Non-Alcoholic Spirits
0% alcohol-free gin, rum, and other spirit alternatives are safe during pregnancy, as long as the label genuinely confirms 0.0% ABV.
Last updated: October 2026 Cross-checked against NHS guidance
Non-alcoholic spirits — alcohol-free gin, rum, whisky, and similar alternatives designed to be mixed the same way as the real thing — have grown a lot as a category, and genuinely 0.0% ABV versions are safe to drink freely during pregnancy, the same as any other alcohol-free drink. The one thing worth checking is the label rather than assuming: some drinks marketed as 'alcohol-free' or 'low alcohol' actually contain a small residual amount, typically under 0.5% ABV, which is generally considered negligible and fine during pregnancy but worth knowing if you want to avoid alcohol completely rather than just mostly. Genuinely 0.0% products exist specifically for this reason and are clearly labelled as such. Beyond the alcohol content itself, there's nothing else to be cautious about — these are flavoured, often botanical-based drinks with no pregnancy-specific risk.
What to be aware of
- Check the label specifically for '0.0%' rather than assuming 'alcohol-free' always means zero — some products contain up to 0.5%.
- 0.0% ABV products are safe to drink freely during pregnancy.
- If you want to avoid even trace alcohol, look specifically for products labelled 0.0%.
US guidance
US guidance follows the same approach — genuinely alcohol-free products are fine, with the same caveat about checking for trace alcohol in some 'non-alcoholic' labelling.