This post is all about finding vegan alcohol in supermarkets or pubs/bars.
**Please only drink if you’re over the legal drinking age and be mindful in the comments that some people choose to drink alcohol and some don’t.
Where To Start
It’s a learning process after all and you’ll get better at picking the right ones over time just like with buying more plant-based food.
I still make mistakes. Sometimes recipes change and we don’t realise. Or you don’t have access to the internet to check. And it could be that the only certified vegan alcohol available is wayyyy out of budget so then it’s up to you whether you want to get a different one that is not certified.
Personally I would say that it’s about making the right choice for you at this moment and your own circumstances. Don’t compare to others because you have different circumstances to them. Whether that be financial, location-wise etc.
Try not to be disheartened if you’re finding this hard or if it seems like the only labelled ones are out of your budget.
Why Wouldn’t Alcohol Be Vegan?
Also, annoyingly some production processes mean some alcohols such as beers are [Ve] suitable if you buy them in can form but not the keg form etc. And some are vegan in some countries and not others. Just something I thought I’d point out if you want to be a ninja in your vegan alcohol sourcing but try not to let this hurdle get to you too much…
My TOP 6 TIPS For Finding Vegan Alcohol
1. First of all a BIG shoutout to barnivore.com.
Barnivore is the number 1 resource I recommend you use to find out if your alcohol is vegan or not.
It’s super easy to use!
Just search an alcohol eg ‘thatchers haze’ and the website will give you a clear or , as to whether it’s suitable for vegans!
Soon, you’ll learn what is suitable for a vegan lifestyle and what currently isn’t. This makes shopping so much easier in the long term.
2. Clear Spirits
Most clear spirits are vegan. Check them of course but I’ve found that most gins, vodkas etc are fine for vegans.
3. Keep A List
Have a list on your phone notes app of a few well-known brands of cider, wine etc (whatever you usually like to order) on your phone that you know are a
—> So if you are in a rush or can’t get online to check barnivore.com you know a couple of GO TO drinks you can get.
—> My list includes Thatchers cider, and the Brothers flavoured ciders.
4. Check the tinnies.
I’ve found a lot of tinnies (/pre-mixed drinks) are more likely to state whether they are vegan or not! So sometimes worth checking but note they can be a little more spenny than mixing drinks yourself.
5. Ask!
Don’t be afraid to ask the bar staff when you’re ordering. Veganism is becoming ever more popular and so the chances of the staff actually knowing what’s suitable for vegans is much better than it used to be. A lot of the time if they know because someone’s asked before or they have a vegan on their team which is so cool!
6. Take It Step By Step
And lastly, just remember to take each step of your own vegan journey as it comes. When I first went vegan I was pretty much only focussed on the food I was buying for many months.
After I felt comfortable and happy finding
Food
Makeup
Haircare
Cleaning products
and ofc, alcohol
Don’t feel like you need to go 100% vegan overnight and get overwhelmed by how much there is to think about all at the beginning. Be mindful about your purchasing habits. As you learn, you’ll make better choices about how best to spend your pennies.
With that being said, it’s important to try and vote with your £. Buy vegan options whenever possible, create more demand for vegan alcohol options. AND to have them more clearly labelled!
Do Your Best!
Try and learn more about what to buy but don’t be unkind to yourself if you don’t know if something suitable or not or if something I’d put of budget! Just buy with your best knowledge and circumstances in the NOW.
I always buy vegan alcohol if I can see one available but if I’m unsure… I’ll do a quick google or ask. Or to be completely honest guys sometimes I just get a glass of the cheapest and don’t stress over it.
I’d rather be doing my best all the time than be doing my ‘perfect’ and give up very quickly!
Let me know your thoughts on buying vegan alcohols and if you have any go-to brands or bottles that you can recommend in the comments or DM me on my IG @virtually_vegan!