Cutting back on alcohol doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavor or enjoyment. If you’re looking to cut back on your alcohol intake but still want to enjoy a refreshing drink, being mindful of your alcohol percentage intake can be a way to consume less alcohol.
These low alcohol-content drinks offer a range of delicious options that are perfect for social gatherings, quiet evenings at home, or any occasion where you want a drink with low alcohol content for yourself or your guests. By choosing low-ABV beers, wines, and spirits, you can still indulge in your favorite drinks while keeping your alcohol intake in check.
Here are nine delightful recipes for drinks with low alcohol content that are both delicious and easy to make.
1. Low Alcohol Mimosa
Ingredients:
- 2 oz orange juice
- 2 oz sparkling water
- 1 oz sparkling wine (optional)
Instructions:
- Pour orange juice into a champagne flute.
- Add sparkling water and sparkling wine (if using).
- Stir gently.
What Makes It a Low Alcohol Drink: The small amount of sparkling wine, if used, has an ABV of 8-12%, and when combined with orange juice and sparkling water, the drink’s alcohol content is minimal.
2. Shandy
Ingredients:
- 1 part beer (low alcohol beer preferred, 3-4% ABV)
- 1 part lemonade
Instructions:
- In a glass, combine equal parts beer and lemonade.
- Stir gently to mix.
- Serve chilled.
What Makes It a Low Alcohol Drink: Using a low alcohol beer with an ABV of 3-4% and mixing it with lemonade cuts the alcohol content in half, making it a very light option.
3. Light Sangria
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle of light red wine (750 ml, 8-10% ABV)
- 2 cups sparkling water
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup brandy (30-40% ABV, but used in a small quantity)
- 1 apple, sliced
- 1 orange, sliced
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 1 lime, sliced
- 1/2 cup berries (optional)
Instructions:
- In a large pitcher, combine wine, orange juice, and brandy.
- Add the sliced fruits and berries.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Before serving, add sparkling water.
- Serve over ice.
What Makes It a Low Alcohol Drink: Using a light red wine with an ABV of 8-10%, combined with sparkling water and a small amount of brandy, reduces the overall alcohol content, making it a lighter choice.
Schedule a private call with a Ria Health team member and we can help you get started.
4. Wine Spritzer
Ingredients:
- 2 oz white wine
- 2 oz sparkling water
- Ice cubes
- Lemon twist for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a glass with ice cubes.
- Pour in white wine and sparkling water.
- Stir gently to combine.
- Garnish with a lemon twist.
What Makes It a Low Alcohol Drink: Combining white wine (10-12% ABV) with sparkling water dilutes the alcohol content, making it a refreshing and lighter drink.
5. Aperol Spritz
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Aperol
- 3 oz Prosecco
- 1 oz soda water
- Ice cubes
- Orange slice for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a glass with ice cubes.
- Pour in Aperol, Prosecco, and soda water.
- Stir gently to combine.
- Garnish with an orange slice.
What Makes It a Low Alcohol Drink: Aperol has a relatively low ABV of 11%, and when mixed with Prosecco (11-12% ABV) and soda water, the overall alcohol content is further diluted.
6. Low ABV Moscow Mule
Ingredients:
- 1 oz vodka (40% ABV)
- 3 oz ginger beer (non-alcoholic or low ABV, usually <0.5% ABV)
- 1/2 oz lime juice
- Ice cubes
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a copper mug or glass with ice cubes.
- Pour in vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice.
- Stir gently.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
What Makes It a Low Alcohol Drink: By reducing the amount of vodka to just 1 oz and using non-alcoholic or low-ABV ginger beer, the overall alcohol content is significantly reduced.
7. Cucumber Mint Cooler
Ingredients:
- 1 oz gin
- 3 oz tonic water (non-alcoholic)
- 1/2 oz lime juice
- 4 cucumber slices
- 4 mint leaves
- Ice cubes
- Cucumber slice and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions:
- Muddle cucumber slices and mint leaves in a shaker.
- Add gin and lime juice to the shaker with ice and shake well.
- Strain into a glass filled with ice cubes.
- Top with tonic water.
- Garnish with a cucumber slice and mint sprig.
What Makes It a Low Alcohol Drink: By using only 1 oz of gin and diluting it with tonic water, the overall alcohol content is much lower, making it a less potent option.
8. Fre Chardonnay Sangria
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle Fre Chardonnay (0.0-0.5% ABV)
- 1/2 cup orange juic
- 1/4 cup brandy (optional, if you want a lower alcohol version)
- 1/4 cup simple syrup
- 1 orange, sliced
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 1 lime, sliced
- 1/2 cup berries (optional)
- Ice cubes
Instructions:
- In a large pitcher, combine Fre Chardonnay, orange juice, brandy (if using), and simple syrup.
- Add the sliced fruits and berries.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Serve over ice.
What Makes It a Low Alcohol Drink: Fre Chardonnay is a non-alcoholic wine with an ABV of 0.0-0.5%. This Sangria recipe uses Fre Chardonnay as a base, ensuring a very low overall alcohol content, especially if you skip the optional brandy.
9. Moscato d’Asti Peach Spritzer
Ingredients:
- 4 oz Moscato d’Asti
- 2 oz peach juice
- 2 oz soda water
- Ice cubes
- Peach slice for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a glass with ice cubes.
- Pour in Moscato d’Asti, peach juice, and soda water.
- Stir gently to combine.
- Garnish with a peach slice.
What Makes It a Low Alcohol Drink: Moscato d’Asti typically has a low ABV of around 5-6%. Mixing it with peach juice and soda water creates a reviving spritzer with a very low overall alcohol content.
Need Support with a Drinking Problem?
Whether you’re looking to reduce your alcohol consumption for health reasons, lifestyle changes, or personal goals, these recipes provide an excellent starting point. Remember, enjoying a drink is all about balance and making choices that suit your needs.
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol consumption and needs help to quit drinking or reduce intake, professional support can make a significant difference. Ria Health is committed to helping individuals achieve their goals of drinking less or quitting alcohol altogether. Contact us today to learn more about our programs and services designed to support you on your journey to a healthier lifestyle.
