An alcohol-free or non-alcoholic drink, also known as a temperance drink, is a version of an alcoholic drink made without alcohol, or with the alcohol removed or reduced to almost zero. These may take the form of a non-alcoholic mixed drink, non-alcoholic beer, and "mocktails", and are widely available where alcoholic drinks are sold.
Scientific definition
Low-alcoholic drink
Sparkling apple cider, soft drinks, and juice naturally contain trace amounts or no alcohol. Some fresh orange juices are above the UK 'alcohol free' limit of 0.05% ABV, as are some yogurts and rye bread. Ethanol distillation is used to separate alcoholic drinks into what are advertised as non-alcoholic drinks and spirits; distilled wine produces low alcohol wine and brandy, distilled beer may be used to produce low-alcohol beer and whisky. However alcoholic drinks cannot be further purified to 0.00% alcohol by volume by distillation. In fact, most drinks labeled non-alcoholic contain 0.5% ABV as it is more profitable than distilling it to 0.05% ABV often found in products sold by companies specializing in non-alcoholic drinks.
Ethical issues
Alcohol is legal in most countries of the world where a drinking culture exists. In countries where alcohol is illegal, similar non-alcoholic drinks are permitted. The definition of "alcohol-free" may vary from country to country. The term "non-alcoholic" is often used to describe a drink that contains 0.0% ABV. However, most drinks advertised as "non-alcoholic" or "alcohol free" sold by countries with zero tolerance with state-run liquor monopoly, actually contain alcohol. Finland has a quite high ABV regulation for non-alcoholic drinks that are classified as alcoholic drink by most other countries. In the European Union, the labels of drinks containing only more than 1.2% ABV must state the actual alcoholic strength. Alcohol is a psychoactive drug and some people say that the label non-alcoholic is misleading and is a threat to recovering alcoholics.
Mocktails
Mocktails, an abbreviation for "mock cocktails", are festive, non-alcoholic party drinks. The word "mock" implying a facade of the alcoholic cocktail without any of the alcoholic content. In the last few years, it has become so popular that it even finds its place in the cocktail menu on many restaurant and bars. Mocktails can be described as a smooth blend of only non-alcoholic drinks, which could be fresh fruit juices, syrups, cream, herbs and spices. Mocktails are designed specifically for those who do not take alcoholic drinks or need to refrain from them, which means these blends can be enjoyed by people of all ages. They are particularly favoured over cocktails by Muslims, underage persons, drivers, pregnant women, and others who choose party drinks that are alcohol-free.
Legal definitions
EU
In the European Union, the labels of drinks containing more than 1.2% ABV must state the actual alcoholic strength.
Denmark
The government of Denmark have decided to change the alcohol free legal definition from 0.1% alcohol by volume to 0.5%. This is due to the better taste of 0.5% than of 0.1%
