Last Updated on March 4, 2024 by Lydia Martin
Are you planning on cutting down your alcohol intake or want to have a fun night without regretting it in the morning?
There is a new trend of euphoric and nootropic drinks that give you a buzz without alcohol.
Many people on the internet claim that these drinks will give you a buzz and help you relax without the need for alcohol, so in this blog post, we tried them to see if they live up to the hype.
Top 12 Drinks That Give You A Buzz Without Alcohol
1. The Social Elixir
The Social Elixir Average Price: Roughly $37.99 (Caskers)
Why We Like It: The Three Spirit Social Elixir is a euphoric herbal elixir that can be your social companion as it can help elevate your mood without getting drunk and having a hangover.
Alcohol may damage your liver and affect your cognitive (slurred speech, decision-making, memorizing), but the Social Elixir is loaded with immunity boosters for your well-being.
The Three Spirit Social Elixir is our go-to option for any occasion, as it can make us feel good without getting drunk.
“Euphorics replenish and rebalance the endocrine system naturally, through a mixture of nootropics, adaptogens, and Botanics,”
– Jen Batchelor, co-founder of Kin
Unlike alcoholic drinks, the Three Spirit comes with l-theanine from green tea, proven by plant scientists to relieve stress based on clinical trials.
2. DRAM’s Lemongrass Adaptogenic Sparkling Water
Average Price: Roughly $49.50 (Official Website)
Why We Like It: DRAM’s adaptogenic sparkling water offers stress management and helps improve energy levels and concentrations.
Adaptogens are widely used in cultural healing traditions, and when taken daily, they can promote long-term resilience of the mind.
It can help your well-being to respond to stress and anxiety [3] and give a buzz similar to alcoholic drinks.
You can enjoy the lemongrass adaptogenic sparkling water with CBD, eleuthero root, and other herbs and extracts, especially in the social aspect of drinking with colleagues.
3. Blackberry Hibiscus Hemp CBD
Average Price: Roughly $41.94 (Official Website)
Why We Like It: Blackberry Hibiscus Hemp CBD by VYBES is an award-winning elixir you can consume if you are bored with soda, coconut water, and beetroot juice.
Like other non-alcoholic drinks, it is made from cold-pressed blackberry juice, hibiscus tea, cinnamon, sugar, clove, and balanced CBD, bringing health benefits to your body.
It contains mood enhancers like l-theanine, vitamin C, and zinc that significantly impact oxygen delivery. It gives us the same buzz as alcoholic drinks, and we are impressed because of its natural ingredients.
4. Curious Elixir No. 2
Average Price: Roughly $40 (Caskers)
Why We Like It: Curious Elixirs are non-alcoholic drinks that will give you a buzz and feel good but will not give you a hangover because it is 100% alcohol-free.
Unlike other beverages, it contains organic pineapple, orange, lime, ginger, ancho, jalapeño extract, sugar, and herbs that can elevate your mood without brain fog.
The brand offers different flavors, but Curious Elixir No. 2 can warm your cheeks and give you a pleasant flush because it contains herbs that can relax your muscles.
It can mimic the effects of alcohol and trick your taste buds- I even have to look twice if it is a non-alcoholic spirit.
5. Kaló Ginger Lemonade
Average Price: Roughly $55.55 (Official Website)
Why We Like It: Kaló Ginger Lemonade is infused with cannabidiol (CBD) for a real grown-up kick, and drinks like this are increasingly popular due to their health benefits [2].
It is a non-alcoholic beer, slightly similar in taste to traditional beer and ginger beer, with enough sweetness and buzz but without alcohol.
Kaló Ginger Lemonade contains carbonated water, lemon juice, cane sugar, and hemp extract that can make you feel drunk but not give you a hangover.
We noticed that it is almost similar to seltzer, with a natural sweetness and a satisfying flavor that stands on its own.
Read: How Non-Alcoholic Beer is Made
6. Crisp & Crude Gold Fashioned
Average Price: Roughly $21.99 (Official Website)
Why We Like It: At the first sip, Crisp and Crude Gold Fashioned have a delicious, rich, and oak flavor profile that will give you a buzz without the adverse effects of alcoholic drinks.
