*Popular Episode* Here's What to Drink Instead of Alcohol (My Recommendations) — James Swanwick*Popular Episode* Here's What to Drink Instead of Alcohol (My Recommendations) — James Swanwick
Alcohol-Free Lifestyle
James Swanwick shares his favourite alcohol-free drinks and simple strategies for keeping social and nightly drink rituals without alcohol. Ideas from his community add a wide variety of low- or no-sugar options to support anyone wanting a healthier relationship with drinking.
9:10•5 Oct 2026
What to Drink Instead of Alcohol: James Swanwick’s Go-To AF Drinks
Episode Overview
- Keep a simple default order like soda water, ice and lime to remove decision fatigue and avoid alcohol or sugary soft drinks.
- Choose low-sugar drinks such as soda water with citrus instead of cola, energy drinks or very sweet ginger ale.
- Experiment with alcohol-free options like mocktails, flavoured seltzers, kombucha and 0.0 beers or sparkling wines if they support your goals.
- Maintain the ritual of an evening drink by pouring alcohol-free drinks into chilled glasses to make the experience feel special.
- Remember the benefits of skipping alcohol, including better sleep, hydrated skin and waking with more energy, clarity and focus.
“"My non-alcoholic drink of choice is water, ice, lime. The end."”
Curious about how others manage their social life without a drink in hand? This episode follows James Swanwick as he talks through practical, no-fuss options for what to order instead of alcohol, whether you're at home, in a bar, or at a work event. A big theme here is keeping things simple.
James jokes that when people ask, "What should I drink instead of alcohol?" his answer is, "Anything else." But he quickly narrows it down to smart choices, with his go-to being, "water, ice, lime. The end." He explains why swapping alcohol for sugary soft drinks like cola or energy drinks defeats the purpose, and why soda water with citrus is such a powerful staple: zero calories, refreshing, and socially acceptable in any setting.
You'll hear plenty of ideas from members of his Project 90 and Better AF programmes, who share their favourite alcohol-free creations: from club soda with cranberry and lime, to ginger, cucumber and mint mixes, to hot tea with honey as a nightly ritual that "hits the dopamine receptors." There’s also a run-through of alcohol-free beers, wines and sparkling options, with James being clear he’s mentioning them, not pushing them.
He adds a clever twist on ritual: keeping glasses in the freezer so a simple soda water in a chilled glass with ice and lime feels special at the end of the day. As he puts it, these drinks "don’t pour attractively packaged toxins in your throat" and leave you waking up with "energy and clarity and focus" instead of a hangover.
This episode is ideal for anyone early in alcohol-free living, high performers wanting an easy default order, or anyone who misses the ritual of a drink but not the fallout. Which alcohol-free drink will you try first?
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