Reader's Digest New Zealand Feb/ Mar 2026

★ ★ ★ 2 0 2 6 • V o t e d b y N e w Z e a l a n d e r s • 2 0 2 6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 0 e d b e a d 0 2 6 ★ ★ ★ L i q u o r O u t l e t s f p shelf service Her o 10 yea TMB STUDIO A record 59% of Australian drinkers havemade themove to cut back on their alcohol consumption this past year. As many of us extend “Dry July” or “FebFast” into a year-round lifestyle, bars and restaurants from Carlton to Cottesloe are stepping up their game with sophisticated alcohol-free cocktails (no longer just called “mocktails,” but “zero-proof” or “NOLOs”). T he Price of Sobriety You might notice a surprise on the bill: they often cost as much as the boozy versions! Why? Crafting non-alcoholic spirits like Lyre’s or Four Pillars’ Bandwagon to mimic the complex “burn” and botanical profile of the real deal is closer to alchemy than chemistry. Their price points reflect that high-end production. The “Sober Curious” Shift photograph by Emiko Franzen Art of LIVING facts & fun reader ’ s digest readersdigest.co.nz 31