Unlike traditional beer, functional drinks like Crisp & Crude contain mood-lifting botanical extracts like black tea to help fight fatigue and avoid stress.
These beverages will help avoid liver injury and help promote blood flow with the zero-proof refreshment.
It features bitterly complex citrus and smoky souchong tea leaves that flirt with classic cocktails like Old Fashioned and Gold Rush but can be enjoyed independently.
Since I’ve been drinking alcohol with friends, I like how Crisp & Crude improves my social life by giving me a buzz similar to functional drinks but without a hangover the following day.
7. Aurora Elixir’s Blackcurrant Spruce
Average Price: Roughly $16 (Official Website)
Why We Like It: Aurora Elixir’s Blackcurrant Spruce is juicy and deep with a bitter bite and hint of quinine.
It features a 25 mg hemp extract that can be an after-work relaxer or enjoyed in happy hour.
If you drink alcohol but do not want to wake up with a bad hangover the next day, it is one of the non-alcoholic sprits you can count on.
The amino acid it contains can elevate non-alcoholic refreshment and benefit brain health, as it has brain-boosting properties.
Non-alcoholic drinks positively impact your health because there are no trace amounts of alcohol.
You can consume it on special occasions and share it with your family and friends to de-stress and feel good.
8. Aplós
Average Price: Roughly $48 (Caskers)
Why We Like It: Aplós is a non-alcohol botanical spirit and hemp-infused drink packed with aromatic flavor and invigorating botanicals like dandelion, rosemary, yuzu, calamansi, and green basil.
Unlike other non-alcoholic drinks, we noticed the herbal citrus balance that brings sweet and bitter flavors when we tried it on its own. It also blends well with club soda and tonic.
It features L-Theanine, Moringa extract, citric acid, vitamins D3 and B12, xanthan gum, amino acid, potassium sorbate, natural flavors, filtered water, and Panax Ginseng.
The broad-spectrum relaxes and calms the mind like vodka, but unlike distilled spirits [1], it mimics the buzz of the alcohol without the ABV since the natural ingredients help relieve stress relief and open blood vessels.
9. Bonbuz
Average Price: Roughly $39.95 (Official Website)
Why We Like It: Bonbuz is an alcohol-free social spirit designed to shift your mood, stimulate the mind, and connect more deeply.
Bonbuz is packed with bitter punch, earthiness, and tart citrus- it can mimic the alcohol without the actual ABV. If you want to avoid alcohol consumption, Bonbuz is a healthy beverage that will give you a fine buzz.
It has energizing effects and is packed with 5-HTP, B vitamins, sugar, L-Tyrosine, and Rhodiola to improve cognitive function.
Bonbuz is designed to boost your self-confidence and increase focus at any time of the day.
It can tune your inner wildness and social hype without toxic additives and hangovers.
10. De Soi Golden Hour
Average Price: Roughly $19.99 (Total Wine)
Why We Like It: If you want to skip drinking alcohol but want to get that nice buzz, De Soi Golden Hour can be a great alternative.
This non-alcoholic drink is loaded with herbs like lemon balm, Earl Grey tea, yuzu, chamomile, and green tea. It is supplemented with maca, which relieves anxiety and increases libido.
You can consume it as if you are drinking alcohol and be surprised that it does not give the negative effects of alcohol on the brain or induce liver injury in your body.
We like the citrus-forward refreshment and the active adaptogens that can soothe stress, spur creativity, and imitate the alcohol without the actual ABV.
11. Kin Euphorics Lightwave
Average Price: $16.98 per pack of 4 (Drizly)
Why We Like It: Kin Euphorics Lightwave is a non-caffeinated and non-alcoholic drink that will give you a buzz even if it does not contain alcohol.
The non-alcoholic drink contains L-Theanine, L-Tryptophan, and Reishi Mushroom, which will help reduce stress and mellow your mind.
As we tried one, we felt incredibly relaxed and calm. It is one of the functional drinks to try because it gives us a sense of joy minus the hangover.
