This at-home negroni is hangover-free

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What to drink when you're feeling sober curious

Teetotal or trying to cutting down? Stock your drinks trolley with these tipples, and wake up hangover-free

Not just a phase

Dry January has been and gone, but that doesn’t mean our sober curiosity has disappeared. Maybe you relished bouncing out of bed, hangover-free, on a Sunday morning, or maybe your bank account appreciated the break. Research shows nearly half of us are drinking less than we were five years ago, touting a healthier lifestyle and saving money as the main catalysts. Meanwhile, online drinks emporium Master of Malt has noted a whopping 622% increase in sales of alcohol-free spirits since November 2018.

Whether a month off the booze inspired you to go fully teetotal or you’re dabbling with a flexi-approach, these non-alcoholic drinks will keep you in the spirit.

For celebrations

Fortnum’s zero-alcohol sparkling tea – an organic blend of eight of their brews, with hints of lemongrass, water mint and jasmine – is the perfect stand-in for champagne (yes, really). Serve in these Anthropologie flutes, which nail the s/s 2020 trend for splashes of ethereal colour. £16.95, Fortnum & Mason

For cocktails

These non-alcoholic Negroni Spritz sodas by Square Root contain fresh fruit, gentle spices and no artificial additives. Best served over ice with a slice of fragrant orange rind – preferably in one of these Graham & Green glasses, made by a youth charity project in Zanzibar using old wine bottles. £1.80 per 200ml bottle, Square Root

For food pairing

Zero-proof spirit Nine Elms No.18 is designed to complement food without trying to emulate booze. Serve it as a straight pour, or work the berry-botanical flavours into a cocktail: it’s served with almond and lime at The Standard hotel in King’s Cross. Mix with a splash of William Fox Almond Syrup and a squeeze of fresh lime to recreate the taste at home. £19.95, Master of Malt

For book club

Jukes Cordialities’ premium cordials are created by a professional wine taster who wanted to emulate the mouth-feel and aftertaste of a fine wine, without the alcohol content. Find them on the menu at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, where master sommelier Stefan Neumann mixes London Essence Co’s juniper-infused tonic with Jukes 1 and 6. £35 for 9 x 30ml bottles, Jukes Cordialities

For gin season

With spring on the horizon, it would be blasphemous not to include a no-alcohol gin substitute. Strykk’s 100% natural Not Gin contains coriander, sage, basil and juniper, and is served at The Book Club in Shoreditch with tonic, plum, sage and ginger. Make your own version with a sprig of fresh sage, tonic water and a generous splash of Belvoir Ginger Cordial. £18.99, Strykk

For beer cravings

Beer more your thing? Lucky Saint’s 0.5% unfiltered lager isn’t completely alcohol-free, but it’s the best no-hangover beer we’ve tasted. With a brewing process that was two years in the making, it’s a favourite of Stylist’s food editor Jenny. Drink from LSA International’s tinted craft beer goblets, made from 100% recycled glass. £25 for 12 x 330ml bottles, Lucky Saint

Experience life in another country with three new books exploring women’s stories

Set in modern Hong Kong, Second Sister by Chan Ho-Kei (out today) is a gripping mystery: the novel’s heroine, Nga-Yee, sets out to uncover the truth after her younger sister dies unexpectedly, while the Marian Keyes-approved Big Girl, Small Town by Michelle Gallen is similarly adept at capturing life in contemporary Northern Ireland. Out Thursday, it follows Majella, whose father vanished during the Troubles and who never plans on leaving her small town.

Prefer non-fiction? In Sex and Lies, also out Thursday, acclaimed Lullaby author Leïla Slimani shares the stories of young Moroccan women grappling with a culture that both condemns and commodifies sex. Powerful, subtle and thought-provoking.

Boobs and love handles are taking over the interior design world – and we couldn’t be happier about it

The female form has been inspiring art for centuries, from ancient Greek statues of bare-breasted goddesses to paintings of bountiful-hipped ladies during the Renaissance period. Now some of the most influential brands in the business are celebrating women’s curves and edges, in the form of statement interior pieces and artwork. We love this ingenious water-resistant paper vase by Barcelona brand Octaevo (£16.25) – see more beautifully body-positive homewares here.

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