Living alcohol-free
Non-alcoholic drinks: not just a consolation prize
Non-alcoholic drinks without that ‘consolation prize’ feeling: what ‘non-alcoholic’ really means, mocktail recipes, Sober October, Dry January and tips for living without alcohol.
Non-alcoholic drinks on our menu aren’t just a consolation prize: if you don’t drink, you’ll get a drink with its own name, mixed from the same can as everything else. And they’re not alone in this – the 2025 Substance Use Survey shows that fewer young people are drinking alcohol each week than has ever been recorded before. Here you’ll find out what ‘non-alcoholic’ really means, alcohol-free recipes, campaigns such as Sober October and Dry January, and advice from specialist organisations.
What ‘non-alcoholic’ really means
The term sounds unambiguous, but it is not always so. There is no legal definition of ‘alcohol-free’ for beer; in Germany, a residual alcohol content of up to 0.5 per cent by volume is not considered a problem. Beverages are only required to state their alcohol content if it is 1.2 per cent by volume or higher. Many breweries state the alcohol content voluntarily – this stems from an agreement reached in 2014 between the Federation of German Consumer Organisations and the German Brewers’ Association.
If the label states ‘0.0%’, this information must be correct. There is a legally prescribed limit for non-alcoholic wine, and the label must include a statement indicating that the alcohol has been removed.
According to the list of ingredients, our six cans do not contain any alcohol.
Young people drink less often
The Federal Institute for Public Health’s 2025 Drug Use Survey surveyed 7,001 people aged between 12 and 25. 6.8 per cent of 12- to 17-year-olds and 25.0 per cent of 18- to 25-year-olds drink alcohol weekly – a historic low. In the month prior to the survey, 69.3 per cent of 18- to 25-year-olds had consumed alcohol – compared with 84.4 per cent in 2004. The age at which young people first start drinking has risen from 14.1 years in 2004 to 15.1 years. Binge drinking, however, remains widespread: among young men, the proportion stands at 45.8 per cent.
What specialist organisations say about alcohol
Since publishing its position paper in 2024, the German Nutrition Society has taken the view that there is no such thing as a risk-free amount of alcohol and recommends abstaining from alcohol; those who do drink should, above all, avoid consuming large quantities and binge drinking.
The ‘Alcohol? Know your limit’ campaign lists the following benefits of a life without alcohol: fewer calories, better sleep, more money in your wallet and a lower risk of numerous illnesses.
When a zero alcohol limit is mandatory
The ‘Alcohol? Know your limit’ campaign highlights situations in which it is essential to avoid alcohol – it refers to ‘total abstinence’: during pregnancy, when driving, at work, and when taking medication or feeling unwell. Children and young people should not drink any alcohol at all.
For everyday life, the German Nutrition Society recommends drinking around 1.5 litres a day – ideally water or other calorie-free drinks such as unsweetened tea.
Tips for alcohol-free evenings
The October campaign by ‘Know Your Limit’ is collecting tips that are also useful on any other evening:
- Think of one or two sentences in advance, for example, ‘I’m staying alcohol-free today’.
- Right from the start, hold a glass of a non-alcoholic drink in your hand and make it clear straight away that you’d like to drink little or no alcohol today.
- Start with a non-alcoholic drink that you deliberately share with others.
- If you experience a strong craving, follow the 90-second rule: it feels intense, but it subsides relatively quickly.
- Get in touch with someone or talk to someone you trust, rather than drinking.
- Put your decision to take a break from alcohol in writing – this makes it more binding.
Non-alcoholic alternatives: recipes
Our mocktail menu features seven non-alcoholic drinks. Three of them have their own page:
- Lime & Mint
- three slices of cucumber
- Basil
- Crushed ice
- A pinch of salt
- Citrus
- 4 cl non-alcoholic bitter aperitif
- orange slice
- Ice right to the brim
- Pink Grapefruit
- salt rim
- Lime eighth
- 2 dashes of non-alcoholic bitters
- lots of ice
You’ll find all seven under ‘Mocktails’, including seasonal Halloween drinks without alcohol and non-alcoholic punch. When using ready-made non-alcoholic ingredients such as bitters, it’s worth checking the alcohol content.
