Non-alcoholic
In the US, a beer or wine labeled "non-alcoholic" can contain a small amount of alcohol, up to 0.5% alcohol by volume. That's about the same as some fruit juices and kombucha. Most dealcoholized wines and NA beers land here: they're brewed or fermented normally, and then the alcohol is removed.
Alcohol-free
"Alcohol-free" (or "0.0%") is meant for drinks with no detectable alcohol. If you need truly zero, for pregnancy, medication, recovery or personal reasons, look for "0.0%" or "alcohol-free," not just "non-alcoholic."
Where common drinks land
| Drink | Typical alcohol |
|---|---|
| Kava, kanna and botanical elixir cans | Zero (check the can) |
| Adaptogen sodas and social tonics | Zero |
| Zero-proof spirits | Usually 0% |
| Dealcoholized wine | Often up to 0.5% |
| NA beer | Often up to 0.5%; some are 0.0% |
| Kombucha | Trace amounts, varies |
The easy zero
If you want something that's zero alcohol and doesn't taste like a compromise, start with a can built from the ground up to be alcohol-free, rather than a beer or wine with the alcohol taken out. Botanical Brewing's kava cans say "zero alcohol" right on the label.
Questions people ask
Is non-alcoholic the same as alcohol-free?
Not always. In the US, non-alcoholic beer and wine can contain up to 0.5% ABV. Alcohol-free or 0.0% means no alcohol.
Can non-alcoholic wine get you drunk?
At under 0.5% ABV it's very unlikely, but if you need to avoid alcohol completely, choose drinks labeled 0.0% or alcohol-free.
Do kava drinks contain alcohol?
Canned kava drinks like Botanical Brewing's are zero alcohol. Always check the label.
