How to Get a Buzz Without Alcohol: What Kava, Caffeine and Adaptogens Actually Do
What each buzz-drink ingredient does, from kava to caffeine to adaptogens and hemp, what the research says, and who should skip them.
A “buzz drink” is a non-alcoholic drink made with an ingredient meant to change how you feel: kava to relax, caffeine to lift, L-theanine or adaptogens for a calmer edge, hemp extract for some. None of them feels like alcohol, and they vary a lot in how much you’ll notice. Here is what each one does, what the research says, and who should skip them.
- STARTFunctional non-alcoholic drinks: where to start
- INGRED.Adaptogen drinks explained
- FEELBuzz drinks without alcohol · you are here
- BRANDThree Spirit’s three elixirs compared
The short version
Our reading of the research, not a score from any agency. How strongly you notice an ingredient depends on the amount and on you.
Where to start, by the feeling you want
Relax
A kava drink, such as Leilo Kava Moscow Mule: kava plus L-theanine, 0.0%, in a can.
Lift
A caffeinated botanical, such as Three Spirit Livener, made with guayusa leaf, ginseng and schisandra.
Social
Three Spirit Social Elixir blends damiana, lion’s mane, yerba mate and cacao. It has caffeine from mate and green tea.
Calm
Aplós Ease pairs L-theanine with lion’s mane and magnesium, for a quieter evening drink.
- 0.0%
- 0.0 g sugar per 100 mL
- 0.0%
- 20.0 g sugar per 100 mL
- 0.0%
- 10.0 g sugar per 100 mL
Every functional drink we carry, filtered by ingredient, is on our functional shelf.
Kava: the closest thing to a buzz
Kava is a root from the South Pacific, in the pepper family, traditionally drunk in social settings. Of the common buzz-drink ingredients, it’s the one people most often describe as noticeably relaxing. According to the NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health:
- Anxiety: “Kava supplements may be helpful for anxiety, but they may need to be taken for several weeks to produce an effect.”
- Liver: “Various kava products have been linked to rare cases of liver injury, some of which have been serious or even fatal.”
- Don’t combine: “Kava should not be used together with other substances that have sedative effects, such as benzodiazepines or alcohol.”
- Side effects: Digestive upset, headache and dizziness; ask your doctor first if you take any medicine.
So a kava drink is a replacement for a drink, not something to have alongside one.
Caffeine: a lift, not a buzz
Many “uplifting” functional drinks get their kick from caffeine-bearing plants: guayusa, yerba mate, green or black tea, kola nut, coffee cherry. The FDA cites 400 milligrams a day as an amount not generally associated with negative effects for most adults, and asks anyone pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding to talk to their provider about limits. Added caffeine must appear in the ingredient list; caffeine that comes naturally from an ingredient may not, so check the plant names too.
Calm and focus: L-theanine and adaptogens
L-theanine, an amino acid from tea, and adaptogens such as ashwagandha, rhodiola, reishi and lion’s mane are the most common “calm” ingredients. The research is small, mostly at supplement doses taken for weeks, and many drinks carry less or don’t say how much. Our guide to adaptogen drinks goes through each ingredient, the studies and the amounts.
Hemp extract and CBD
Some functional spirits, such as Aplós Calme, use broad-spectrum hemp extract. The FDA notes that CBD can cause drowsiness, can affect how other medicines work, and that using it “with alcohol or other drugs that slow brain activity increases the risk of sedation and drowsiness.” Laws on hemp drinks also vary by state. If you take any medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist first.
Can non-alcoholic beer or wine give you a buzz?
No. In the US, non-alcoholic means under 0.5% alcohol, so a 12-ounce can holds at most about 1.4 grams of alcohol. A standard drink is 14 grams, so you’d need about ten cans to take in what’s in one regular beer, and your body clears alcohol as you go. If you’re worried about a test rather than a buzz, see will non-alcoholic beer show up on a breathalyzer?
Who should skip them
Pregnant or breastfeeding
Kava, CBD and many botanicals haven’t been shown to be safe in pregnancy; the NIH flags special risks for kava. Our pregnancy guide covers drinks labeled 0.0% instead.
On medication
Kava and CBD can both interact with medicines, and some botanicals do too. Ask a doctor or pharmacist first.
Driving or drinking
Don’t combine kava or hemp drinks with alcohol or sedatives, and see how one affects you before you drive.
Liver concerns
Kava has been linked to rare liver injury, and the FDA says CBD can cause liver injury too.
How to try one
- Start with one serving, on its own, and give it an hour.
- Read the label for amounts: a drink that names each ingredient and how much tells you more than “calm blend”.
- Pick the feeling first: kava to relax, caffeine to lift, L-theanine for calm.
- Treat it like a drink, not a supplement: one or two, for the taste and the ritual.
Common questions
How can I get a buzz without alcohol?
Functional drinks are the usual route. Kava gives the most noticeable relaxed feeling, caffeine-bearing plants like guayusa and yerba mate give a lift, and L-theanine or adaptogens are subtler. None feels like alcohol. Start with one serving and see how it affects you.
What is a buzz drink?
A buzz drink is a non-alcoholic drink made with an ingredient meant to change how you feel, such as kava, caffeine, L-theanine, adaptogens or hemp extract. They're sold as alternatives to a social drink, in cans, bottled spirits and sparkling wines.
How many non-alcoholic beers does it take to get a buzz?
You won't get a buzz from non-alcoholic beer. At under 0.5% alcohol, a 12-ounce can holds at most about 1.4 grams of alcohol, a tenth of a standard drink, and your body clears it as you drink.
Is kava safe?
The NIH says kava may help with anxiety over several weeks, but that kava products have been linked to rare cases of liver injury, some serious. Don't combine it with alcohol or sedatives, and avoid it in pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Ask your doctor if you take any medicine.
