Holiday drinks should feel like part of the celebration—whether they contain alcohol or not.
Thankfully, the days when non-drinkers were limited to water, soda or the bottle of sparkling cider tucked in the back of the fridge are over. Today's *non-alcoholic holiday drinks range from sophisticated sparkling beverages and non-alcoholic wines to botanical aperitifs, festive mocktails and more.
Whether you're planning Christmas dinner, hosting a holiday party or looking for something special to pour on New Year's Eve, here are five of the best types of non-alcoholic drinks to have on hand this holiday season.
Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Tea
Of course, we're starting with TÖST.
TÖST was created for moments exactly like these: the dinners, parties, gatherings and celebrations when you want to open something special, without necessarily opening a bottle of alcohol.
Unlike non-alcoholic wine, TÖST isn't wine with the alcohol removed. It's crafted without alcohol from the start, using white tea, fruit, botanicals and ginger to create a crisp, complex sparkling beverage with a flavor profile entirely its own.
That makes it particularly versatile during the holidays. It's sophisticated enough for the dinner table, easy enough to serve to a crowd and bubbly enough for a holiday toast. There's no mixing or prep required—just chill, open and pour.
TÖST Original combines white tea, white cranberry and ginger for a crisp, balanced pour. TÖST Rosé is bright and delicate with elderberry, while TÖST Sangria offers a fruitier expression with cranberry and blood orange.
Serve it with dinner, put a few bottles on the bar, bring one as a host gift or chill it for the New Year's Eve countdown.
It's not trying to be wine. It's simply something really good to drink when you're not drinking.
Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine
If you're looking for an experience closer to Champagne or Prosecco, non-alcoholic sparkling wine is a holiday option.
Most non-alcoholic wines begin as traditional wine before undergoing a process that removes most or all of the alcohol. The goal is generally to retain some of the aromas, flavors and characteristics associated with the original wine.
That makes it particularly appealing to someone who loves wine and wants an alcohol-free version that still feels familiar.
It's also worth checking the bottle if avoiding alcohol completely is important to you, as some products labeled non-alcoholic can contain trace amounts of alcohol.
Want to explore your options? See our guide to the 8 Best Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wines of 2026 for bottles and sparkling alternatives worth considering.
If you're trying to decide between a purpose-built alcohol-free beverage and dealcoholized wine, our guide explains the differences in more detail. TÖST vs. Non-Alcoholic Wine: What's the Difference?
Sparkling Cider
Sparkling cider has been showing up at holiday celebrations for generations—and it's easy to understand why.
It's bubbly, festive, widely available and immediately feels a little more special than everyday juice or soda. Apple also pairs naturally with many of the flavors found on Thanksgiving and Christmas tables.
The main consideration is sweetness. Many sparkling ciders are considerably sweeter and more fruit-forward than beverages developed specifically for an adult palate.
That can make cider a great crowd-pleaser for family celebrations, particularly when children are joining the toast. If you're serving a full holiday meal, you may also want to offer a drier, more complex non-alcoholic option alongside it.
Non-Alcoholic Aperitifs
One of the biggest changes in alcohol-free drinking has been the arrival of sophisticated non-alcoholic aperitifs.
These beverages often use herbs, citrus, spices and botanicals to create the bitterness and complexity traditionally associated with an aperitif. They're usually served over ice, topped with tonic or sparkling water, or incorporated into a simple alcohol-free cocktail.
They're especially useful during the holidays if your traditions normally include a cocktail hour before dinner.
Set out an aperitif alongside sparkling water, tonic, citrus and plenty of ice, and guests can easily make their own drinks without requiring the host to play bartender all evening.
Holiday Mocktails
A thoughtfully made mocktail can absolutely earn its place on a holiday drinks menu.
Seasonal ingredients such as cranberry, pomegranate, pear, blood orange, ginger, rosemary and warming spices make it easy to create non-alcoholic holiday drinks that look and taste festive.
The key is balance.
Combining several juices can quickly make a mocktail overwhelmingly sweet. Citrus, ginger, tea, herbs, tonic and sparkling water can introduce acidity, bitterness and complexity.
For an intimate dinner, making individual mocktails can be part of the experience. If you're throwing a larger holiday party, choose something you can batch ahead of time so you're not mixing drinks while everyone else is celebrating.
What Makes a Great Non-Alcoholic Holiday Drink?
The best non-alcoholic holiday drinks aren't simply drinks with the alcohol taken away. They should feel like they belong at the celebration.
Think about the same qualities you'd consider when choosing wine or planning cocktails: flavor, complexity, sweetness, food pairing, presentation and occasion.
For holiday dinner, something crisp and balanced may work better than a sweet mocktail. For cocktail hour, an aperitif can provide the bitterness and complexity you'd expect from a traditional cocktail. And when it's time for a toast, bubbles are hard to beat.
Need help choosing what to pour with the meal? Our guide to the best non-alcoholic drinks to pair with dinner covers how acidity, carbonation, sweetness and complexity work with different foods.
Presentation matters, too.
Chill the bottles. Use the good glassware. Put non-alcoholic choices alongside the wine rather than hiding them next to the soda. Add garnishes when they make sense.
Most importantly, have alcohol-free choices available without making anyone ask for them.
What to Serve Instead of Wine During the Holidays
If you're specifically looking for what to drink instead of wine, you don't necessarily need to find something that tastes exactly like wine.
Dealcoholized wines are one option, particularly for people who want to maintain some of the characteristics of traditional wine.
But sparkling tea, botanical beverages and other purpose-built alcohol-free drinks take a different approach. Instead of trying to recreate Chardonnay or Champagne, they use ingredients such as tea, fruit, herbs, botanicals and spices to create complexity of their own.
If you're less interested in replicating wine and more interested in finding something sophisticated that can hold its own at the dinner table, there are plenty of options beyond dealcoholized wine. Explore our guide to what to drink instead of wine, from sparkling tea and botanical beverages to other sophisticated alcohol-free alternatives.
Want to understand how TÖST fits into the category? Read TÖST vs. Non-Alcoholic Wine: What's the Difference?
Something for Everyone
The holidays aren't about what's in your glass. They're about who's around the table.
From TÖST and non-alcoholic sparkling wine to cider, aperitifs and mocktails, there are more ways than ever to serve something festive without alcohol.
Whatever you pour, give it the same thought you give the rest of the celebration.
Good hosts remember everyone.
