The second annual Zero Proof Choice Awards and first annual Water Choice Awards took place on Aug. 15 and Aug. 16, respectively, both put on by The Daily Pour!

If you’re just discovering Zero Proof Nation by Laura for the first time, here’s the gist: I write about global non-alcoholic beverage culture from the perspective of someone who’s been alcohol-free almost two decades.

Scenes from my trip to NYC

Top row: On the top left, inclusive hospitality advocate, Tedx speaker and Sauna and Sobriety facilitator Jen Veralle and I got together for dinner at Rosie’s (my hibiscus agua fresca is in the middle of the row) and dessert at The Little Cupcake Bakery. Top right: Yours truly with author, cocktail/hospitality educator and Zero Proof Choice Awards head judge Derek Brown, and his partner in business and life, the creative genius Maria Bastasch.

Middle row: Yurs truly with Estelle Bossy, a career beverage director in NYC and my judging bestie both days; the whole group of us at the Zero Proof Choice Awards: Rich Buchanan, Andrew Eisbrouch, Alex Highsmith, Karl Franz Williams, Caleb Ganzer, Maria and Derek, LP O’Brien (Netflix Drinks Master winner and DC hometown girlie) and Abe Zarate. Middle right: my view from Central Park.

Bottom row: I had to go to Times Square just because (actually, my reason was selfish: I wanted to go to the M&M Store and get some goodies). Middle: Water Choice Awards judging panel, comprising yours truly; Ashley Epperson of Salacious Drinks; Cameron Smith of The Little Inn at Washington; Preston Boyer, artist and “the people’s water somm”; and Estelle. Bottom right: on the Amtrak Acela train back home with my Nouvie hat.

What’s it Actually Like to be a Judge?

You’d think it’s all non-alc so there would be no need to spit, right? Wrong. Unless you’re ready to balloon up a few extra pant sizes, you have to taste and spit. My first year, I barely spit and learned my lesson the hard way. Regardless, your palate will get tired. Palate fatigue is real. This is why we had basic water crackers to soak up residual flavors hanging around on our tongues and inside cheeks, and why we also had a lunch break dividing up the day.

Also, contrary to what some might think, you don’t taste all categories as a Zero Proof Choice Awards judge. It’s just not possible to get through all the liquids, give them the attention they deserve, write thoughtful notes that the producers will see, and still have a functioning tongue at the end of the way. My categories were NA beers, NA non-functional RTDs, and wine-occasion beverages (that are not dealcoholized wines).

For the Water Choice Awards, however, I tasted everything. Still, sparkling and flavored waters. Even with a small amount of spitting, I felt hydrated, rejuvenated and like I had just left a spa day .

Some things to consider when tasting a liquid that you’ll be evaluating: appearance (color, opacity), aroma (my AFNA wine and beer certifications came in handy here, thinking of the wine aroma wheel), texture/mouthfeel, flavor and length (Do you still taste the beverage even a minute later, or does it dissipate immediately?). Notes you’ll write can be basic or flowery, depending on your level of inspiration. Most liquids we tasted medaled (bronze = good; silver = really good; gold = incredible; double gold = stratospheric, and all the judges are in agreement). Very rarely, a liquid didn’t medal, and we had to consider several factors including whether something spoiled in transit — or if it just wasn’t well constructed on any level, period. Mindful that someone put their heart and soul into the liquid, we were never mean and always constructive, but I can still imagine a producer’s heartache. Yes, it’s an honor to be a judge at a competition; it’s also quite the responsibility.

Wearing my signature lightning bolt and an Old Navy dress that felt apropos. Also, my nails

This article first appeared in Zero Proof Nation by Laura, Laura Silverman’s Substack. Subscribe here.

(Photo: Adobe Stock)

I was only 24 years old when I quit drinking in 2007, long before the term “sober curious” was coined by Ruby Warrington in 2011 got trendy and “Dry January” was a glimmer of an idea in anyone’s mind. Back then, having a social life without alcohol felt impossible given how enmeshed drinking was in the social fabric of our lives.

