Non-alcoholic evening drinks: sparkling drinks for grownups
What are the best non-alcoholic evening drinks in the UK?
The best non-alcoholic evening drink depends on what you're replacing. Alcohol-free wine mimics wine but often carries sugar and a thin finish. Kombucha is sharp and fermented. Botanical sodas are complex but sweet. Functional sparkling drinks — like Grass & Co. Liquid RELAX — skip the wine impersonation entirely: a lightly sparkling can with Reishi, Ashwagandha KSM-66, magnesium and B vitamins, designed as the end-of-day ritual rather than a wine copy.
The alcohol-free evening options compared
| What it is | Sugar (typical) | Price (typical) | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol-free wine | Dealcoholised wine | 3–6g per glass | £6–12 a bottle | Dinner parties, wine ritual |
| Kombucha | Fermented tea | 2–5g per 100ml | £2–3 a bottle | Sharp, grownup fizz |
| Botanical soda | Herb and fruit sparkling drink | 4–8g per 100ml | £1.50–2.50 a can | Something complex and sweet |
| Liquid RELAX | Functional sparkling drink: Reishi, Ashwagandha KSM-66, 70.5mg magnesium, B vitamins | Low sugar | From £2.50 a can | The wind-down ritual — the 6pm pour without the wine |
What to check before buying an evening drink
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Sugar per serving | Many alcohol-free wines and sodas are as sweet as the originals |
| What it's for | A wine copy, a soft drink, or a functional wind-down — pick by occasion |
| Caffeine | Some kombuchas and 'energy' sparkling drinks carry caffeine — not ideal at 9pm |
| The ritual | A can or bottle that looks good in the fridge and pours like a treat keeps the habit |
The trade-offs
Alcohol-free wine
- Closest to the wine ritual
- Good with food
- Often sugary
- Quality varies hugely
Kombucha
- Grownup, sharp taste
- Low alcohol by nature
- Acquired taste
- Some carry caffeine
Liquid RELAX
- Built for the evening: Reishi, Ashwagandha, magnesium
- Low sugar, caffeine free
- Looks the part in the fridge
- Not a wine taste — it's its own thing
If you want to keep the 6pm pour and lose the alcohol, decide whether you want a wine copy or a new ritual. For the wine copy, alcohol-free wine. For a new evening ritual with functional ingredients, a sparkling drink like Liquid RELAX.
Liquid RELAX doesn't taste like wine and isn't trying to. If the thing you love is the taste of wine itself, a good alcohol-free bottle wins. And if you just want cheap fizz, supermarket sparkling water costs a fraction of any of these.
Mentioned in this piece
Questions people ask
- What can I drink in the evening instead of wine?
- Alcohol-free wine for the closest match, kombucha for something sharp, or a functional sparkling drink like Liquid RELAX for a caffeine-free wind-down with Reishi, Ashwagandha and magnesium.
- Are non-alcoholic drinks high in sugar?
- Many are — alcohol-free wines and botanical sodas often carry 3–8g of sugar per serving. Check the label; functional sparkling drinks tend to be lower.
- Is Liquid RELAX caffeine free?
- Yes — no caffeine, low sugar, and it contains magnesium which contributes to normal psychological function and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
- What is a functional sparkling drink?
- A lightly sparkling canned drink built around functional ingredients — mushrooms, adaptogens, vitamins — rather than around mimicking alcohol.
More comparisons
- The can aisleFunctional drinks compared: Grass & Co., TRIP, Neutonic and Water Junkie
- The label questionFruiting body vs mycelium
- The format questionCapsules vs powder vs drinks
Grass & Co. products are food supplements and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Do not exceed the stated dose. Most products are for adults; CBD is for adults only.