I don't drink (Alcohol). Never have probably never will. However, the beer companies seem to enjoy making it harder. Why I do drink a crap load of is Soda. First they made alcoholic Root Beer, and last night when I was at Green Valley Grocer they had Best Damn Cherry Cola. For those that don't know Best Damn is Budwiser's alcholic sodas and Cherry Cola is one of my favorites. Despite the strong temptations and the *squee!*ty time I've been having at work lately, I've never drank before and I very much doubt now it the time to start.
What section are the alcoholic sodas in? We get them here, but they're always with the beer and cider and such, so it wouldn't make any difference to non-drinkers. I would agree with you though; drinking to alleviate a tough time you might be having is not a good way to start.
Most of the mass produced beers taste strongly of piss in a can. Being the beer snob I am however, I would rarely say no to something imported in small batches from some brewery in Belgium. Regardless, if you do ever reconsider there are a number of good beers out there that are worthwhile. This goes for yourself and for others looking for insight into the matter. If alcohol itself is such a concern, there are some pretty light options out there; ie. Radlers sit at only 2.5% ABV, which is to stay, on par with well-cultured yogurt. The real issue is not the alcohol itself, but rather the overconsumption of it. 1-2 glasses every 1-2 weeks in unlikely to be problematic for most people.
Best Damn isn't for people like you, who don't drink. It's for people like me, who enjoy a little variety in our self-destructive self-medication. Also, they're not really all that great by soda standards.
Alcoholic Root Beer? That's like making "Sodium-Free Salt", "Unspicy Pepper", "Cafeinnated Decaf" or "Flameproof Matches".
I can't help but feel personally offended. Kidding seriously though what's the problem? all that soda ain't exactly doing you any better to be honest, personally I don't touch the stuff unless I need a mixer, which isn't very often. And if it's a pre-mix like you've described? gives me heart burn, don't buy em mate, they're crafted for teenyboppers, though considering you still like soda, you might like em. Way too sweet for my tastes.
Alcopop is made for pansies who want to drink but don't like the icky taste of alcohol, while hard soda is being marketed to drinkers who want a little variety.
Four Loko and that one russian beer mochito are my personal favorite examples of the species. Although only the former is likely to kill you.
Instead of the alcoholic soda, find mixes of alcohol that supposedly strongly resemble soda in taste. The shot I keep hearing about that I really want to try is called Gravity Wave. It's one-third parts each of Bailey's Irish Cream, Jagermeister, and Root Beer Schnapps. I keep hearing that it tastes a lot like a root beer float, so I've been really wanting to try it.
Hm... I drink waayyy too much pop, but I have never been tempted. I tried alcohol, like three months after I was legal, and stopped that day. What would it even add to pop? Pop is a habit I need to kick, anyway.