Becoming sober has enriched my life in countless ways, and I’m happy to share a brief history of how Dry January started, along with practical tips to help you navigate the month should you decide to embark on the journey yourself.

Emily Robinson is attributed with starting the Dry January movement after she gave up alcohol in January 2011 to prepare for a half-marathon. This inspired her to join Alcohol Change UK, where the first Dry January challenge was born in 2013 with 4,000 people. In 2025, it’s in its 13th year with over 200,000. But the cultural zeitgeist of a month without booze wouldn’t become a global phenomenon until around 2019 or 2020.

For anyone interested in participating in Dry January (and managing to stick with it!), I have collected some suggestions on how to navigate life without alcohol gathered from experts, fellow industry leaders and my sober community. Whether this is your first time embarking on Dry January or your fifth time around, I hope this guide makes your month more bearable but also enjoyable — perhaps to the point that the habits you develop linger into the rest of the year.

1. Try Something New

Trying something new breaks you out of your comfort zone and encourages growth. Whether it’s signing up for a cooking class at the community college nearby or finally trying out that new Thai place in your neighborhood — go do it. Dry January isn’t just about taking away; it’s about new opportunities that reveal themselves when alcohol isn’t at the center.

Tara Oporto agrees. The author of “Temperates: The New Culture of Drinking Less” recommends you “treat Dry January like a curiosity experiment, not a punishment. Pick one evening (or daytime) ritual that you normally pair with alcohol and redesign it! An NA drink you love, a walk, a sauna, a workout class and real conversations with people. The win isn’t abstinence; it’s noticing how much better your body and brain work when alcohol isn’t the background noise.”

At the heart of sober curiosity is, well, curiosity. Merriam-Webster defines curiosity as “a desire to know.” I’d argue that curiosity is not just that, but a desire to know mixed with a playful, adventurous spirit. So, if the intrepid explorer within you was hibernating over the holidays, wake them up during Dry January.

2. Switch Up Your Routine

Part of Dry January is making space for new perspectives and observing situations you’d normally associate with alcohol in a new way. Benno Nelson, cofounder of Five Corners Beverage Co. suggests trying one thing sober that you’d normally do with alcohol, and see what it feels like to not have an alcoholic drink in that environment. 

Lori MacGregor, writer of The Reignition Project on Substack, adds that you should modify your routine. If you normally watch TV at night with a glass of wine, replace it with a nonalcoholic activity like going for a walk or reading  a book. These might take more time or effort, but part of Dry January is also self-care and taking time to reflect and see things differently so persevere.

3. Find Community

This article wouldn’t have come together if not for the power of community, so naturally I’m a big fan of this one. So is Tawny Lara, author of “Dry Humping: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze“; cofounder of (parentheses) botanical non-alc spirit; and writer of “Beyond Liquid Courage” on Substack.

Lara recommends having an accountability buddy and/or checking out some support group. She advises that you will get more understanding of the core reasons you drink by sharing it with others trying to do the same thing. 

The team at Curious Elixirs agrees: “Try not to isolate just because you’re not drinking. If you don’t have friends who are sober-curious, seek out that community IRL or online! There is so much sober-curious support (and fun!) to be found out there if you need it.”

Sunnyside, an app designed to help you drink less, suggests the following: “Tell your best friend or your partner about your goal, ask them to help hold you accountable, and even see if they’ll join you. This gives you a partner-in-crime, and also opens up the possibility for longer term discussion around drinking, which is empowering and can feel like a huge relief!”

4. Make It a Challenge

Journalist and author Hilary Sheinbaum was onto something when she published “The Dry Challenge: How to Lose the Booze for Dry January, Sober October, and Any Other Alcohol-Free Month,” in 2020. Inspired by a bet she made with a friend to do Dry January in 2017 (spoiler alert: she won), Sheinbaum set out to write a definitive guide to doing January (or any other month) dry. There’s just something about a challenge that gets people excited.

