Frequently Asked Questions

What is a non-alcoholic spirit ?

The term ‘non-alcoholic spirit’ refers to both distilled botanicals which have been filtered to remove the alcohol, and macerated and extracted flavours and botanicals made without alcohol.

In either case the ABV (alcohol by volume) content of a non-alcoholic spirit is below 0.5% .

By comparison the minimum ABV of an alcoholic spirit is 15% and often rises well above 40%.

You should also bear in mind that many everyday foods also contain alcohol – you might be surprised by some of these :

• burger rolls – 1.28% ABV
• banana (very ripe with dark sections) – 0.4% ABV
• pear (ripe) – 0.04% ABV

What is alcohol-free?

 The most accurate definition is probably the one provided by the UK's Department for Transport: "a drink which contains less than 0.05% ABV (alcohol by volume)". This means that any drink with an ABV lower than 0.05% is considered alcohol-free.

Why do non-alcoholic drinks contain alcohol ?

This is really down to the way the drinks are made. In some cases the alcohol is removed from the drink so there will a small amount of alcohol left, or indeed it is sometimes put back in in order to create a great tasting drink. In some cases, the natural flavours used to make the drinks are extracted from their source using a product called ethanol, which will always leave an amount of trace alcohol in the finished drinks.

Are alcohol free drinks good for you ?

The answer to this can vary according to the brand that you are drinking. Clearly any drink that contains less alcohol than a full strength drink will be better for your long term health than drinking the full strength equivalent. Some of the drinks in the low/no sector do contain relatively high levels of sugar in order to replicate the ‘mouthfeel’ of the drink. It is important to check the nutritional labels on the bottle/can to ensure you are aware of the contents.

Do alcohol free spirits get you drunk ?

The amount of low/no alcohol drink that you would have to consume to make you feel tipsy or drunk means it is virtually impossible for you to get drunk if you stick to low/no alcohol drinks.

What do non-alcoholic spirits taste and smell like?

There is a huge number of different brands in the marketplace, all of whom are trying to re-create the taste and smell of their alcoholic equivalent, and many others trying to create a unique taste and flavour for their drinks. (e.g Seedlip, Everleaf, Wildjac)

With some alcoholic drinks (e.g. gin, whisky) where there are so many varieties produced it is often hard for a non-alcoholic producer to select one particular style, whereas with other drinks (e.g Aperol, Rum, Pimms) the flavour characteristic of the alcoholic drinks can be created using natural flavourings and botanicals.

Why are non-alcoholic drinks so expensive – sometimes more than their alcohol equivalent ?

To explore the costs of non-alcoholic drinks, it's important to consider all the costs that go into making the product. These include the cost of sourcing the ingredients, the glass, transportations costs, fixed overheads such as the rent on a brewery and other extras such as marketing. Most of these will be very similar to the costs of producing an alcoholic drink and may even be smaller when you consider economies of scale some companies can use to make savings.

The low and non-alcoholic market is full of artisan brands that are looking to make a quality product. Brands are using many different natural flavourings and extracts to add unique flavour profiles to their products. This pushes their products into the premium space and this is reflected in the price.

What do non-alcoholic spirits taste like ?

We have tried to make them taste as close as we can to their alcohol equivalents – and recommend that they are served in the same way – same glass, same mixer, same garnish etc. – to further enhance the drinking experience.

Where are Anon drinks made ?

Our drinks are made at our fabulous partners Wildjac at their distillery in Kidderminster, UK.

How are the non-alcoholic drinks made ?

Once the specific recipes have been developed, we blend together the various natural flavours and botanicals with the other key ingredients (water sugar etc.) and then use a process of sterile filtration to remove any micro-organisms. The fact that we don’t pasteurise the drinks means that they retain as many of the original flavour profiles as possible.

Can I cook with non alcoholic drinks and spirits?

Absolutely, they work really well in many different recipes adding some great flavour profiles, without the alcohol.

Can non alcoholic spirits be used to make cocktails?

Yes, non alcoholic spirits can be used to make cocktails. Many non alcoholic spirit brands produce a wide variety of beverage mixers that can be used to make tasty and creative mocktails. Additionally, natural ingredients such as fruits, vegetable juices, teas, herbs and spices, and honey can be used to add flavor and complexity to any non alcoholic cocktail or mocktail.  In essence, use them as a replacement in your usual cocktail.  Take a look at our recipes page here for inspiration.

What is the recommended serving size for your non alcoholic spirits?

We would recommend a serving size as you usually would for a spirit and mixer, such as a 25-50ml for a spirit or the recommended measure for your mocktail recipe.

Can your non alcoholic spirits be used in mocktails?

They are perfect for making mocktails as they closely resemble the alcoholic versions.  Mixing with other ingredients of a mocktail means they taste virtually the same.

Are your non alcoholic spirits sugar-free?

Yes, they do contain sugar.  We feel that by removing the sugar there is no substance to the product.  Some sugar helps bind the ingredients and hold the flavours for a better mouth-feel.

Can I mix your non alcoholic spirits with alcohol?

It kind of defeats the object but in some cases yes.  For example our Bittersweet Aperitif is perfect to keep the alcoholic content down of an Aperol Spritz.  No alcohol prosecco's are available but if you don't have any it keeps the alcohol levels down.

How fast are the items dispatched from your website?

We aim to dispatch all orders within 24 hours of receipt. They are all sent with the best available courier service on a 48 hr service.

Is the website secure ?

Our website is hosted on the 123 platform and all payments are processed via a secure server.  As a business we are well established and trusted, in fact we supply national chains some of our soft drink brands.

Do you accept returns?

We at ANON Drinks take pride in offering high-quality non-alcoholic spirits to our valued customers. In the rare event that you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, we have outlined our returns policy below to ensure a seamless experience.

Returns Policy for Faulty or Damaged Products:

1. We gladly accept returns for products that are faulty or damaged upon arrival, subject to the following conditions:
2. a. The product must be returned within 14 days of receipt.
3. b. The product must be in its original packaging and accompanied by the original sales receipt or proof of purchase.
4. To initiate a return, please contact our Customer Support team at julian@alfresco.co.uk or within 7 days of receiving the product, providing a detailed description of the issue along with photographic evidence. Our team will assess the claim and provide further instructions for processing the return.
5. If your return is approved, we will provide you with a pre-paid postage label and detailed instructions on how to return the product. Please ensure that the product is securely packaged to avoid any additional damage during transit.
6. Upon receipt and inspection of the returned product, we will either:
7. a. Issue a full refund of the purchase price, including the original delivery charges, to your original payment method within 14 days of receiving the returned product; or
8. b. Replace the faulty or damaged product with a new one, subject to availability.

Please note that our returns policy only covers faulty or damaged products. We are unable to accept returns for change of mind, personal taste preferences, or dissatisfaction with the product. In such cases, we encourage you to reach out to our Customer Support team, who will be more than happy to assist you with any queries or concerns you may have regarding our products.

Your statutory rights under the UK Consumer Rights Act 2015 are not affected by this returns policy.

Thank you for choosing ANON Drinks for your non-alcoholic spirits needs. We appreciate your business and are committed to providing exceptional customer service.