6 Best Nonalcoholic Cocktails for Moms to Be

A quick look at the best nonalcoholic drinks for expecting moms

• Best premixed mocktails: Mingle Mocktails
• Best for bubble lovers: TÖST, DRY Botanical Bubbly
• Best nonalcoholic spirit: Seedlip, Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative
• Best for morning sickness: Reed’s Craft Ginger Beer

Being pregnant is undoubtedly one of the most exciting experiences, but it does come with a hefty amount of don’ts — you can’t eat certain foods, play certain contact sports, overdo it on caffeine, change your cat’s litter box, or drink alcohol, to name a few.

And although that last one is in an effort to protect you and baby during pregnancy, it’s easy to feel a little left out if everyone around you (including your partner) is drinking.

While you do have to pass up on alcohol for the safety of your growing baby, you shouldn’t have to miss out on the flavor of some of your favorite boozy drinks. And, luckily, there’s no shortage of companies launching nonalcoholic drinks that taste just like the real thing.

From mocktails to craft beers, here are a few fun nonalcoholic beverages you can enjoy throughout your pregnancy.

A note on safety

Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), as well as several other well-respected institutions, recommend against drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

And, although it’s universally accepted for a beverage containing less than .05 percent to be labeled “nonalcoholic,” the only way to completely avoid trace amounts of alcohol is to abstain from any beverage containing it.

That being said, even fruit juices (like orange juice) or baked breads contain a small amount of alcohol. So, the debate over what constitutes a “safe” amount of alcohol is a slippery slope we could slide all the way down the grocery aisle.

You can certainly discuss this in greater detail with your healthcare provider, as it is ultimately up to you if you’d like the occasional nonalcoholic (under .05 percent alcohol) beverage during your pregnancy.

How we chose

For this list, we reached out to several expecting mamas as well as new mothers to find out what they’re drinking. We also relied heavily on customer reviews and tasted many of these beverages firsthand to feel confident in recommending them.

Choosing beverages with safe and nutritious ingredients was also important, especially considering that what a mom-to-be drinks will go right to their developing baby.

It’s important to note that some of these contain added sugar. While the occasional sweet mocktail is perfectly healthy for you and your baby (treat yourself, mama!) it’s best to limit your overall sugar intake for optimal health.

A note on price

We’ve listed the current price at the time of publishing for each of these beverages. For the most up-to-date price, click the link under each product description.

Best premixed mocktail

Mingle Mocktails

Price: around $13.95 for one bottle

With Mingle Mocktails, you can enjoy the taste of your favorite cocktails — including cosmos, mojitos, and Moscow mules — in a zero-proof (nonalcoholic) beverage. Each batch is crafted with a unique blend of natural botanicals and organic cane sugar.

They’re also low calorie, clocking in at just 120 in each bottle, and come ready to drink.

You can purchase Mingle’s flavors individually, or in variety packs, which come with four or five different drinks, depending on which option you go for.

Best for bubble lovers

TÖST

Price: around $27 for a 3-pack

TÖST alcohol-free sparkling beverage is a mixture of white tea, blue agave, natural ginger extract, white cranberry concentrate, and carbonated water. It’s light and refreshing, and only 45 calories per serving. Plus, when poured in the right glass, gives off that sparkly feeling you get when drinking a glass of champagne.

Worth noting: Although there’s white tea in the ingredient list, it only contains about 3.5 milligrams (mg) of caffeine — that’s less than in a decaf cup of coffee.

DRY Botanical Bubbly

Price: around $39.99 for a 4-pack

Sharelle Klaus founded DRY in 2005 during her own pregnancy when she was craving a zero-proof beverage to replace the celebratory drinks her non-pregnant peers were enjoying.

Not only is DRY a non-GMO project verified, caffeine-free, gluten-free, OU certified kosher, and sodium-free beverage, but it also contains about half the sugar and calories of your average soda or juice.

You can choose from several botanical flavors such as Lavender, Cucumber, Blood Orange, Ginger, and Fuji Apple.