Instagram user @jowalduck says, “Have something else to ‘throw under the bus’ if necessary. I gave myself a 28 day challenge to be booze free *and* went meat/fish free too. I knew that if I needed to, I could throw a steak at a craving and get home safely without the booze. 6+ years in, 85% veggie and 100% sober!! Also that old “if i wake up tomorrow morning regretting not drinking tonight, then I can drink tomorrow night” – been a lifesaver over the years!!”

5. Download An App

The right app can help find community and gamify wins. When crowdsourcing, I got a lot of votes for Sunnyside, Reframe and Try Dry, the official app of Dry January via Alcohol Change UK

Katie Nessel, @soberishmom on Instagram, leads a “dryish” challenge on Sunnyside. “Don’t beat yourself up for slip-ups, you’re 100% ahead of someone who never started ,” she says.

6. Swap Booze for Adult Non-Alc Beverages

I’m personally a big fan of this suggestion. After all, I am the founder of Zero Proof Nation and digital cartographer of the world’s first global map dedicated to non-alc bottle shops and booze-free bars. Shameless plug time: definitely check out my website if you’re looking for non-alc options across just about any category, and if you want to find a bottle shop or bar specializing in non-alc near you, my map is just a click away.

Tyler McMahon (another digital cartographer, but of a map devoted to craft NA beer), adds: “Find alternatives that you like and explore those with interest, it helps both distract and maybe provide some options for a more moderation post January.”

The team at One of One Wine Co. (whose sparkling wine I am so enamored by I voted to include it in a Food & Wine roundup) encourages you to “have options available — non alc, teas, etc. on hand at all times.”

Eryn Korby, owner of Las Vegas’ Sin City Saints Bottle Shop, recommends that you “Make zero proof cocktails with premium zero proof spirits [so] you won’t miss the real thing. Also drink *good* NA craft beer. Quality matters.”

To find the best products, take a peek at The Daily Pour’s non-alc ratings section. I’ve written loads of reviews.

7. Give Yourself Grace

Kristen Bear (@creativesobriety on Instagram), is all about being gentle with yourself in January:

“Make your space cozy! It’s cold outside and I think we have the whole New Year’s resolution timing all wrong…save the hardcore action for spring. Make your dry January about comfort and rest. Stock up on delicious alcohol free drinks, make a list of movies and books to check off, cook yourself delicious food, and set the internal temperature for 2026.”

Colourful trees during the Autumn season in Markham, Ontario, Canada. (Photo: Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via AP)

October is here, and that means autumn! The season of crunchy leaves, apple picking, corn mazes, Halloween and pumpkin-spice-everything. We welcomed the season with Drinks With Benefits — New York City’s first non-alc festival — at the end of September. While I wait for the weather to cool down to sweatshirt weather-level temps, here are eight adult non-alc drinks I’m most pumped up about this fall.

Proxies – Dry Cider

(Photo: Proxies/Instagram)

Rarely do you smell the crispness of a Granny Smith apple and the sulphuric bite of wine in a non-alc cider, but our friends at Proxies have nailed it yet again. There are light floral notes on the nose and the perfect amount of bubbles. Cider with a bite but without the booze is the hardest thing to get right. This beautiful new offering has that elusive bite coming from verjus — the highly acidic unfermented juice coming from the pressing of unripened fruits, like apples – wine tannins and sulfites — balanced with extracts of oak, chamomile, quassia bark, mandarin peel, and ale yeast.

Plaid Circus – Bubblegum Fantasy

(Photo: Plaid Circus)

With Himalayan White Tea and herb and botanical-infused vinegar and honey as a base, Bubblegum Fantasy isn’t your ordinary non-alc spirit analogue. Let’s just say it tastes like bubblegum, except it’s 1950s bubblegum dressed to the nines, with her hair in pinup-style victory rolls. She’s got fruits like mango and peach, lemon-peel and hibiscus infused vinegar, cane sugar, wildflower honey and, of course, bubblegum flavoring.

Wilderton Aperitivo Co. – Coffee Amaro

(Photo: Wilderton Aperitivo Co.)

