Alcohol-free drinks for Dry January, and every month after
Quick answer
The easiest way through Dry January is to replace the moment, not just the drink. Pick an alcohol-free drink for each time you’d usually pour one: a weeknight wind-down, Friday night, dinner with friends. In England, “alcohol-free” on a label means no more than 0.05% alcohol. A can of Little Rick contains no alcohol and 32mg of full-spectrum CBD, which is why many of our customers use it in place of an evening glass of wine.
Last reviewed 7 November 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.
What Dry January is
Dry January is a month off alcohol, run by the charity Alcohol Change UK, which offers a free app called Try Dry for tracking your days. It runs for the whole of January each year.
Swaps for every moment
| When you’d usually have… | Try this instead | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| A glass of wine on the sofa | A can of Raspberry Coconut over ice | Zero sugar and about 3 calories a can, with the same “end of the day” ritual |
| A Friday beer or cider | Raspberry Lemonade, ice cold from the can | Sharp, fizzy and full-flavoured |
| A mojito or G&T | Mint & Lime with fresh mint and lime | Mojito-style, with real lime juice |
| A holiday cocktail | Piña over crushed ice | Piña colada-inspired pineapple and coconut |
| Drinks at a dinner party | A jug of mocktails | Everyone gets a proper drink; see our CBD mocktail recipes |
Customers use it exactly this way:
“In the evening instead of having a glass or wine or something sweet, I crack open a can, turn on Netflix and just enjoy and mellow out.”
mb, verified buyer, Raspberry Coconut, 27 October 2026
“It works as a chill out after work rather than reaching for the alcohol which has been a revelation.”
Russell W., verified buyer, 27 October 2026
What “alcohol-free” means on a UK label
| Label wording (England) | Alcohol allowed |
|---|---|
| Alcohol-free | No more than 0.05% ABV |
| De-alcoholised | No more than 0.5% ABV |
| Low alcohol | No more than 1.2% ABV |
These are the government’s recommended conditions. Many “alcohol-free” beers are brewed to 0.5%, so check the ABV if you’re avoiding alcohol completely. The government consulted on changing the rules in 2023 and hasn’t published its decision yet. Little Rick is a soft drink, not a de-alcoholised drink: there’s no alcohol in it.
What a month off saves
| A typical drink | Units | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 175ml glass of 12% wine | 2.1 | up to 158kcal |
| Pint of 5% beer | 2.8 | up to 222kcal |
| Double (50ml) of 40% spirits | 2 | 100kcal |
| 330ml can of Little Rick | 0 | 3–63kcal, depending on flavour |
The UK’s low-risk guideline is no more than 14 units a week, spread over three or more days. Fourteen units is about 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of lower-strength wine. The units for beer and spirits use the NHS formula: ABV × millilitres ÷ 1,000.
Five tips that make it easier
- Plan the moments. Write down when you usually drink and choose a swap for each.
- Keep the fridge stocked. If there’s something good and cold to reach for, you won’t reach for the bottle.
- Keep the ritual. Use your favourite glass, add ice and a garnish.
- Say it out loud. Tell friends you’re doing it; it’s easier to order something else.
- Don’t stop on 1 February. Keep the swaps that worked for the nights you want them.
Cutting back for good
You won’t be alone. In our 2026 survey of 59 UK customers, 32% said they were actively cutting back on alcohol and 28% had stopped completely. Over half drink Little Rick on a weeknight at home. Read the full results in what UK CBD drinkers told us, and see how CBD drinks compare with beer, kombucha and adaptogen drinks in our side-by-side guide.
A note on CBD: the FSA advises healthy adults to limit CBD from food to 10mg a day, and each can of Little Rick contains 32mg. The FSA doesn’t recommend CBD for anyone pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or under 18.
Shop: CBD Drinks Mix Pack: all four flavours · Zero-sugar CBD drinks
Frequently asked questions
When is Dry January?
It runs from 1 to 31 January every year. It’s run by Alcohol Change UK.
Can I drink CBD drinks during Dry January?
Yes. Dry January is about alcohol, and Little Rick contains none. It’s a sparkling soft drink with 32mg of CBD.
Is 0.5% beer alcohol-free?
Not by the strict labelling definition in England, which reserves “alcohol-free” for 0.05% ABV or less. Drinks up to 0.5% are described as de-alcoholised. Many people doing Dry January are happy with 0.5%; if you want none at all, check the label.
What’s a good alternative to a glass of wine?
Something with the same ritual: cold, served in a glass, at the same time of day. Raspberry Coconut is a popular swap because it’s zero sugar and about 3 calories a can.
Can I mix CBD and alcohol?
We make Little Rick as an alternative to alcohol rather than a mixer. If you want to know more, read Can you mix CBD and alcohol?
Sources
- Dry January, Alcohol Change UK (checked 7 November 2026)
- Updating labelling guidance for no and low-alcohol alternatives (consultation document), Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, DHSC, GOV.UK (published 28 September 2023, closed 23 November 2023, outcome not yet published; checked 7 November 2026)
- Alcohol units, NHS (page last reviewed 27 August 2024; checked 7 November 2026)
- Calories in alcohol, NHS (page last reviewed 12 June 2023; checked 7 November 2026)
- Cannabidiol (CBD): consumer advice, Food Standards Agency, GOV.UK (published 13 February 2020, advice updated October 2023; checked 7 November 2026)