At Your Holiday Celebrations, Offer Alternatives to Drinking Alcohol

When planning for a successful holiday party or celebration, offer plenty of alternatives to drinking alcoholic beverages so that your guests will not be tempted to drink excessively. Also, non-drinking guests will then not feel left out. 

Non-alcoholic beverages, food, and activities other than drinking will help to ensure that your party is safer and more inclusive.

When going to a holiday party, instead of bringing a bottle of alcohol, consider giving a gift that everyone can enjoy, such as a dessert or a holiday decoration.

Non-Alcoholic Drinks for the Holidays

Sparkling Punch

1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice

1 cup orange juice

juice of two lemons

juice of two limes

11 oz. sparkling water

DIRECTIONS: Mix all ingredients in a pitcher.  Pour over ice cubes made of sparkling water.  Makes 4 servings

 

Pink Mist

5 oz. grapefruit juice

1 oz. grenadine

2 oz. pina colada mix

splash of seltzer

DIRECTIONS; Blend ingredients and serve over ice. Garnish with pineapple and cherry.  Makes one serving.

 

Mistletoe Punch

1 6-oz. can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed

1 6-oz. can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

6 cups water

½ cup grenadine syrup

1 quart ginger ale, chilled

DIRECTIONS:  Combine all the ingredients, except last two, in a punch bowl.  Just before serving, add some ice cubes and gently stir in ginger ale.  Garnish with lemon slice and maraschino cherry.  Makes 30 punch cup servings.

 

Citrus Cider

2 quarts of apple cider or apple juice

3 cups water

1 6-oz. can frozen orange-pineapple juice concentrate, thawed

½ cup light molasses

4 inches stick cinnamon

1 tsp. whole cloves

DIRECTIONS: Combine cider, water, juice concentrate, molasses, cinnamon and cloves.  Simmer for 10 minutes.  If desired, float apple slices on top of cider.  Makes 24 servings.

 

 

 

Cranberry Tea Punch

1 32-oz bottles cranberry juice cocktail

2 cups brewed tea

½ cup sugar

¼ cup lemon juice

¼ tsp. ground cloves

1 small lemon, thinly sliced

DIRECTIONS:  Over high heat, combine juices, tea and sugar until sugar is dissolved and punch is hot, stirring occasionally.  Float lemon slives on punch.  Makes 10 cups.

 

Ginger Mint

1 whole fresh lime

ginger ale

fresh mint

DIRECTIONS: Squeeze fresh lime juice into a tall frosted glass.  Add some ice cubes and fill with ginger ale.  Stir, and top with springs of fresh mint.  Makes one tall glass.