12. Ghia Non-Alcoholic Apéritif
Average Price: $38.62 (Offical Website)
Why We Like It:
Ghia Non-Alcoholic apéritif is packed with pure and natural extracts like plants, herbals, and blithe botanicals.
The non-alcoholic drink has an excellent orange flavor that mixes well with the elderflower tonic. We enjoyed it because it was very relaxing and enjoyable to drink.
“These non-alcoholic beverages prove that you don’t need alcohol to raise your spirits.”
-Liquor Laboratory
It has a nice buzz even if it does not contain alcohol and will give you a good night’s sleep.
FAQs
Which euphoric beverages are claimed to give you a buzz without alcohol?
Kin Euphorics, Sun Chaser, and other drinks in Kava Bars [4] can give you a buzz without alcohol.
Since kava lactones from Kava tea harvested in the Pacific Islands can give you a buzz and health benefits, it can be a zero-proof alcohol alternative.
However, based on research by the National Institutes of Health, countries like Germany and Great Britain restrict the use of kava in non-alcoholic drinks because of liver concerns.
Can an energy drink give you a buzz without alcohol?
Yes, an energy drink can give you a buzz without alcohol.
Since it contains caffeine, a natural stimulant to keep your focus and concentration and improve energy, it can be an option instead of non-alcoholic drinks.
However, it will help avoid energy drinks with high sugar and artificial ingredients as they can risk your well-being.
It’s best to try gluten-free and non-alcoholic drinks that imitate the buzz as if you are drinking alcohol.
Are drinks that give you a buzz without alcohol safe?
Yes, non-alcoholic spirits that give you a buzz without alcohol are safe to consume.
Most drinks are made from adaptogens, botanicals, and nootropics that can help rebalance and replenish endocrine.
However, while it is perfectly safe to consume these beverages, consider drinking in moderation.
Can pregnant women drink non-alcoholic beverages that give a buzz?
No, pregnant women cannot drink non-alcoholic refreshments that give a buzz. There can be almost negligible amounts of alcohol on “non-alcoholic” refreshments that may harm the baby.
Drinking alcohol is not good for your health, especially if you are pregnant. It will be best for you to drink coconut water or other functional drinks instead.
Fetal alcohol disorder may cause your baby complications if you keep drinking alcohol and non-alcoholic functional drinks.
What types of drinks can provide a buzz without alcohol?
Beverages such as energy drinks, caffeinated beverages, herbal teas, or mocktails made with stimulating ingredients like ginger, mint, or citrus can offer a buzz without alcohol.
How do energy drinks provide a buzz without alcohol?
Energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine and other stimulants that can increase alertness and energy levels, creating a buzz-like sensation similar to alcohol intoxication.
Can herbal teas give you a buzz without alcohol?
Yes, certain herbal teas, such as yerba mate or guayusa, contain natural stimulants like caffeine that can provide a mild buzz or increase mental alertness without alcohol.
Are there any non-caffeinated options for drinks that provide a buzz without alcohol?
Yes, beverages like kombucha, a fermented tea, or drinks infused with adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha or rhodiola can offer a subtle uplift in mood and energy without caffeine or alcohol.
How can mocktails provide a buzz without alcohol?
Mocktails, or alcohol-free cocktails, can create a buzz-like sensation by incorporating ingredients that stimulate the senses, such as spicy ginger, tart citrus, or refreshing mint, without the use of alcohol.
Final Thoughts
Drinks that can give you a buzz without alcohol are full of flavors, and what makes them better is that they can make you feel good without the dreaded hangover.
Drinks with cannabidiol (CBD), hemp, elixir, adaptogenic, and kava can lift your mood and relax you.
The Social Elixir, DRAM’s adaptogenic sparkling water, Blackberry Hibiscus Hemp CBD, and Curious Elixir No. 2 are some alcohol-free refreshments that get you buzzed.
Have you tried any of the functional drinks in this blog post? How is it? Let us know in the comments.
References:
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https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-2018082414476
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https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/22361-adaptogens
