Is 0% Alcohol Safe For Pregnancy? (Plus 4 Mocktails You'll Love For New Year’s Eve)

Social gatherings most often go hand in hand with alcohol, but if you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to conceive, it's best to steer clear of alcoholic beverages. The alternative? Mocktails, of course! Swap sugary sodas and fizzy drinks for these healthier versions of delicious mocktails that you and your friends will love. What else is big on the market at the moment? 0% alcohol swaps for liquors like gin… But are 0% alcohol drinks safe for pregnancy? We’re sharing everything you need to know about 0% alcohol during pregnancy and our favorite non-alcohol mocktails that are perfect for New Year’s Eve, but you can enjoy them all year round, too!

Let’s dive right in…

Are “non-alcoholic” beverages safe for pregnancy?

In the United States, a drink must have less than 0.5% alcohol to be classified as “non-alcoholic”. The CDC states you should restrict any consumption of alcoholic beverages throughout pregnancy, and right now, that includes “non-alcoholic” drinks that contain anything more than 0% alcohol (i.e. anything that falls between that 0% and 0.5%).

Why? Alcohol can pass through the blood and placenta, as well as through breastmilk, and since babies don’t metabolize alcohol as quickly as adults, it’s best to limit alcohol from any source as best as possible. The most important thing is to inform yourself of the risks in order to make a choice that is best for you.

Some non-alcoholic brands do contain 0% alcohol — so these are the ones you want to look out for if you’re looking to make a nice mocktail during pregnancy. These items will be labeled "alcohol-free", which by law may only be used when the product contains no detectable alcohol.

So should I avoid all food and drinks that have small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy?

Alcohol, or ethanol, naturally occurs in many different foods due to fermentation. Fermentation is when yeast, bacteria, and other microorganisms are broken down and alcohol is a byproduct of this reaction. As we mentioned, the standing general recommendation is that there is no safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy. But what does that mean for foods that naturally contain alcohol? One particular study tested many different foods for their alcohol content & we’ve got all of the info about which foods contain alcohol and what that means for pregnancy & postpartum in our post here.

Since the formal recommendation is that no amount of alcohol is considered safe during pregnancy, it can feel jarring to find out there are natural amounts of alcohol in foods. However, these naturally occurring levels are so low, that it’s unlikely that eating one ripe banana in a single sitting would cause you or your baby any harm.

It generally takes around an hour or two for your body to metabolize and process a typical serving of alcohol, and many of the foods listed in the blog post above contain only trace amounts. However, as with anything during pregnancy, it’s always good to be aware of what you’re consuming.

So what about drinks that are 0% alcohol - are they safe for pregnancy?

As we mentioned, in the United States, a drink must have less than 0.5% alcohol to be classified as “non-alcoholic” — that means that a drink can contain up t 0.5% alcohol and still be labelled “non-alcoholic”. The advice is to avoid any amounts of alcohol during pregnancy so these are best avoided.

Some non-alcoholic brands do contain 0% alcohol — so these are the ones you want to look out for if you’re looking to make a nice mocktail during pregnancy. These items will be labeled "alcohol-free", which by law may only be used when the product contains no detectable alcohol. So remember, when it comes to drinks labels, “non-alcoholic” and “alcohol-free” do not mean the same thing.

What’s the difference between “non-alcoholic” and “alcohol-free” labels?

Here’s a quick breakdown of what we've covered above:

• “Non-alcoholic” — may contain up to 0.5% alcohol

• “Alcohol-free” — the product contains no detectable alcohol

Here are 4 secretly-healthy mocktail recipes you’ll love during pregnancy & for New Year’s Eve:

1. Basil & Lime Refresher mocktail recipe for pregnancy

What you’ll need: 

• 1 TBSP agave syrup

• 1/4 cup lime juice

• 1 cup sparkling water

• 2 tsp lime juice

• 5 basil leaves

• Handful of ice

Here’s how to make it: 

Add the agave syrup and lime juice to your glass. Stir to combine and then add 3 basil leaves and muddle lightly. Add ice and top with sparkling water. Garnish with a slice of lime and a 1-2 basil leaves.

2. Virgin Berry Mojito mocktail recipe for pregnancy

Here’s what you’ll need: 

• 20 mint leaves

• 2 TBSP fresh lemon juice

• 1 cup of sparkling water

• 1 tbsp organic coconut sugar

• 1 cup frozen raspberries – 1/2 for blending, 1/2 for garnish

• 1/2 lemon wedge

Here’s how to make it: 

Add mint, lemon juice, sparkling water, coconut sugar, and frozen raspberries to a food processor with 2 cups of ice. Blend roughly, add crushed ice to a tall glass, and garnish with whole frozen raspberries and lemon wedges. Add extra coconut sugar to the rim if desired.

3. Fizzy Fig mocktail recipe for pregnancy

Here’s what you’ll need: 

• 2 TBSP cranberry juice cocktail

• 1/4 cup sparkling grapefruit juice

• 1/4 cup soda water

• Squeeze of lemon

• Fresh thyme sprig

• Fresh (or dried) figs

Here’s how to make it: 

Muddle 1 sprig of fresh thyme with half a fig in the bottom of the glass. Add grapefruit juice, cranberry juice, lemon juice, and stir well. Pour over ice and top with a generous splash of soda water. Garnish with a sprig of thyme and the other half of your fig.

4. Blood Orange Spice mocktail recipe for pregnancy

Here’s what you’ll need: 

• 1 cup blood orange juice

• 1/2 tsp ground ginger

• Pinch of cayenne (optional)

• 1 cup soda water

• 6 mint leaves

Here’s how to make it: 

Whisk together orange juice and spices. Pour into a glass with ice, top with equal parts soda water, and garnish with mint leaves.

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For more recipe inspiration, along with prenatal and postnatal nutrition guidance, be sure to download the Baby2Body app below!

What recipe do you want to see next? Let us know in the comments!

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