Scientific Definition:
– Sparkling apple cider, soft drinks, and juice naturally contain trace amounts or no alcohol
– Some fresh orange juices are above the UK alcohol free limit of 0.05% ABV
– Ethanol distillation is used to separate alcoholic drinks into non-alcoholic drinks and spirits
– Distilled wine produces low alcohol wine and brandy
– Alcoholic drinks cannot be purified to 0.00% alcohol by volume by distillation
Ethical Issues:
– Alcohol is legal in most countries with a drinking culture
– Non-alcoholic drinks may contain small amounts of alcohol
– Critics argue that the label non-alcoholic can be misleading
– Countries with zero tolerance may have drinks labeled as non-alcoholic that contain alcohol
– European Union mandates labeling of drinks with more than 1.2% ABV
Non-alcoholic Mixed Drinks:
– Resemble alcoholic cocktails without liquor
– Blend of fresh fruit juices, syrups, cream, herbs, spices, or non-alcoholic spirits
– Designed for sober individuals and preferred by teetotalers, underage persons, drivers, pregnant women
– Favored over cocktails by those who choose alcohol-free drinks
– Main article: Non-alcoholic mixed drink
Fruestas:
– Womans Christian Temperance Union publishes fruesta recipes
– Fruesta drinks are nonalcoholic fruit drinks for large functions
– Etymologically derived from fruit and fiesta, a portmanteau of the two words
– Fruestas are popular at events like proms and weddings
– Fruesta recipes are specifically designed for non-alcoholic beverages
Legal Definitions:
– European Union mandates labeling of drinks with more than 1.2% ABV
– Denmark changed legal definition of alcohol-free from 0.1% to 0.5%
– Finland defines non-alcoholic beverage as containing a maximum of 1.2% alcohol
– Italy regulates non-alcoholic beer as equal to or less than 1.2% ABV
– Sweden defines alcohol-free as containing no more than 0.5% alcohol by volume
See Also:
– Alcohol law
– Alcohol-free bar
– List of non-alcoholic cocktails
– Non-alcoholic malt drinks
– Further reading: The rise of no- and low-alcohol spirits
An alcohol-free or non-alcoholic drink, also known as a temperance drink, is a version of an alcoholic drink made without alcohol, or with the alcohol removed or reduced to almost zero. These may take the form of a non-alcoholic mixed drink or non-alcoholic beer, and are widely available where alcoholic drinks are sold.