What to drink instead of alcohol at a bar
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At a regular bar, order a non-alcoholic beer, a mocktail, or soda water with lime and bitters: it looks like a drink and nobody asks. For something you can actually feel, go to a kava bar instead, where kava and kratom are the menu.
What to order at a regular bar
- Non-alcoholic beer. Most bars carry at least one now.
- A mocktail. Ask for a virgin version of the house cocktail, or "something fresh, no alcohol."
- Soda water, lime and bitters. Cheap, looks like a cocktail, tastes grown-up. (Bitters have a trace of alcohol; skip them if that matters to you.)
- Ginger beer with lime. A mule without the vodka.
What to drink when you're out socially
The hard part is usually the question "why aren't you drinking?" Having something in your hand solves most of it. Order early, order something that looks like a drink, and keep it topped up.
Or try a kava bar
Kava bars are built for this: a bar atmosphere where the drinks are kava and kratom. They're a good way to try both before buying cans for home.
For nights in
Canned kava and kratom drinks give you the same thing at home. Kanna is the one people pick for having friends over.
Related: Dry January drink alternatives · Alcohol alternatives that give you a buzz · Kratom vs. alcohol