What to Drink When You're Not Drinking

Let's get something out of the way. Choosing not to drink doesn't mean you've chosen to be boring. It means you've chosen to not feel like a wheelie bin on a Sunday morning. Respect.

But the options for non-drinkers have been, let's be honest, depressing. Water. Lemon lime and bitters. A Solo if you're feeling wild. Maybe a cranberry juice that screams "I'm on antibiotics." Not exactly the stuff memories are made of.

The good news? It's 2026 and the non-alc game has changed. Here's what to actually reach for when you're having a good time minus the hangover.

The ginger beer

Obviously we're biased. But ginger beer is the ultimate non-alcoholic drink because it's already got personality. It's fizzy, it's got bite, and it holds its own in a glass without needing to pretend it's something else. A Frekl on ice with a wedge of lime is a complete drink. No apology needed.

It's also the only non-alc option that's equally at home at a backyard BBQ, a dinner party, or a Tuesday night on the couch. Try doing that with a kombucha.

The mocktail (done properly)

A mocktail is only as good as its base. Soda water and a splash of juice? That's not a mocktail. That's a let-down with a garnish.

The trick is starting with something that has enough flavour to carry the drink. Use Frekl Finger Lime as your base, add fresh mint, a squeeze of lime, and a splash of passionfruit pulp over ice. Now you've got something that feels like a drink — not a consolation prize.

The dark horse: ginger beer + tonic

Weird on paper. Great in the glass. Half ginger beer, half tonic, plenty of ice, strip of cucumber. It's basically a G&T for people who don't want the G. Tastes complex, looks fancy, zero alcohol.

The beer-shaped gap

Non-alcoholic beers have come a long way. Brands like Heaps Normal proved you can make a proper-tasting beer without the booze. But sometimes you don't want something that tastes like beer. Sometimes you want something completely different that still feels like "a drink." That's where ginger beer fills the gap. It's its own thing.

The hosting hack

If you're having people over, don't make the non-drinkers hunt for options while everyone else gets a drink menu. Put a few Frekls in the esky alongside everything else. No labels, no categories, no "alcohol-free section." Just cold drinks for everyone. That's how you host like an adult.

The bottom line

Not drinking is a flex. The drink you choose should be too.

Put a Frekl in the fridge.