AFNA Spirits Certified Course

Non-alcoholic spirits and zero-proof cocktails have earned a place on serious cocktail menus, and guests expect the bartender to know them as well as the gin and whiskey on the back bar. AFNA Spirits Certified, developed by AFicioNAdo and taught by Derek Brown, is the world's first professional training for adult non-alcoholic (ANA) spirits and cocktails.

Derek is the author of Mindful Mixology: A Comprehensive Guide to No- and Low-Alcohol Cocktails and the founder of Drink Company. The course gives bartenders, bar managers, retailers, and spirits reps the depth to buy, build, sell, and serve the category with real authority.

Why the category needs trained staff

About 37% of consumers drink non-alcoholic cocktails at least once a week, yet only about 20% of operators run a structured program for them. Much of that gap comes down to knowledge: which bottles work in which drinks, how to price them, and how to serve them without putting a guest at risk.

What the labels can and cannot say

In the United States, most products sold as non-alcoholic spirits sit below 0.5% ABV, so the FDA regulates them as foods and the TTB rules for distilled spirits do not apply. That shapes what goes on the bottle and what you can write on your menu.

• Non-alcoholic is permitted below 0.5% ABV, even where trace alcohol is present.

• Alcohol-free and 0.0 are reserved for products with no detectable alcohol, so a distilled non-alcoholic spirit cannot use them.

• Export markets are stricter. The EU reserves "gin" for spirits at 37.5% ABV or above, and the UK caps "alcohol free" at 0.05% ABV.

The course also covers menu writing, from putting borrowed category names in quotation marks to avoiding health claims that invite FDA and FTC review.

What you will learn

• History of ANA spirits: from ancient perfumers and Brunschwig's 1500 distillation manual to the modern category opened by ArKay and Seedlip

• Production: analog, creative, and functional spirits, and how hydrosol distillation, de-alcoholization, fermentation, and compounding rebuild body and shelf life without alcohol

• Market, labeling, and regulation: market size, growth drivers, and U.S. and international labeling rules

• History of non-alcoholic cocktails: from the 1798 London "cock-tail" to Jerry Thomas's Soda Cocktail and today's award-winning zero-proof bars

• Making non-alcoholic cocktails: the four sensory pillars of intensity, piquancy, texture, and length, and how to adjust classic specs

• Market and service: the four-drink menu rule, pricing like a cocktail, and allergen-level service protocols

• Mindful drinking: the 2025 to 2030 Dietary Guidelines, and how to treat Dry January and Sober October as chances to win new guests

How the course works

Online and self-paced across seven chapters, with Derek Brown narrating key lessons. Each chapter includes flashcards and practice questions, and you certify by scoring 80% or better on the final exam, with two attempts. When you pass you earn a lifetime AFNA Spirits Certified credential with no renewal fees, an official digital certificate, a lapel pin, and access to the AFNA graduate community.

For operators, seats can be assigned across a bar team or a store roster from a company account, with completion tracked alongside your compliance and brand training.

AFNA Spirits Certified FAQ

Who is this course for?

Bartenders, bar and beverage managers, cocktail program leads, retailers, and spirits reps who want authoritative knowledge of non-alcoholic spirits and cocktails.

Who teaches it?

Derek Brown, author of Mindful Mixology and founder of Drink Company.

Can a non-alcoholic spirit be labeled alcohol-free?

In the U.S., generally no. Alcohol-free is reserved for products with no detectable alcohol. Most non-alcoholic spirits sit below 0.5% ABV and are labeled non-alcoholic.

Who regulates non-alcoholic spirits?

Products below 0.5% ABV are generally regulated by the FDA as foods, so they carry a Nutrition Facts panel and an ingredient list. Traditional spirits are regulated by the TTB.

How do I pass?

Score 80% or better on the final exam. You get two attempts.

What do I earn when I finish?

A lifetime credential with no renewal fees, an official digital certificate, a lapel pin, and access to the AFNA graduate community.

Related product knowledge training

The alcohol-free set spans more than spirits: see AFNA Beer Certified and AFNA Wine Certified. For the wider wellness cooler, see Functional Beverage Certified, and for THC drinks behind the bar, Hemp Bev Certified for On-Premise. Product fundamentals are free in the free Core Education Suite, or browse the full on-demand catalog.