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NO BOOZE? NO PROBLEM. Wine’s easy. But not everyone’s drinking. What do you give instead?

ended 25. November 2025

More people are going alcohol-free these days.

Health. Religion. Just don’t want to. All valid.

But wine’s still the go-to gift because it’s cheap and simple.

If you’ve stopped giving booze or found something better, what are you giving instead?

What’s a decent swap that still feels like a treat and won’t leave anyone out?

I’m writing a piece for small business owners with practical gift ideas they can give to employees, clients, suppliers — stuff that’s affordable and won’t miss the mark.

Got a sec? Hit reply with your answers to any of these:

  • What’s your go-to alcohol-free gift under £10?
  • Have you ever got a non-boozy gift that stuck with you?
  • Do you still give wine or have you changed it up?
  • Know any small businesses doing great giftable stuff?
  • What would you actually like to get from a client or your boss?

No pressure, just looking for some real ideas from real people. Shout if you’ve got one.

7 responses from the Newspage community

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Kate UnderwoodVerified
Founder & Chief People Strategist at Kate Underwood HR and Training
Our clients always ask us for gift ideas, especially now wine doesn’t work for everyone. More people aren’t drinking and it started to feel a bit lazy.

One of our favourite swaps has been gingerbread people with decorating kits. We get a local small biz to bake them and include dairy-free, gluten-free and nut-free options so everyone’s included. Fun, simple and actually gets used. Way better than another branded notebook.

We’ve also done hot choc kits, candles, good coffee – small treats from other indies that feel thoughtful but won’t break the bank.

Last year, we donated the money we’d usually spend on client and supplier gifts to a local food bank. We told everyone what we were doing, and a few even matched the donation. People appreciated being part of something that did a bit of good.

Sometimes the gift of giving beats another tin of shortbread.
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Kate AllenVerified
Owner at Finest Stays
Any gift you secretly want for yourself is usually a guaranteed winner. One of the best non-alcoholic presents I’ve given recently was a bottle of extra virgin olive oil in a beautiful ceramic jug. The hand-painted, splash-design jug was snazzy enough to be a piece of interior décor on its own, and filling it with something as universally loved as olive oil made it an instant hit. I actually went back the next day to buy one for myself.

Personally, I love receiving delicious foodie treats: savoury nibbles to share with house guests, or chocolates to scoff entirely on my own when no one is looking.
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Sarah GatfordVerified
The Positivity Pathfinder - Head of Interactions at Sarah Gatford Ltd
There's still this default assumption that alcohol = celebration or appreciation, and it misses a lot of people.
For me? Booja Booja chocolate. It's luxe, it's thoughtful, and it works for people with dietary restrictions (I'm Coeliac and dairy intolerant, so most foodie gifts are a minefield).
When someone gives a gift that's actually usable for you, rather than something you have to smile through and pass on, it lands differently. It says they've thought about it.
I think the shift isn't just about going alcohol-free. It's about moving away from one-size-fits-all gifts altogether. Chocolate, nice tea, a small plant, a voucher for a local coffee shop are all solid options that feel personal without being complicated.
The best gift I've had from a client? A handwritten note and a gluten and dairy-free cake. The gift itself was lovely, but what really mattered was that someone had noticed. They'd clocked what I could and couldn't have and gifted accordingly!
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Oli GarnettVerified
Co-Founder at Something Familiar.
My go-to alcohol-free gift is a Leatherman. Not because anyone needs to open a tin of beans at their desk, but because have you seen the news. Wine feels pointless when the world is held together by hope, zip ties and whoever resigns next. A multi-tool at least admits the situation. It says, things are getting weird out there, here is something practical for when the lights flicker or the government collapses again by lunchtime. Forget posh chocolates. Give people something they can actually use when the end is nigh vibe kicks in. That is a real gift.
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Dr Marianne TrentVerified
Clinical Psychologist at Good Thinking Psychology
I’ve never been a big drinker, and in spring 2024 I began a sober-curious journey that eventually led me to becoming tee-total in summer 2025. Because of that and because so many people have a complex relationship with alcohol I’ve never used it as a gift. Framing alcohol as a ‘treat’ can be more complicated than we realise.
For low-value gifts, I tend to choose things that feel thoughtful but neutral. My go-tos are a small box of chocolates from Hotel Chocolat or a scented votive candle from somewhere like The White Company. They feel like treats hopefully without accidentally treading on anyone’s toes.
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Kathryn Read
Business consultant at Kathryn Read Consulting
Some really nice chocolate from a company like Freedom Chocolate or the Chocolate Smiths, or a customised Christmas cookie from someone like Cookie Doodle Doo usually goes down well and isn't in conflict with any compliance regulations..
context is everything though - how personalised am I able to get? How well do I know my clients and their tastes (or allergies)
One year (because I work with Asia a lot) I gave all my clients Chinese tea, or a "phin" and small pack of Vietnamese coffee.
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Patricia McGirrVerified
Founder at Repossession Rescue Network
Wine is the default gift because it is easy, not thoughtful, and that is exactly why it misses the mark for anyone who no longer drinks. Small businesses can do better without spending more.

My go-to under £10 is good quality coffee, a posh hot chocolate or a small-batch candle. All feel like a treat, and none risk awkwardness. The best non-boozy gift I ever received was a tiny plant. It lasted longer than any bottle and actually brightened my desk during a grim week.

If you want to support small businesses, look at local soap makers, refill shops, stationery creators, and independents selling gourmet snacks. These make great client and supplier gifts as well, especially when budgets are tight.