sober twist… All priced at $15! Our favourite is the Coco No-Marg (made with Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Spirits, Coconut, Citrus and topped with a signature foam).

How cool is this, if you’re participating in the Dry July challenge, your first round of non-alcoholic bevvies is on the house!  Just pop ‘DRYJULY’ in your booking notes.

• The Sensible Margarita
  • Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Spirits, Citrus

• The Sensibly Clear
  • Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Spirits, Supasawa

• The Coco-No Marg
  • Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Spirits, Coconut, Citrus, Topped with our signature foam

• The Tommy’s Off The Grog
  • Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Spirits, Agave, Citrus

• The Sober Signature
  • A Dry July creation of our own

• And the Guava Month Off
  • Lyre’s White Cane Spirit, Passionfruit, Guava, Vanilla, Citrus

If you’re looking to create mock-tails at home, Lyre’s Pink London Gin’s Pink Lady Cocktail hots the spot every time. The Product of The Year Awards best beverage 2023 award winner has been impossibly crafted to capture the essence of a Pink Gin with a flavour profile of floral with notes of rose, cherry, red berry and blackberry followed by a generous gin focussed finish. This cocktail bestows upon you a fusion of fruits and delectable savouriness that will transport you to a realm of rosy euphoria.

Ingredients

1. 60mL Lyre’s Pink London Spirit
2. 30mL cloudy apple juice
3. 15mL pomegranate syrup
4. 30mL egg whites (or aquafaba chickpea water)
5. 1 tsp organic apple cider vinegar

Method

Shake brief with ice. Strain into glass.

Garnish

Skewered cherry or dried orange wheel

(RRP $44.99 Pink London Spirit – Available from Woolworths, SansDrinks, Liquor World, Lyre’s.com)

If you’re looking to go a little fancy pour the Dry London & Tonic into a wine glass or stemless glass add lots of ice and a slice of ruby grapefruit and a sprig of rosemary and you have the perfect occasional G&T.

(RRP $99 24 cans of G&T – Available from Woolworths, SansDrinks, Liquor World, Lyre’s.com)

Some other non-alcoholic recipes, created by The Mindful Mocktails  help Aussies smash their booze-free goals.

If you’re more off a beer fan, but want to enjoy a refreshing schooner without the associated boozy blur, we’d love to recommend Australia’s lowest calorie non-alc beer brand NORT.

Dry July Dietitian, Jessica Spendlove talked to Social101 about the importance of taking a break from alcohol, the health and wellbeing benefits of staying sober for the entire month of Dry July.

We also caught up with NON founder, Aaron Trotman and chatted about catering for a zero-alc-loving loved one,.

NON1 is a balance of sweet and salty, while NON5 has a hint of citrus, both with a floral finish.

VIA Drinks are a sophisticated range of all natural, non-alcoholic drinks made using the the finest botanical ingredients & natural adaptogens. The mood boosting beverages are low-calorie and GMO, vegan & gluten-free.