A toast to health: One Veteran swaps cocktails for mocktails

If you’d like to wake up feeling more refreshed, full of energy and ready to tackle the day, consider trying mocktails instead of cocktails. A mocktail is a drink that contains no alcohol but resembles drinks that do.

A drink might seem like an easy way to unwind, but Cathy, a Veteran who uses the New Mexico VA Health Care System, did not realize the negative effects of drinking four cocktails per night.

Cathy’s VA care team identified her drinking as a likely cause for her sleep problems and irregular eating schedule. By replacing some cocktails with mocktails made using non-alcoholic ingredients, Cathy experienced improved sleep, which in turn helped her eat on a regular schedule. Eating regularly improved her blood sugar, cholesterol and hormonal cycles.

The benefits of drinking less

For Cathy and many others, making the switch from cocktails to mocktails can be life changing, with far reaching positive effects.  

Over the past decade, more than one in four Veterans consumed alcohol at levels that risked their health and well-being. Too much alcohol can lead to mental health disorders, relationship difficulties and long-term physical health issues. Current research suggests that drinking even one to two drinks per day is linked with increased risk of several chronic health conditions.  

Reducing alcohol consumption can improve sleep quality, increase energy levels, lower the risk of various forms of cancer and improve mood stability. As Cathy discovered, these positive changes contribute over time to a healthier and more fulfilling life.

Easy, tasty mocktail ideas

There are many different mocktail recipes and non-alcoholic wines, spirits and seltzers to choose from. The Healthy Teaching Kitchen page features delicious alternatives to alcoholic drinks, like this blueberry kombucha spritzer.

Here are some other simple mocktail recipes to try:

• Virgin Mojito: Combine 10 fresh mint leaves, juice from 1 lime, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1 cup of sparkling water.
• Cucumber Cooler: Blend half a sliced cucumber with one-fourth cup of lime juice, a touch of honey, and 1 cup of sparkling water.
• Non-Alcoholic Sangria: Combine 1 cup orange juice, 1 cup grape juice and a half-cup pomegranate juice with fresh thin slices of apple, orange and lemon, and add 2 cups of sparkling water.

More help

Some Veterans may need more support as they try to drink less. If you or a Veteran you know is experiencing harms related to alcohol use, VA offers a range of services from outpatient treatment to inpatient residential programs.

VA’s online Alcohol and Drug Education course has more information on substance use and treatment. To learn more about programs near you, contact the mental health department at your local VA.

By choosing to raise a glass of a tasty and healthy non-alcoholic drink and accepting help when needed, Veterans can lead healthier lives.

If you’re interested in learning more about nutrition-related topics, contact your local VA nutrition department to speak to a registered dietitian. Cheers to making positive choices!