A growing category, several different things
'Alcohol alternative' covers a few genuinely different products: zero-proof mocktails and non-alcoholic beer that contain no active ingredient at all, adaptogen or nootropic drinks that make wellness-style claims, and THC beverages, which are intoxicating in a different way than alcohol. It's worth being clear about which category you're actually choosing from.
Where THC seltzer fits
THC seltzer, like NICE, doesn't contain alcohol at all — it's an alcohol-free, zero-sugar, zero-calorie sparkling water with 5 mg of hemp-derived Delta-9 THC per can. It's chosen by people who want the ritual of a cold can in hand at a social event without alcohol's calories or its effects, but it's still an intoxicating product with its own set of rules.
What's genuinely different from alcohol
No calories, no sugar, no carbs, no sodium, and no alcohol in the can. The effect it produces is also different in kind — it's a cannabinoid effect, not an alcohol effect — and it comes with its own onset window (brand guidance is roughly 15–30 minutes, though this varies and isn't guaranteed) rather than the near-immediate feedback of a drink.
What doesn't change
Choosing a THC drink over a cocktail doesn't make impairment disappear — you still shouldn't drive or operate machinery afterward, and you still shouldn't combine it with alcohol. It's 21+ only, it can produce a positive drug test, and it's not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or without a conversation with a healthcare professional if you're on medication.
Making the switch for an event
If you're hosting and want to offer an alcohol-free option that isn't just soda, a THC seltzer variety pack lets guests try more than one flavor. Keep in mind not everyone will want an intoxicating drink at all — plain sparkling water and true zero-proof options are still worth having on hand alongside it.