Non-alcoholic cocktails during pregnancy: yes or no?

In social situations with friends and family, a glass of wine or a cocktail - quite normal for most people. But of course this doesn't work during pregnancy.

As a pregnant or breastfeeding woman, can you only use water or juice?

No! There are delicious non-alcoholic drink alternatives for cocktails and long drinks that are also suitable for pregnant women.

The so-called “ mocktails ” taste reminiscent of alcoholic drinks, but have no alcohol content or only a very low alcohol content of up to 0.5 percent by volume.

Non-alcoholic cocktails – safe for pregnant women in small quantities

There are many non-alcoholic cocktails based on well-known alcoholic drinks. However, the term “ alcohol-free ” does not necessarily mean that the alcohol content of the product is zero. 

Most non-alcoholic alternatives still contain 0.02 percent to 0.5 percent alcohol. The level of residual alcohol in non-alcoholic drinks varies from drink to drink.

But alcohol during pregnancy, isn't that a problem?

According to experts, the amount of up to 0.5% alcohol is considered tolerable as long as several glasses are not drunk immediately or the consumption becomes a habit.

Non-alcoholic gin alternatives or similar products are usually mixed with juices and/or soda and tonic water . This reduces the alcohol content per glass significantly.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not toast with such non-alcoholic cocktails every day, but occasionally this is not a problem at all. Clinking glasses every now and then has not caused any demonstrable harm .

The Berlin Charité also confirms that no danger to the child is to be expected here. In the end, this is a personal decision that everyone has to weigh up for themselves.

Non-alcoholic spirits alternatives compared to other products

POLLY's non-alcoholic spirits have a residual alcohol content of up to 0.5%.

Compared to a non-alcoholic beer with 0.5% per 500 ml, a mixed drink with POLLY has significantly less alcohol content for the same amount.

This is because for a non-alcoholic cocktail, only around 2-5 cl of the non-alcoholic spirit is mixed with various juices, tonics or sodas.

Ripe bananas also contain alcohol

What many people don't know is that alcohol is also hidden in many other foods.

For example, most fruit juices contain a small amount (up to 0.4%) of alcohol due to the natural fermentation process . In apple or grape juice it can even be up to 1%. 

A small amount of alcohol can also be detected in naturally fermented foods, such as very ripe bananas or raw sauerkraut .

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Cocktail recipes with non-alcoholic spirits

Non-alcoholic gin and tonic alternative

Ingredients:

• 4cl POLLY London Classic
  
• 12 cl tonic water
  
• A slice of cucumber
  
• A slice of ginger  

Preparation:

Step 1: Fill a glass with ice cubes.
Step 2: Add POLLY London Classic and tonic water.
Step 3: Garnish with a slice of cucumber and ginger.

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Non-alcoholic peach and cranberry cocktail

Ingredients:

• 5 cl peach nectar
  
• 100 ml cranberry juice
  
• 2 cl POLLY Italian aperitif
  
• Cranberries
  
• rosemary
  
• Mineral water
  
• Ice cubes  

Preparation:

Step 1: First stir together the peach nectar, cranberry juice and POLLY Italian Aperitif.
Step 2: Divide into 4 glasses with ice cubes.
Step 3: Then fill up with mineral water.
Step 4: Add the cranberries and rosemary for decoration and enjoy.

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Delicious cocktail recipes without any alcohol

If you are a pregnant or breastfeeding woman and want to be on the safe side , you can of course avoid using non-alcoholic substitute products and instead prepare delicious cocktails with juices .

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Non-alcoholic Hugo

Ingredients:

• 9cl ginger ale
  
• 2 cl elderflower syrup
  
• Juice from one lime
  
• Lemon/lime wedges
  
• mint
  
• Mineral water
  
• Ice cubes  

Preparation:

Step 1: In a glass with ice cubes, add the ginger ale, the elderflower syrup and the juice of one lime.
Step 2: Add lemon and/or lime wedges and a sprig of mint.
Step 3: Top up with mineral water.

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Non-alcoholic mojito

Ingredients : 

• 1 lime
  
• fresh mint
  
• 2 tsp brown cane sugar
  
• Crushed ice
  
• Soda water or lemonade 

Preparation:

Step 1: Add the juice of half a lime and the rest of the quartered lime into a glass.
Step 2: Add the mint leaves and cane sugar and crush with a pestle.
Step 3: Add crushed ice.
Step 4: Top up with club soda or lemonade.

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Have fun mixing and enjoying with your baby bump! 😍🍸