When Carbonation Is Off the Table — Here's What You Can Actually Drink
Updated: Aug 24
A medication I was on a while back came with a side effect nobody warned me about. Anything carbonated — wine, sparkling water, a sip of someone's soda — tasted like I was drinking battery acid. Not an exaggeration. The carbonation turned every sip into something genuinely undrinkable, like something had gone rancid in my mouth before I could even swallow.
I stood at a bar one evening and realized I had almost nothing to order. Vodka lemonade. Vodka cranberry. Malibu and pineapple. That was essentially the entire list. Everything else — every canned cocktail, every hard seltzer, every sparkling option, was off the table.
What I did not know at the time is that I was not alone. Not even close.
More People Are in This Situation Than You Think
Carbonation becomes off limits for a lot of people for a lot of different reasons and almost nobody talks about it openly.
Certain medications affect the way carbonation tastes, turning what should be refreshing into something genuinely unpleasant and undrinkable. People who have had bariatric surgery are often advised to avoid carbonation entirely because the gas can cause serious discomfort and complications after surgery. People recovering from throat cancer or throat surgery, like my brother, may find carbonation painful or impossible to tolerate. And people with chronic acid reflux or GERD often find that carbonation triggers symptoms that make every sip miserable.
If any of those situations describe you or someone you love, this post is for you. Because the options are so much better right now than they were even two years ago, and most people have no idea.
The Good News — The Market Just Changed
Here is something genuinely exciting if you have been struggling to find non-carbonated options: the non-carbonated drinks market has exploded recently, with ready-to-drink premixed cocktails seeing volume grow over 46% fueled by brands like Surfside, BuzzBallz, and Cutwater Spirits.
Surfside's co-founder put it plainly, there was huge pent-up demand for non-carbonated options since there were very few out there, especially in a ready to drink format. The market heard that and responded. What was nearly impossible to find a few years ago is now sitting on the shelf at your local liquor store, grocery store, and even stadium concession stands.
The era of your only choices being vodka lemonade or going home is officially over.
The Best Non-Carbonated Canned Drinks Available Right Now
Surfside Iced Tea and Vodka — The One Everyone Is Talking About
If you have not heard of Surfside yet you are about to become a fan. Surfside is made with vodka, real tea, real juice, has only 100 calories, 2 grams of sugar and zero bubbles. It comes in iced tea, peach tea, lemonade, strawberry lemonade, and half and half varieties.
In a world dominated by hard seltzers and their endless bubbles, Surfside emerged as the refreshing option that dares to be different — a smooth, flat cocktail that prioritizes flavor over carbonation. It is widely available at Total Wine, grocery stores, and liquor stores nationwide. This is the one to try first if you have never explored non-carbonated canned drinks.
Good Boy Vodka John Daly Cocktail — The One That Surprised Me
I tried this one recently and I cannot stop thinking about it. Good Boy Vodka partnered with PGA golf legend John Daly to create the official John Daly Cocktail — a perfectly balanced blend of iced tea, lemonade, and vodka with zero carbonation, zero sugar, zero carbs, and only 95 calories.
It comes in Blackberry, Raspberry, and Peach varieties and the variety pack gives you a chance to try all three. If you know your Arnold Palmers — iced tea and lemonade — this is the adult version, and it is genuinely phenomenal. The fact that it has zero carbonation makes it stand out immediately in a market dominated by hard seltzers and sparkling everything.
But here is what makes this one even better than the drink itself. Good Boy Vodka's tagline is Every Pour Helps a Pup, and they mean it. A portion of every purchase goes directly to The Good Boy Foundation, a 100% non-profit organization that supports American veterans, military K9 dogs, retired warrior dogs, rescue organizations, and animal shelters nationwide. They also support women's health and breast cancer research. Zero salaries taken from the foundation — every dollar goes directly to the cause.
A non-carbonated canned cocktail that tastes phenomenal AND gives back to veterans and their dogs? That is an easy yes.
You will not need to look far for these as they have become extremely popular recently, in addition to Total Wine and most major liquor retailers, they are now showing up in local grocery stores alongside the usual beer and wine options. Look for the John Daly variety specifically — Good Boy also makes versions without the iced tea mix but the tea is what balances the sweetness and makes them so drinkable. Trust me on that one.
Cutwater Spirits Canned Cocktails
Cutwater makes a wide range of canned cocktails and several of their most popular options are completely non-carbonated. Their White Russian is a standout — creamy, boozy, and smooth without being too sweet. Their canned Margarita is also non-carbonated and genuinely tastes like a real margarita, not a sugary mixer. Look for the non-carbonated varieties specifically as they make both.
BuzzBallz Pre-Mixed Cocktails
BuzzBallz are small round pre-mixed cocktails that have been around since 2009 and are completely non-carbonated. They come in a wide range of flavors — margarita, strawberry 'rita, watermelon smash, and more. They are fun, portable, and easy to find at most liquor stores.
Sun Cruiser
Sun Cruiser launched in 2024 as a direct competitor to Surfside and is also completely non-carbonated. Made with vodka and iced tea, it is smooth, light, and easy drinking — another great option if Surfside is not available in your area.
