Non-alcoholic beer, non-alcoholic wine, Virgin Mojito… What about non-alcoholic aperitifs? To test or not during the holidays? Are they really 100% alcohol-free? Free from harm to health? Is it the same as drinking an orange juice or a soda?
Cocktail without alcohol or “Mocktails”, Rum without alcohol, Gin without alcohol, non-alcoholic wine, non-alcoholic beer... So-called “alcohol-free” aperitifs are flourishing on supermarket shelves as an alternative to alcoholic beverages. Is it a good idea to prefer an alcoholic drink? For whom are these drinks not recommended? Has an orange juice or a soda? Do they contain really zero alcohol ? Don’t they have health risk ? Aren’t they too much sugar ? Focus.
What is the definition of a soft drink?
People who should not drink alcohol, especially pregnant women should be wary of so-called “alcohol-free” drinks because these drinks are not always completely free of it. The Public health code defines non-alcoholic beverages as beverages”not comprising, following the start of fermentation, any traces of alcohol greater than 1.2 degrees“. Only drinks labeled 0.00% alcohol do not contain any at all. Others may contain up to 1.2%.
What is the point of drinking non-alcoholic aperitifs?
“From a strictly health point of viewthere is no point in drinking non-alcoholic aperitifs. Only water is a drink with nutritional interest” immediately indicates Déborah Ohana dietitian nutritionist. In general, these products do not provide no nutritional added valueFurthermore, they are often loaded with food additives. “The only real benefit is the reduction in alcohol consumptionif that is why the consumer chooses these alternatives“says our interlocutor. Indeed, alcohol increases the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease unlike these non-alcoholic aperitifs (provided it is really without alcohol). We also note a behavioral advantage. “Alcohol creates an addiction whereas drinks, even sugary ones,. Then you have to be careful and not telling yourself I don’t drink alcohol so I over-compensate in exaggerated quantities with these alternatives to seek satisfaction. It is harmful to health because these drinks are high in sugar“ notes the nutritionist dietician.
Are these drinks allowed for alcohol addicts?
“We do not recommend alcohol-free aperitifs and not just beers that contain a small percentage of alcohol. Inside the brain of a person who has been stricken with alcohol diseasethe addiction is engraved. The risk of consuming these aperitifs lies in the fact that these drinks look a lot like the alcoholic alternative: the taste, the bottle pack… Today some bottles of non-alcoholic champagne are identical to those of the alcoholic version. The problem is that the consumption of these aperitifs does not cause the “effect” of alcohol and no dopamine release. The risk is to feel the lack since the effect is absent and to dive back. We have many testimonies of people to whom it happened. The closer the drink is to its alcoholic counterpart, the more it is avoided !” advocates Yves Daubannay, President of the Stop Addiction Alcohol Association. He advises choosing a drink without any alcoholic connotation, such as a soda, for example. “These non-alcoholic aperitifs are sponsored by brands that sell alcohol with terrible aggressive ads for recovering alcoholics“explains our interlocutor. Finally, these drinks are often stored near alcoholic aperitifs and the fact ofgoing to these rays presents a temptation. These appetizers present a real danger and not an alternative for people who are in withdrawal.
What are alcohol-free and sugar-free aperitifs worth?
Among the non-alcoholic aperitifs, some highlight “zero” implying “zero sugar” but be careful! Better prefer classic drinks with sugar rather than those that play on “healthy” marketing by replacing sugar with sweeteners. The presence of sweeteners is specified on the label. “They have one greater impact on the microbiota than sugar“ warns Deborah Ohana.
Are non-alcoholic aperitifs less sweet than the others?
Cocktails based on rum, whiskey, sweet white wine… are very sweet drinks. “Aperitifs without alcohol, according to their composition, will be potentially less sweet. But you have to look at the additives and sweeteners on the labels“defends the nutritionist dietitian.
Are they less fattening than the others?
“Non-alcoholic aperitifs or alcoholic beverages do not make you fat in themselves, it depends on the overall diet“recalls Déborah Ohana. But it is true that non-alcoholic beverages can contribute to less weight gain than those that contain alcohol because alcohol modifies bodily perceptions and feelings, particularly in terms of hunger.”Alcohol makes you hungry, whereas this type of drink does not“Notes the expert. Nevertheless, an alcohol-free aperitif will always be more caloric than fresh squeezed fruit or sparkling water with a slice of lemon…
“Always read the labels”
Non-alcoholic wine good or bad?
the “non-alcoholic wine” is constituted, after its alcoholic fermentation, thanks to a process of total or partial dealcoholization defined in the wine regulations at European level. It may contain up to 1.2% alcohol. “They must be marketed with a statement using the name of the vitivinicultural category (wine) followed by the terms “dealcoholized” or “partially dealcoholized” indicates the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF). They can be placed in the wine category. Other drinks are made from flavored grape juice to imitate the taste of wine. These are non-alcoholic drinks, not “alcohol-free wines”. These products cannot be placed in the wine products section. “The wine is rich in antioxidant polyphenols therefore alcohol-free alternatives that retain polyphenols may be of interest. Afterwards, it all depends on what is added in terms of sugars and additives. Always read the labels when trying to take care of your health!” insists our interlocutor.
Non-alcoholic beer good or bad?
Non-alcoholic beer is a beer that must contain less than 1.2% alcohol as specified by law. The beer is fermented which contributes to improve the gut microbiota so by removing the alcohol, this drink may have this health benefit. “Afterwards, it all depends on what is added in terms of sugars and additives. Always read the labels when looking to take care of your health!“recalls the expert again. For people who have suffered (or suffers) from an addiction at school, non-alcoholic beer is not recommended.
Thanks to Déborah Ohana, dietitian nutritionist and to Yves Daubannay, President of the Association Stop Alcohol Addiction.