Look around. Or maybe look inward. People are drinking less. A 2025 Gallagher poll put a number on it: 54 percent of Americans drink alcohol. The lowest recorded in history.
Then there are the 44 percent who call themselves total abstainers. They don’t touch a drop.
But life isn’t binary. Most of us float in the gray area. Not opposed to a drink. Just… selective. Maybe the hangovers get old. Maybe supporting a “healthy lifestyle” sounds like more than a weekend buzz. Or perhaps alcohol just doesn’t fit anymore. That’s fine. It happens.
You don’t have to abstain completely to live well without the alcohol.
Enter The Mocktail Playbook. Compiled by the Women’s Health editors, this book pulls 50 recipes from bartenders, mixologists, and the WH test kitchen itself. It’s not a juice box assembly line. No “splash of water and squeeze of lemon” here. They use zero-proof spirits. Elevated ingredients. Drinks that feel intentional.
Why pick this up? Three reasons.
1. It cuts through the noise
The world of mocktails is messy. Online, it’s just recipes. Often, they’re thin. You drink them, think “why bother?” and put the glass down. Not special. Not celebratory.
This book tells you what to buy and why. It explains different zero-proof spirits before you even pour. Saves the research phase. Breaks down unique ingredients so you aren’t guessing how they play together. It teaches you how to make the thing.
2. You can host without shame
Hosting is tricky when not everyone drinks the same way. This book has batch recipes. Make them ahead. Pour them out. Serve the crowd.
There’s even the Star Spangled Spritzer. It looks good. People talk about it. You can browse by category. Want savory? Vacation vibes? There’s a section for that. It narrows the search. Fast.
3. Budget doesn’t matter
Some mocktails are cheap. The Chai Mulled Coder? Tea bags, cider, spices. Earthy. Easy on the wallet.
Others demand a splurge. The Bayberry Spritz uses two distinct zero-proof spirits plus a custom simple syrup. You have to make the syrup. It’s work. But the payoff? An elevated experience. You feel the difference in the glass.
Which one do you reach for?
It’s yours.
