“Non-alcoholic drinks have never tasted better, but choose with care. This is a growing market and, while the best drinks are well balanced, the worst can taste artificial. You’ll notice some drinks contain a tiny amount of alcohol but it’s not enough to be significant (a ripe banana contains 0.4 per cent). If you’re doing dry January or cutting back, here are my top picks – plus a mocktail and a book with lots more ideas.” SUSY ATKINS, DRINKS EDITOR
The book to give you more inspiration
If you’re teetotal, keen to discover the wonderful world of fermented drinks, wanting to expand your smoothie repertoire or simply aiming to have more alcohol-free days each week, Fiona Beckett’s new book holds plentiful appeal. It’s a guide to the best in soft drinks – from kombucha to cordials, smoothies to shrubs – and includes recipes for creative wintry drinks such as mulled alcohol-free cider with roast apples. Beckett delivers an especially tempting set of non-alcoholic cocktail recipes and the photography, by Nassima Rothacker, is beautiful. It’s the book all non-boozers (temporary or otherwise) have been waiting for. How to Drink Without Drinking by Fiona Beckett, Kyle Books £15.99
APPLE-TISING
Westons Low Alcohol Cider, 0.5% (£1.50 for 330ml can, Marks & Spencer)