The best non-alcoholic drinks for an event in India are the ones with actual personality. Kombucha, shrub sodas, ginger ale, a proper mocktail. Something people are happy to hold and sip, not just a flat soft drink. They are perfect for sober-curious guests, mixed-age rooms, daytime do's, and the kind of game night or office party where alcohol simply does not fit. We have seen this work up close, most recently at a rom-com game show run by The Abstract Room.

Last updated: July 2026

Why non-alcoholic drinks are suddenly the move

Hosts are catching up to a real shift. India's non-alcoholic drinks market reached about 34.7 billion dollars in 2025 and is growing faster than alcohol, and zero-proof drinks now make up 15 to 20 percent of sales at some premium restaurants. Younger, sober-curious guests want the ritual of a drink without the alcohol, which is why more and more community events are partnering with fermented-drink brands instead of stocking a bar.

The night that proved it: The Abstract Room at goStops

Here is a good example. The Abstract Room, the cinema-and-literature community founded by Sankalp Sharma during the pandemic, threw its Rom-Com Game Show at goStops Indiranagar, and we were the drink of the night. The Abstract Room started as an online space for film and book lovers and has since grown to thousands of members across more than a dozen countries, so its crowd is exactly the curious, up-for-it kind that does not need alcohol to have a good time.

goStops has a lovely backstory of its own. It is India's largest backpacker hostel chain, built by Pallavi Agarwal and her husband Pankaj Parwanda from a single hostel in Varanasi back in 2014. Put a culture-first community and a traveller-first space in one room, hand everyone a kombucha instead of a beer, and the night stays sharp, chatty and genuinely game for the games. That is the whole case for sober events, in one evening.

What makes a good alcohol-free event drink?

• Flavour and a bit of complexity. Kombucha and shrub sodas have the tang and depth that flat soft drinks just do not.
• It looks the part. A nice bottle in hand keeps the social ritual fully intact.
• It includes everyone. Works for all ages, designated drivers, pregnant guests and anyone who simply does not drink.
• Low sugar, clean label. People read labels now, and they notice.

What to serve, and when

Occasion	Reach for	Why
Game night or quiz	Kombucha variety pack	Fun to compare flavours, keeps the energy up
Daytime or picnic	Soduh shrub sodas	Bright, refreshing, low in sugar
Dinner or food pairing	Ginger ale or Imli Pop	Cuts through rich food
Office or mixed crowd	A bit of all three	Something for everyone, no alcohol politics

How much should I plan per guest?

A safe rule is two to three bottles per guest for a two to three hour event, with at least three flavours so people get to choose. Variety packs make this easy. For something bigger or recurring, we handle bulk and B2B orders too, so reach us on Instagram or at hello@localfermentco.in.

Where to order for an event

Order variety packs and singles from localfermentco.in for pan-India delivery, or grab last-minute stock on Instamart and Zepto across 40+ cities.

A few quick questions we get

What can I serve instead of alcohol at a party? Kombucha, shrub sodas, ginger ale and craft mocktails. Drinks with real flavour that keep the ritual without the alcohol.

Are these good for office events? Yes, they include everyone and skip the awkwardness of serving alcohol at work.

Can Local Ferment Co supply events in bulk? Yes, we take bulk and B2B orders. Reach us on Instagram or by email.