If you’ve met me, you’ll know I’m obsessed with coffee. OBSESSED. Not just my morning cup (or cups!) of Joe — but coffee yogurt, ice cream, bitters (see below), etc. My dad is a coffee connoisseur, and he passed that love of the bean down to me and my brother. So, when I heard Wilderton Aperitivo Co. birthed a limited-release Coffee Amaro, I had to get my hands on a bottle! Of course, you get all the warm baking spice notes associated with a good coffee roast, but the surprise note is rhubarb. Why? Its sharpness and tartness balances the heaviness that coffee naturally brings to the table, and I think it’s actually a beautiful combo. Perfect for any espresso martini you want to make – cold or hot, because why not?!

All the Bitter x Zero Proof Nation Cherry Coffee Blast

(Photo: All The Bitter)

You’re seeing a theme here, right? Coffee is good year-round, but those warming notes are perfect for fall. Meet my collab with alcohol-free bitters darling All The Bitter: cherry (decaf) coffee blast. We put our heads and hearts together on a flavor that resonated deeply with me and the Blessings, co-founders of the brand, but the magic isn’t just in the liquid (which, like Frank’s Red Hot, I put that sh*t on everything!), it’s in the mission. This SKU is only available via All the Bitter’s website and at non-alcoholic bottle shops nationwide — which you can find via my global map of alcohol-free and NA-friendly establishments. You can’t get it at a big box store or Amazon (ATB actually pulled their whole inventory from Amazon); it’s meant to be a love letter to the indie businesses that drive this industry forward through education, 1:1 attention and community.

Athletic Brewing – Lodge Life

(Photo: Athletic Brewing Co.)

This campfire in a can is like a liquid s’more, and is only 90 calories for the whole treat. You get cinnamon, you get vanilla, you get cacao nibs – and of course, you get the malt and yeast promised by a non-alc brew. I truly believe stouts can be enjoyed throughout the year – not just during colder months – but if you’re unfamiliar with this type of brew, settle in by the fire. Stouts are traditionally dark beers (although I’ve heard of white stouts, and that’s another deep dive for another day) and often have a heavier mouthfeel/viscosity than their lighter counterparts (e.g. like ales, IPAs or sours, say).

Sylva – Orchard

(Photo: Sylva)

This is the only beverage on my list I haven’t tried yet. Sylva Labs is the brainchild of Ben Branson, founder of Seedlip and grandfather of the modern NA beverage movement. Sylva’s previous release, Padauk, is the company’s second foray into a dark sippable spirit achieved through the sonic ageing of a variety of woods. If you need me to repeat that, I will, because WTF!? Sylva uses ultrasound, along with heat, oxygen and pressure to age its liquids, extracting flavor, character and color from the woods sourced per expression. Orchard is what you’d expect, at least on paper – wood from apple, plum and cherry trees to create a smoky, lightly fruited sweetness. I wonder what would happen if I sang to my glass…

Babylonstoren – bitterrlekker

(Photo: Babylonstoren)

What is bitterlekker? It means “extremely delicious and pleasant” in Afrikaans, and this South African non-alc Aperol-like spritz does not disappoint. You’ve got the bitter orange peel, of course, and some South African honeybush tea – from the farms in South Africa (cue the Out of Africa John Barry score) that blend together to create a beautiful symphony in a little glass bottle. I’m obsessed. Spritzes, like stouts, are also year-round affairs. Cheers!

Tomorrow Cellars – Red Blend

(Photo: Tomorrow Cellars)

A lot of people say that non-alc red wine is the hardest to get right, and I’m inclined to agree. But this sub-category has come a long, long way. Enter Tomorrow Cellars’ 2023 Red Blend. What I dislike about many reds is the immediate dry mouth and weird tongue wringing that I find myself doing post-first or second sip. Not so with this one. There’s a super secret botanical blend in this wine that balances all the notes out. You’re left with a lighter-bodied red that’s got delightful oak, berry and cocoa notes.