IF you are planning to cut out alcohol and have a New Year’s Eve that you can truly remember, you’re not alone.
Sales of booze-free drinks have risen 120 per cent in the past year and 25million of us are now watching how much we consume.
5
But will the alternatives to your favourite tipple add fizz to your party or leave it a bit deflated?
Samantha Yule conducted our taste test and marks them out of five.
APERITIF
5
MARTINI’S Vibrante tastes amazing – just like the Rosso version. The best non-alcoholic tipple of the lot – even James Bond would love it. Stick in tonic and ice and you’re on to a winner.
NO BOOZE: 60cal per 100ml (£8, 750ml, Sainsbury’s)
BOOZE: 123cal per 100ml (£7.50, 750ml Sainsbury’s)
PROSECCO
THE wonderfully named Nozeco comes in an elegant bottle but it doesn’t taste like the real thing. A lot sweeter – a bit more like an asti spumanti than a prosecco.
NO BOOZE – 20cal per 100ml (£3 with offer, 750ml, Morrisons)
BOOZE: 69cal per 100ml (£4.99, 750ml, Morrisons)
MULLED WINE
AFTER you’ve bunged in some orange segments and warmed it in a pan, you can barely tell the difference – and the kids loved the novelty of joining in with a festive glass.
NO BOOZE: 49cal per 100ml (£2.50 750ml, Sainsbury’s)
BOOZE: 84kcal per 100ml (£3, 750ml, (Sainsbury’s)
LAGER
5
PERONI’S alcohol-free version tastes like . . . Peroni, just a little lighter.
The crisp Italian freshness is still present and, like a lager, it goes down well. Ideal with salty nuts and snacks.
NO BOOZE: 22cal per 100ml (£4.50, 4 x 330ml, Sainsbury’s)
BOOZE: 42cal per 100ml (£6.25, 4 x 330ml, Sainsbury’s)
GIN
THE allspice and cardamom gives it a festive feel. It’s a posh, botanical alternative which is great if on a diet. But it can’t replace the real thing.
NO BOOZE: 0cal per 100ml, (£26, 700ml Sainsbury’s)
BOOZE: Gordon’s, 210cal per 100ml (£16, 700ml, Morrisons)
GUINNESS
5
IT is no surprise this is flying off shelves. Let it settle and you’ve got a lovely brew.
Sweeter than the original but the taste is all there.
NO BOOZE: 16cal per 100ml, (£4.50, 4 x 440ml Morrisons)
BOOZE: 35cal per 100ml (£4.75, 4 x 440ml Morrisons)
RED WINE
THERE are a lot of good and bad wine alternatives. Cabernet sauvignon ABV 0% by Guiltless Wines is a good one. It has hints of blackberry and oak. A bit sweet but it looks the part.
NO BOOZE: 12cal per 100ml (£9.99, 750ml, guiltless wines.com)
BOOZE: 85cal per 100ml (from £5.50, 750ml, Morrisons)
CIDER
5
KOPPARBERG’S alcohol-free fruit cider tastes fab. Let’s face it, the alcoholic version already tastes like a soft drink so this is a great replica.
NO BOOZE: 38cal per 100ml, (£3.50, 4 x 330ml Morrisons)
BOOZE: 55cal per 100ml, (£5, 4 x 330ml Morrisons)
Guinness launches alcohol-free version of classic stout after taking four years to develop