Canned Wine — Still Varieties
Canned wine has become genuinely good and the still, meaning non-sparkling, varieties are widely available. You can find everything from crisp Pinot Grigio to smooth Pinot Noir in convenient single serving cans, perfect for picnics or places where a glass bottle is not practical. Underwood is one of the most respected brands in this space and their still wines are worth seeking out.
Canned Espresso Martini
Tip Top makes a canned Espresso Martini that is non-carbonated, creamy, boozy, and genuinely impressive for something that comes in a can. If you are a cocktail person who misses having interesting options this one is worth finding.
Make It Yourself — The Best Non-Carbonated Cocktails
Sometimes the easiest solution is making your own. Here are the combinations that work beautifully without a single bubble:
Vodka and lemonade — the classic that never fails. Fresh squeezed if you can manage it, good quality lemonade if you cannot. Add a sprig of mint and a slice of lemon and it looks as good as it tastes.
Malibu and pineapple or orange juice— sweet, tropical, and completely carbonation free. One of the best poolside drinks that exists and nobody ever gets tired of it.
Vodka cranberry — simple, reliable, and always available at any bar when you are ordering out. Ask for it specifically and you will never be stuck again.
The orange cream cocktail — orange vodka, orange juice, and a splash of cream or half and half over ice. It tastes like an adult orange creamsicle, and nobody sees it coming. Make it as a big batch in a drink dispenser for a party and become an instant legend. Swap regular vodka for whipped cream vodka and add a splash of Triple Sec for the full creamsicle experience. If making in a drink dispenser I always throw in a few rings of oranges as well.
Sangria — red wine, orange juice, a splash of brandy, fresh fruit, and a little simple syrup. Make it the night before so the fruit has time to steep. Zero carbonation, completely stunning in a pitcher, and it travels beautifully to any gathering.
Margarita on the rocks — tequila, lime juice, triple sec, and a salted rim. The classic version has no carbonation at all. Order it on the rocks at any bar and you are completely covered.
Moscow Mule without the ginger beer — this sounds like a contradiction but swap the ginger beer for ginger juice or a non-carbonated ginger lemonade and you have all the flavor with none of the fizz.
What to Order at a Bar or Restaurant
This is where it gets tricky because most cocktail menus are built around mixers that are carbonated — sodas, sparkling water, ginger beer, hard seltzers. Here is what to look for and what to ask:
Ask for any spirit mixed with juice instead of a soda mixer. Vodka with cranberry, orange, pineapple, or grapefruit juice. Rum with pineapple or orange juice. Tequila with lime and agave for a simple on the rocks margarita.
Wine by the glass is always a safe option, just make sure to specify still wine not sparkling if they offer both.
Ask your server directly if you are unsure, most bartenders are completely comfortable accommodating this and will not blink at the request. "No carbonation please" is all you need to say.
The Bloody Mary — Wisconsin's Favorite Non-Carbonated Cocktail
If you live in Wisconsin you already know that the bloody mary is not just a drink — it is an event. And the good news for anyone avoiding carbonation is that a classic bloody mary is completely carbonation free.
Tomato juice, vodka, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, horseradish, lemon juice, and whatever seasoning your favorite bar puts in their mix. Zero bubbles. Maximum flavor. And in Wisconsin, maximum everything else too.
Our bars have turned the bloody mary into an art form that goes well beyond the drink itself. Green olives, Brussels sprouts, pickled mushrooms, sausage sticks, cheese curds, and if you are really lucky — a small pork sandwich on a skewer balancing on top of the whole glorious thing. At that point you barely need lunch.
The one traditional pairing you may need to skip is the beer chaser. A small cold beer alongside a bloody mary is a Wisconsin tradition but carbonation makes that impossible for some people. The good news — Surfside iced tea vodka alongside your bloody mary is actually a surprisingly perfect pairing. Same casual morning energy, zero bubbles, and it keeps the celebration going without the fizz.
Wisconsin bloody mary bar hops are one of my favorite things in the world and I am very happy to report they remain completely on the table regardless of your carbonation situation.
A Note for Those Managing Medical Restrictions
If you are avoiding carbonation because of a medical reason — surgery, medication, a health condition, or recovery — it is always worth checking with your doctor about alcohol consumption in general alongside your specific restriction. This post is about finding enjoyable options that work for your situation, not medical advice.
And if you are the host of a gathering and you know someone in your group cannot have carbonation, having a bottle of Surfside in the cooler or a pitcher of sangria on the table alongside the sparkling options is one of the most thoughtful things you can do. They will notice. They will remember.
The Bottom Line
A few years ago standing at a bar without carbonation meant standing there with almost nothing to choose from. That has changed dramatically and it is only getting better.
Surfside. BuzzBallz. Cutwater. Canned still wine. A homemade orange cream cocktail in a beautiful glass dispenser. The options are real, they are good, and they are finally easy to find.
You do not have to choose between enjoying a drink and feeling comfortable. Not anymore.
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