OnTap Magazine

FEATURE The festive season is upon us, the braais are permanently lit and it seems that everyone has a cool one in hand. But what will you drink this summer if you’re pregnant, driving or just off the booze? Lucy Corne looks at the non-alcoholic options available in South Africa. “What’s the point in non-alcoholic beer?” I have heard the question many times as people claim that they would rather drink juice or coke or water. But I truly believe that non- alcoholic beers – or other booze substitutes – have a crucial role to play in society. ere are many reasons why a person might not be drinking: pregnant, taking a break, designated driver. ere could be religious reasons or health reasons or perhaps someone simply doesn’t like to drink. But social drinking is a part of our culture, just as it is in countless countries across the globe. I remember a friend several years ago who decided to give up booze for a while. He didn’t nd it di cult to not drink, but what he found tricky was that almost every social situation came with a side of beer or wine or gin. It’s not that you’re expected to get drunk at every event you attend, but having a glass of wine with dinner or a beer around the braai or a cocktail on a Friday afternoon is simply a part of the fabric of our society. And if you don’t drink you can’t help feeling left out. It was when I was pregnant that I rst realised the importance of non-alcoholic beer. Until then I’d been squarely in the “what’s the point?” camp. But sipping a glass of tap water or a milkshake somehow doesn’t make you feel like a part of the party the way a non-alcoholic beer or a mocktail does. If you’re abstaining from booze but would rather not talk about it, a sneaky non-alc beer poured into a glass will keep the awkward questions away. And non- alcoholic beverages also work wonderfully as a way to pace yourself at a party. Alternating a normal beer with a non-alcoholic version is altogether more realistic than the “one beer, one glass of water” theory that we all intend to follow but never actually manage to stick to after that rst glass of H2O. So we gathered a panel of tasters, including a pregnant woman, a teetotaller and several beer lovers, and sat down to taste some of South Africa’s non-alcoholic options. Here’s what we found. WHATTO DRINKING DRINKWHEN YOU’RE NOT +n 5outh #Hrica drinMs that are ABV or under are considered to be non-alcoholic. Some theorize that the figure used in many countries around the world is a hangover s iH youoll pardon the pun s Hrom 75 prohibition which capped alcohol levels at 6o put it into perspective this is about the same alcohol level as a glass of orange juice. To gain the title of "alcohol- Hree a beverage must contain less than alcohol by volume #$8 TOP CHOICE HOW MUCH IS NOTHING? 22 | Summer 2018 | ontapmag.co.za