Non-drinkers—what do you order?

Question

For a number of reasons, I'd like to cut back my alcohol intake. I'm not a heavy drinker by anyone's measuring stick, but it's just something I'd like to cut back on. 

I do like to go out, but I feel awkward sometimes ordering a non-alcoholic beverage. I feel a little silly and like I look a little unsophisticated ordering an iced tea while my friend orders a glass of wine or a martini. It just doesn't feel that festive.

For a while, I would go with half-cranberry/half-orange, but I'm a little tired of that. Also, I've noticed that a lot of virgin drinks also tend to be sugar bombs that seem unappealing to me. 

What do non-drinkers drink? Am I basically limited to club soda with lime? Any other ideas? Am I just being too difficult here?

Answer

I don't drink often. My usual order is a (homemade) iced tea or lemonade. At a party or wedding, I'll ask the bartender for sparkling water in a wine glass instead of a larger water glass.

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I never drink and you don't have to drink to be a foodie. I order good ole H2O with my meals. Juices and mocktails and such are too filling and IMHO take away from the taste of the food, especially because they are sweet.

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Ask for an "Arnold Palmer" you'll love it

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I try to do one non-alcoholic for every alcoholic drink I order. So I've come to like:

Ginger ale & lime juice
Soda & Cranberry w/ a wedge of lime
Orange Juice & 7up
Pineapple Juice & Soda

Answer

My SO does not drink alcohol and will usually order club soda with a splash of cranberry juice and lime if we are out. At dinner, he will usually order sparkling water. I have wanted to cut back also and find myself asking for club soda with a splash of orange or grapefruit juice. Not too filling or too sugary.

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For me, I would be perfectly comfortable drinking a sparkling mineral water anytime......but when I feel like you do and do not want to drink heavily in the consumption department.....I opt for a Campari and Soda with a wedge of lime, lemon or lemon twist....whichever is more fresh.

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neither my husband nor I drink any alcohol, for various reasons. Honestly, most people you are out with won't pay any attention. Occasionally we get asked, or prodded to order something alcoholic, and just politely decline. There really is no reason to feel awkward or unsophisticated, and it is no one's business what you do/don't order or why.

We tend to get seltzer & lime, or cranberry. I love ginger ale. I don't bother with virgin drinks, either. You are only limited by your tastes. If you like iced tea (and I do, too), go for it. Sodas, waters, splashes of juice or lemon/lime - whatever you like.

Answer

Great topic! One of my biggest challenges as well - I am also diabetic so it rules out any juices or pop for the most part since usually the only diet soda is diet coke (at least where I'm from in Toronto). I've had to get creative with adding fruit to water (sparkling or flat) and really appreciate places that make their own "cold tea" not "iced tea" which tends to have a lot of sugar in it also.

Still water with ice and a lime wedge is my constant go-to beverage.

Answer

Jfood usually orders tap water or mineral water. On the mineral / sparkling water route you will eventually find there are differences in them as well. For example, jfood now asks what kind of sparkling water the restaurant serves. He does not like Saratogo at all, way too fizzy. You should see some of the looks when he asks which kind and then the utter shock when he turns down Saratoga...priceless. But when it is just M&M jfood he normally orders tap water.

When he is travelling and eating solo, jfood sometimes splurges and orders a root beer, usually a diet one. This is especially true when he is eating a burger and fries.

Answer

Club soda with a splash of cranberry is my go to drink - it's not too sweet, but it has a little something to it.

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We take alcohol with dinner and often with many lunches. However, there are two times -- when I'm driving and when I'm attending a wine tasting -- that I don't care to have alcohol with my meal. I've taken to ordering a cup of coffee or decaf. Now, I *love* coffee, and drink lots of it. 

At one restaurant bar, I sat waiting for two lunch companions, drinking my cup of coffee. A guy two seats down asked me how long I'd been going to A.A.! That one time was the only occasion I've felt uncomfortable about being a non-drinker in a drinking situation.

Years ago, when I'd decline alcohol at certain business-related functions, I got sick and tired of the seltzer/tonic and lime drill really fast and haven't gone there since.

Answer

Lime & soda if I want a long drink (I order it in pints)

Tonic. With/out bitters. As an aperitif.

The difficulty is in finding something that isnt too sweet. I still find that a problem after nearly 10 years on the wagon. 

In restaurants I order sparkling water or tap to drink with meals.

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Club soda or seltzer either flavored with fruit essence (no sugar) or wedges of fresh fruit. I drink it by the case at home and work. My favorite soda is ginger ale so sometimes I'll have that.

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I tend to order water with most meals because I don't want to take away from the taste of the food. Most drinks are just too sugary. If I'm going out, I typically order club soda with some sort of juice in it, or if the juice is actually good, fresh juice, then I will have that without any club soda. I do not like lemon or lime, so I don't do the club soda with that.

Don't worry about not looking sophisticated. There are plenty of good reasons not to drink. I'm allergic and find that there are a few people who have problems accepting it at first, but they tend to come around after a few months.

Answer

If i am out for dinner, I usually don't have alcoholic drinks, unless it is a special occasion (or If i just feel like I want one). Water is always a good choice, fortunately we have great tap water here. Next choice is Iced Tea (unsweetened, unflavored.) Until two years ago CocaCola was my default order, till I realized I was drinking way too much coke. Now I get one every once in a while, but don't crave it.

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I cant drink alcohol because of anti-depressants, so I usually order tonic and lime, bitters w/ mineral water or coffee.

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Martinelli's sparkling cider is my standard non-alcoholic champagne stand-in. It makes its appearance at parties and private events - don't think I've ever seen it on menus or in bars.

