Am I Still Sober If I Drink Non-Alcoholic Wine?
Exploring going sober? You’re in good company.
Gallup has been tracking the drinking habits of Americans for 90 years, and 2025 marked a record low for alcohol consumption. Only 54% of Americans say that they drink alcohol.
Why the decline? It’s likely due to shifting beliefs about whether or not alcohol is really all that great (or even okay) for our bodies. Just 20 years ago, nearly a quarter of Americans said that drinking in moderation, or one to two drinks a day, was good for their health. As of 2025, that number has dropped to just 6%, whereas a whopping 53% of Americans say any alcohol consumption, even in moderation, is bad for our health.
When you consider the number of health effects from alcohol consumption, from cancer risks to heart diseases, this growing majority certainly has a strong point. But abstaining from alcohol can be tricky. Are you still sober if you drink non-alcoholic wine?
Are You Still Sober If You Drink Non-Alcoholic Wine?
The answer to this question may be a little frustrating and confusing. The answer is: It depends.
On what? Well, for starters, non-alcoholic wine, despite what the name implies, can have alcohol content in it. In the United States, for drinks to legally be labeled “non-alcoholic,” they can have up to 0.5% ABV. For a point of reference, that’s about the average ABV for a standard bottle of kombucha you can pick up at the grocery store. In comparison, a bottle of wine typically has between 5.5% and 20% ABV.
The second thing to consider when deciding whether or not you’re still sober if you drink non-alcoholic wine is what you consider sober to be. As more and more people are embracing abstaining from alcohol, the concept of “sober” has shifted.
Let’s go back to the mention of kombucha. Kombucha has long been a point of contention in the sober community. Because kombucha contains trace amounts of alcohol, up to 0.5% ABV, some recommend avoiding kombucha altogether if you’re going sober. If you have typically had issues with overconsuming alcohol, the concern is that drinking kombucha may trigger more cravings and make it harder for that person to stay sober.
On the other hand, some individuals say that drinking kombucha helps them to avoid cravings, as it fulfills the craving they already have with a substitute that presents less of a danger than actually indulging in highly alcoholic drinks like fully alcoholized wines.
At the end of the day, most experts say that whether or not to drink kombucha depends on the individual and how alcohol affects them. The same can be said for non-alcoholic wine.
However, there is an important distinction between kombucha and non-alcoholic wine that might make non-alcoholic wine an even safer alternative. While all kombuchas have a little bit of alcohol, there are non-alcoholic wines with no alcohol.
Some non-alcoholic wines, like BEAU VIVA, have a true 0% ABV. In the case of BEAU VIVA, the wine is made just like a fully alcoholized wine is made, with fermentation creating an alcohol content. However, BEAU VIVA then uses vacuum distillation to remove the alcohol.
The wine is placed in a vacuum chamber, where the pressure decreases, lowering the alcohol's boiling point significantly. Due to this decrease, the alcohol evaporates at much lower temperatures. This change allows winemakers to remove alcohol more effectively without significantly affecting the wine's flavors and aromas.
The result is a zero-alcohol wine that actually tastes like wine. That’s because it is wine, just one with a 0% ABV. That 0% ABV makes it safe to consume for anyone abstaining from alcohol for any reason. There is no doubt that you are still sober if you drink BEAU VIVA’s non-alcoholic wine because you’re not drinking any alcohol.
But What About Other Non-Alcoholic Wines?
While you’re still 100% sober when you drink BEAU VIVA, it’s important to be careful when drinking non-alcoholic wine while being sober.
If you’re someone who struggles with alcohol cravings, drinking non-alcoholic wine might not be the best option, at least if that wine has any alcohol content. Always check that the non-alcoholic wine you picked up is zero-alcohol by verifying it has a 0% ABV.
If you’re not concerned about drinking trace amounts of alcohol, then any non-alcoholic wine would still fit your definition of sober. When it comes to whether or not you’re still sober if you drink non-alcoholic wine, that answer can only be determined by you, though you may want to get some help from your doctor if you’re unsure.
Embrace Letting Go of Alcohol With BEAU VIVA
Non-alcoholic doesn’t mean no alcohol, which can make staying sober tricky. While some non-alcoholic wines may still have trace amounts of alcohol, BEAU VIVA is fully dealcoholized. It’s 100% wine, just with a 0% ABV, which makes it safe to consume for anyone who is abstaining from alcohol. You can always rest assured that you’re staying sober when you choose BEAU VIVA.
With subtle, soft notes of rose petals, citrus zest, and juicy red berries, BEAU VIVA’s zero-alcohol sparkling wine lets you embrace your new sober life without compromising on what you love. No matter what you’re celebrating, BEAU VIVA is a perfect party guest who is welcoming to all.
Discover a new alcohol-free life with BEAU VIVA.
