10 Tips for Creating a Great Non-Alcoholic Beverage Program
Adult flavors, thoughtful preparations, real hospitality: a modern blueprint for serious beverage programs
A high quality selection of non-alcoholic drinks is no longer a courtesy—it is an expectation. A shirley temple or ginger ale with a squeeze of lime won’t cut it. Today’s non-imbibing guests aren’t asking to be accommodated; they’re expecting to be taken seriously. According to a 2025 Gallup poll, only about 54% of U.S. adults say they drink alcohol— the lowest percentage in nearly 90 years of Gallup tracking.
With alcohol sales declining, N/A drinks are a prime opportunity to replace this revenue stream. They can drive incremental sales amongst both guests who fully abstain from alcohol, as well as those interested in “zebra striping” (a new term referring to alternating spirited drinks and N/A options). A weak N/A program signals a lack of care, and a dated restaurant experience. Today’s N/A drinks should feel adult, intentional, and worthy of the glass they’re served in.
Creating that experience isn’t always easy—especially without deep bar talent—but it is achievable for every restaurant.
1. Avoid One-Note Sweet Drinks
This is the cardinal sin of N/A programs. If it’s cloying, flat, juice-forward, or unbalanced it shows a lack of creativity.
Adult N/A drinks should lean into structure—bitterness, acidity, spice, salinity, herbal notes, tannin, or savory elements. If it tastes like your morning juice, it probably shouldn’t be on your cocktail menu.
2. From Spritz to Sour, and Coupe to Collins
An N/A menu should mirror the diversity of a good cocktail list. Variety matters—not everyone wants the same experience. Embrace different drink styles and flavor profiles to ensure there’s something for every taste.
Aim to include:
One light and refreshing option
One spritz-like or sparkling drink
One bitter or aperitivo-style option
One fruit-forward drink (but no more than one or two total)
One tropical or playful option, if it fits the concept
This gives guests real choice and prevents the menu from feeling monotonous.
3. Bitterness Is Your Best Friend
Bitterness is one of the most powerful tools in N/A drinks. It instantly communicates “adult” and adds length, grip, and interest to the palate.
Whether it’s quinine, bitter citrus, amaro-inspired flavors, or Italian aperitivo profiles, bitterness helps N/A drinks feel intentional and satisfying—especially for guests who usually drink cocktails or wine.
4. Clearly Mark Adult N/A Drinks—and Give Them Their Own Section
N/A drinks should be easy to find and easy to order.
Create a clearly labeled section within the cocktail menu (not buried at the bottom), and give each drink a proper name. Guests should be able to order confidently without explaining themselves or drawing attention to the fact that they’re not drinking alcohol.
List N/A wines with your wine by-the-glass.
5. Embrace Non-Alcoholic Beer
This is an easy win!
Non-alcoholic beer is the most mature and reliable category in the N/A landscape, and guests actively look for it. The quality has improved dramatically, and many options now taste convincingly like the real thing.
Offer two or three styles—for example, a crisp lager, a refreshing Kolsch, and a hop-forward IPA—to cover different preferences. It’s an effortless way to signal that your N/A program is thoughtful, current, and inclusive.
6. Include Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine
Every table deserves a way to toast—and this doesn’t mean kiddie wine.
It means something dry, structured, and wine-adjacent. Kally has become one of the most respected producers in the space, poured at elite restaurants including the Michelin three-starred Single Thread in Healdsburg, CA.
7. Approach N/A Wine Thoughtfully
Non-alcoholic wine remains the most challenging category, but it’s still important for guests seeking a wine-like experience. Producers such as Leitz and Missing Thorn are some of the most respected in the category, both made by renowned wine makers.
At the same time, non-wine alternatives like NON and Proxies often deliver more complexity and satisfaction, without the sweetness or flatness that can plague N/A wine. Explore the options and make sure to offer both a red and a white.
8. Embrace the Explosion of N/A Spirits
The current wave of N/A spirits makes it easier than ever to build proprietary, spirit-forward N/A cocktails.
Ritual’s tequila alternative provides heat and structure, making it a strong backbone for N/A cocktails and a natural for a spicy N/A margarita. Many producers including Wilfred’s and Lyre’s now offer Italian-style bitter alternatives designed to replace Campari or Aperol. And Seedlip, one of the category pioneers, remains a trusted option for gin-style builds.
Used thoughtfully, these products can help form a foundation for N/A cocktails.
9. Use Top Quality Ingredients & Don’t Forget the Garnish
Flavor starts with what you put in the glass. Premium spirit alternatives bring backbone; house‑made shrubs and syrups add layered acidity, spice, aromas and flavors. Fresh juices, quality bitters (if using), and precise dilution complete the picture.
Treat N/A drinks like any cocktail. Build them with the same care, and finish them with a thoughtful garnish—citrus oils, expressed peels, fresh herbs, or a spiced salt rim signal intention and elevate the experience.
10. Use High-Quality Ready-to-Drink N/A Options When Needed
Not every bar has the staff, time, or expertise to execute complex N/A cocktails consistently.
High-quality ready-to-drink options can deliver consistency and credibility. St. Agrestis’ Phony Negroni lineup—including the Phony Negroni and Phony Mezcal Negroni—is widely poured in top restaurants for good reason. Lean into products like these when they outperform what you can reasonably execute in-house.
*And please don’t call them “mocktails”
The term was cute, but it makes light of a real choice. It is dated at best, and insulting at worst. There is nothing being “mocked” and the quality and craft that you are putting into your drinks should generate the same price point and respect as the rest of your beverage list.
Zero proof, Non-alcoholic, 0 ABV, or spirit-free are all appropriate alternatives.