At Your Holiday Celebrations Offer Alternatives to Drinking Alcohol

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Alcohol Alternatives: Offer them at Holiday Celebrations

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.

Source: “Holiday Drinking Awareness Kit,” National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc., www.ncadd.org.