Alcohol-free months: Sober October and Dry January
A month without alcohol by choice – there are established campaigns for this. ‘Go Sober for October’ was launched in 2013 by the British charity Macmillan Cancer Support; its predecessors included Dry January and Dryathlon. The “Know Your Limit” campaign offers practical tips for this: prepare a phrase in advance such as “I’m staying alcohol-free today”, always have your own glass with a non-alcoholic drink in your hand, and let someone you trust know what you’re doing. To help you get through October without alcohol, the campaign also offers a guide featuring a calendar, a newsletter and a self-assessment test to help you understand your reasons for drinking.
- Sober October: an alcohol-free October
- Dry January: a January without alcohol
- Sober Curious: drinking less, or not at all, by choice
- Without alcohol: what can change over time
Our non-alcoholic varieties
| Variety | What's inside | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Still and Sparkling | Table water; ingredients as stated on the label: natural mineral water, carbon dioxide | no sugar, no sweeteners, no flavourings listed in the list of ingredients |
| Citrus | Water, carbon dioxide, citric acid, natural citrus flavouring | 0 g sugar per 100 ml |
| Lime & Mint | Water, carbon dioxide, natural lime and peppermint flavouring, citric acid | 0 g sugar per 100 ml |
| Pink Grapefruit | Water, carbon dioxide, natural grapefruit flavouring, citric acid | 0 g sugar per 100 ml |
| Energy – Blackcurrant & Pomegranate | containing caffeine (32 mg per 100 ml) and taurine | 0 g sugar per 100 ml; not recommended for children, pregnant women or breastfeeding women |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ‘non-alcoholic’ mean?
There is no legal definition of the term as it applies to beer. In Germany, products labelled ‘alcohol-free’ are not challenged provided the alcohol content is 0.5 per cent by volume or less; if the label states 0.0 per cent, this must be accurate.
Which beer really has 0.0% alcohol?
Only a beer labelled ‘0.0%’ must actually contain that amount. The term ‘non-alcoholic’ on its own can mean up to 0.5 per cent by volume.
What is a good alternative to alcohol?
The ‘Know Your Limit’ campaign advises you to always have your own glass containing a non-alcoholic drink in your hand. Some ideas: our mocktails such as Green Zero, Bitter Zero and Virgin Paloma.
How much alcohol is safe to drink?
According to the German Nutrition Society, there is no safe level of alcohol consumption; it recommends abstaining from alcohol altogether.
Are young people drinking less alcohol?
Yes. According to the 2025 Drug Affinity Study, 6.8 per cent of 12- to 17-year-olds and 25.0 per cent of 18- to 25-year-olds drink alcohol every week – a record low.
Do the Acqua REAPER cans contain alcohol?
Alcohol does not appear in the lists of ingredients for any of the six varieties. As a general rule, soft drinks contain no more than 2 g of alcohol per litre, derived from fruit components or flavourings.
Sources
- ACQUA REAPER: Product labels, as at 26 July.
- ACQUA REAPER: Product labels – Still and Sparkling, 26/08.
- Acqua Reaper: Product label for Energy Blackcurrant, as at 07/26.
- German Food Codex Commission: Guidelines for Soft Drinks, revised version dated 10 April 24, BAnz AT 16 May 24 B3. deutsche-lebensmittelbuch-kommission.de
- Food Transparency (Federal Association of Consumer Organisations): Why can beer containing alcohol be labelled as ‘non-alcoholic’? As at 26 March 26. lebensmittelklarheit.de
- Federal Institute for Public Health (BIÖG): Fewer young people are drinking alcohol – but binge drinking remains at a high level, 3 September 26. bioeg.de
- German Nutrition Society: ‘Best to keep it at zero per mille’ – new DGE position paper on alcohol, 2024. dge.de
- Alcohol? Know your limit. (BIÖG): Tips for taking a break from alcohol, accessed 16 September 2026. kenn-dein-limit.de
- Alcohol? Know your limit. (BIÖG): Abstaining from alcohol, accessed 16 September 2026. kenn-dein-limit.de
- German Nutrition Society: It’s best to drink water, accessed 16 September 2026. dge.de
- Civil Society News: Macmillan launches ‘Go Sober for October’ fundraising challenge, 18 September 2013. civilsociety.co.uk
Living alcohol-free
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Six varieties with no sugar and no sweeteners — still, sparkling, three flavoured varieties and an Energy drink – Blackcurrant & Pomegranate. With all ingredients and nutritional values per 100 ml.