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Why are alcohol-free drinks so expensive? Some fake spirits cost over £25 a bottle!
(www.theguardian.com)
this post was submitted on 06 Nov 2025
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Because it costs producers money to create an alternate sku that very few people buy. I never understood NA beer/wine/champaign. I drink to get buzzed, not because I like the taste. If it didn’t have alcohol, I sure as fuck wouldn’t be drinking yeast water.
With that said, NA cocktails are pretty great. Shirley temples, phony Negronis, all the virgin daiquiris. The more tiny umbrellas the better.
For some people, myself included, drinking is about the ritual and the social aspect, rather than necessarily getting drunk. When I go to a pub, I want to have a beer, but I don't always want to deal with a hangover the next day, particularly during the working week.
In some ways it's not that different from people who have decaffeinated coffee. It's not any cheaper, but you still get to enjoy the experience of drinking coffee.
Honest question about the taste, peer pressure, and ritual.
Do you like the taste of beer/wine/champaign?
If yes, is your favorable opinion of the taste part of the ritual?
In your social circle, are you afraid of your mates making fun of you for ordering a coke?
I apologize in advance. I find the taste of beer/wine/champaign/coffee to be repugnant, so I’m super curious about your experience.
Thanks for asking. I do enjoy the taste of beer and wine, and prefer it over the taste of soft drink. Having tried lots of alcohol free beers, I do think they're very good these days, and I'm a big fan of Botivo.
Alcohol-free wine still has a way to go, I sometimes grab a bottle from the supermarket, and find it quite reasonably priced. It doesn't taste quite like wine, but for me it tastes better than soft drinks.