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My drinking days are long gone and it's sometimes a struggle to get something good. My favorite of these is a virgin mojito. Any place that makes a decent mojito can make it virgin for you. It will be composed of some kind of sparkling water, lime juice and muddled mint. They may or may not add sugar. I've ordered it at a number of different bars and restaurants and have had unexpectedly consistent, good luck.

Answer

Long ago I decided that it was best to order a club soda with lime when everyone else wanted cocktails. It looks like a mixed drink, and if you happen to be at a place at which people are standing around with their drinks in hand, like a bar or a cocktail party, people will assume it is vodka or gin and not ask you any questions.

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Surprised no one has mentioned the "Virgin Ceasar" - I really like the mix of the salted rim and the clamato juice, which is hit up a bit by the Worcesteshire sauce. Plus if they take too long to bring the food, I can nibble on the celery :}

Answer

Straight tomato juice, with our without lime/lemon actually complements many foods, making it a wine substitute. Grape juice is good too, and if you don't like the sweetness, add one third water.

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I second the virgin Caesar/virgin Bloody Mary when I don't feel like alcohol. The trouble with the clear drinks (lemonade, seltzer etc) is that I drink them down quickly and am left with an empty glass while my friends have barely sipped their martinis. The Caesar/Bloody Mary are good to drink slowly. Plain tomato juice works OK too.
With meals, you could try white grape juice.

Answer

I would soooooo order whatever the hell it was I *wanted*. For me that's iced tea because I like the flavor and I don't like the flavor of alcohol. If someone had an opinion about that I'd think they were odd. If they *told* me they disapproved I don't think I'd care for much more of their company. 

BTW, I don't eat liver. Bet you couldn't care less. Why do you assume anyone cares any more than that about what you're drinking?

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I saw an Alton Brown episode about celery--he made celery tonic! Sounds interesting to me, you could investigate savoury drinks. Beef consomme with lemon juice is great.

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When I'm clearing out my system I'm very fond of Schweppe's bitter lemon - great flavor, not too sweet. But it can be a bit hard to find these days.

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A fountain coke can be a great thing. and many times a cherry coke they will make it with their cherry syrup. People will probably be jealous of you. Many times I'll say, I want a delicious coke - which sounds like it's something you prefer to a beer. 

I barely drink when I go out anymore, so one beer isn't going to do anything. I don't feel stupid at all drinking a delicious coke. I guess you have to ask yourself: "what do you want to drink?"

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I am 20, but being a foodie means I am often out at more sophisticated restaurants, and being a college student means I am often out at bars with my 21+ friends. So, I learned early on, many drinks on the menu can be made non-alcoholic. I have non-alcoholic daquiris, margaritas, mudslides, etc. I also will have sprite/7up mixed with cranberry juice to add a bit of tartness to it. I love lemonade. I often also just drink water.

Answer

If I go out with non-drinkers(and don't feel like being the odd drinker) I just order water or some other non-sweet drink. I like beer/wine with food because it's either bitter or at least not cloyingly sweet, so if I don't have one of those, it's almost always just water, sparkling or still.

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A brewpub near me once a year does an ultra low abv beer that is delicious. I believe the brewer called them Belgian table beers. Obviously light but with hints of spice and solid malt/ hop character. Anyway the %abv of two that I recall were 2.9% and 1.9%. I would literally go there after the gym and have two or three pints. I would get maybe the faintest buzz (or maybe it was just the rehydration). I really wish more breweries would have these style beers of this quality available. But as one guy next to me said: "1.9%?! what's the point?!"

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There's a song for you dedicated CSWAL drinkers. Club Soda With a LIme by Down the Deuce

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Since several years I am a non-alcoholic-drinker. When I met with friends in restaurants or bars, I use to order a Ginger Ale or a coke (light version). (Boring, isn't it? :-))

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Tonic and lime for me.

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Old thread but either a virgin mary with lots of kick and extra olives or something based on ginger beer

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Six years ago I took alcohol off my menu due to sugars and calories. I spent years as a bartender and was often on the other side of the bar. I loved drinking, all the tastes and experiences, but one day I stopped not even thinking it was forever but it sure looks that way. First thing: 40% of Americans have not had a drink in the last 30 days. Also about 30% never ever drink. You'd think we were some oddball minority but we are a huge group of people. Drinkers seem to be threatened by non drinkers because they can sniff out someone without an alcohol beverage as if it was their job. At dinners and parties or out on the town you feel two things: 1. it's nice to be part of the party; just because you don't drink alcohol does not mean you don't party like a rock star and that you do not deserve a first class beverage. 2. you don't want to look like some second class citizen or draw attention; "why aren't you drinking?" People: hosts, professionals: not everyone drinks alcohol. They do not want a Coke. They do not want a half baked offer of sparkling water. Look at the bar back: 200 varieties of hard booze. Dozens of beers, A wine list you could use to drive a tent stake with. Free your mind and get serious about serving your guests and your customers. Club soda with a dash of bitters and a lemon on the rocks is good. But really: in this day of foodie (did you know that food is big?) I've run into a few bartenders who have created amazing challenging tasty drinks that aren't juicy sugary throwaways. It's a huge opportunity for food service. By the way: you can charge for it! They'll pay for a good drink even without alcohol. And lastly: fund raisers, non profits. etc... shame on you. I went to a big non profit event. 16 different wines and about the same beer choices and .... wait for it... water with lemon. Nuff said.

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The fruit flavored San Pellegrino drinks are nice and refreshing and sparkling and Not too sweet. Lemon and blood orange are favorites.

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I'm normally a drinker but not drinking now. I just ask for water with food. I even do that in a bar where I go in for a hamburger and where everyone else is drinking beer. It never feels awkward.

In a nicer place, soda water with lime is a good choice. Don't make it difficult.

Answer

Order a bottle of Evian. Coming all the way from the Alps makes it special.

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