Best nonalcoholic spirit

Seedlip

Price: around $32 for one bottle

If you love to get behind the bar and craft cocktails but your mixologist days are on pause due to pregnancy, Seedlip is for you. These “distilled nonalcoholic spirits” use a blend of herbs, peels, spices, and garden peas to create a flavorful elixir for mixing booze-free cocktails.

Seedlip comes in three different varieties and doesn’t imitate traditional liquors — you won’t find a nonalcoholic gin here. They’re intended to be used with mixers, not neat, and with a zest of lemon or a sprig of rosemary depending on the flavor palate.

Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative

Price: around $29.99 for a bottle

Tequila lovers, rejoice! You don’t have to give up or forgo the unique flavor of your favorite spirit — you can enjoy it during pregnancy without putting your baby at risk thanks to this nonalcoholic tequila alternative.

The beverage is specially crafted to have the smoky, grassy flavorings of regular tequila minus the alcohol or calories that come along with the real deal. Flavor notes include earthy blue agave, Mexican lime, and tropical guava with a nice, smoky mesquite finish.

Reviewers note that while it doesn’t taste 100% like high-proof tequila, it’s astonishingly close for an alcohol-free alternative.

Best for morning sickness

Reed’s

Price: around $5.89 for a 4-pack

If you’re dealing with bouts of morning sickness, one way to ease your queasy stomach in a social setting is an ice-cold glass of ginger beer. Ginger is one of the oldest morning sickness remedies in the book, since it may help relieve nausea.

Reed’s is a favorite among moms-to-be because it’s crisp, tasty, and made with fresh ingredients like real ginger root, natural fruit juices, spices, and honey. In addition to their cult classic ginger beer, they also just launched an all-natural version with zero sugar and zero calories.

How the best nonalcoholic drinks compare

How to choose

When selecting a nonalcoholic beverage during pregnancy, the judgment you’ll use to determine which is best for you will be slightly different from when you’d select an alcoholic beverage in your prepregnancy days.

Here are a few things to look out for:

• Sugar content: As with any beverage, it’s important to keep a close eye on the sugar content of nonalcoholic beverages. While most tend to be lower in calories than their alcoholic counterparts, they can be higher in sugar to make up for the lost flavor. You’ll want to make sure that whatever you’re drinking contains less than 10 grams of sugar per serving so you’re not overdoing it.
• Flavor: Whether you’re pregnant or not, it’s important that what you’re drinking meets your flavor preferences. Consider trying out a few nonalcoholic beverages before you start buying one in bulk to make sure you actually enjoy drinking it. While you might be a tequila lover who craves tequila during your pregnancy, it’s also possible that your preferences will change when you’re pregnant. Don’t be afraid to try something new if your go-tos no longer sound appealing.
• Alcohol by volume (ABV): ABV stands for alcohol by volume. This is the measure used to determine what percentage of the beverage is pure alcohol. When you’re expecting, you should be consuming beverages that contain zero alcohol. According to the CDC: “there is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy or while trying to get pregnant.” If you still want to indulge in your favorite fermented drinks like kombucha, consult your healthcare professional.

Frequently asked questions

What nonalcoholic drinks can I order at the bar?

If you’re at a bar or restaurant, the nonalcoholic options might be limited. If they have a nonalcoholic beer or spirit, consider going that route. If your choices are scarce, you can always order a tonic or seltzer water with a splash of any juice to get that cocktail-like feel without the alcohol content.

When should you order a drink without alcohol?

It’s best to avoid any drinks containing alcohol if you’re pregnant or taking certain medications that could affect your health if you were to drink alcohol. Instead, opt for nonalcoholic beverages.

What is the best drink without alcohol?

The answer to this question is best left up to your personal preference. Popular nonalcoholic drinks include versions that are similar to their alcohol-containing counterparts — they just don’t contain actual alcohol. These include beer, wine, mocktails, and sparkling wines.

Takeaway

For people who enjoy an occasional alcoholic beverage, it can be hard to cut alcohol out during the entire 9+ months of pregnancy (or longer, if you choose to breastfeed). However, the CDC strongly recommends against any alcohol use during pregnancy, as there is no known safe amount.

That doesn’t mean you can’t raise a glass or participate in a friend’s toast — you can likely find a nonalcoholic beverage you’ll enjoy.