Who says drinks have to contain alcohol to be fun? Non-alcoholic drinks can be just as much enjoyable as "real" cocktails - and you can have as many as you like!
There are any number of reasons a guest at your home may want to choose a non-alcoholic drink: He’s the designated driver, he simply doesn’t drink because of religious or other reason, he has health issues that prevent him from drinking alcohol, he has a drinking problem and wants to behave tonight, or he’s a recovering alcoholic.
If your party is more than a couple of hours long, many guests will switch to something non-alcoholic after a few drinks.
For any get-together, it’s wise to have sodas on hand for those who aren’t drinking alcohol, and for those who lay off the booze at some point of the night and want to switch to a soft drink. A safe bet is to have on hand something dark (Coke, Pepsi or another cola), something light (7-Up or Sprite), and something diet.
If your guests include anyone under the legal drinking age or simply someone who doesn’t imbibe, a kindly host will offer a non-alcoholic cocktail that’s special. Just because he’s not drinking doesn’t mean he shouldn’t get a fun drink!
A respectable non-alcoholic drink can be as simple as a Shirley Temple: Mix ¼ cup lemon-lime flavored soda with 1½ tablespoons grenadine syrup and garnish with a maraschino cherry. (Check the label of the grenadine - some have alcohol, some don't.)
Almost any mixed drink recipe can be adapted by simply leaving out the alcohol.
Virgin Margarita
Cherry Fizz Cocktail
Most grocery stores sell non-alcoholic champagne, non-alcoholic beers, and ready-made mixed-drink mixes that can easily be substituted for the alcoholic versions.
Flora’s Drink Hideout has dozens of recipes for everything from non-alcoholic “champagne” to “The Cowabunga,” a blender drink of chocolate and fruit.
Drinks Mixer has a long list of non-alcoholic drinks and, for the easily overwhelmed, a list on the right side of the screen of the most popular 40.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving of Orange County has recipes for non-alcoholic cocktails sent in by bartenders and others. Try the South Sea Cooler.
The Great Pretender’s Party Guide, put out by AAA chapters in the Midwest, has fun, non-alcoholic drink recipes from bartenders and chefs in Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin and more.
Drink Recipes Bar.com has some unusual non-alcoholic drink recipes. Check out the chocolaty Just a Moon-Mint.
There are any number of reasons a guest at your home may want to choose a non-alcoholic drink: He’s the designated driver, he simply doesn’t drink because of religious or other reason, he has health issues that prevent him from drinking alcohol, he has a drinking problem and wants to behave tonight, or he’s a recovering alcoholic.
If your party is more than a couple of hours long, many guests will switch to something non-alcoholic after a few drinks.
For any get-together, it’s wise to have sodas on hand for those who aren’t drinking alcohol, and for those who lay off the booze at some point of the night and want to switch to a soft drink. A safe bet is to have on hand something dark (Coke, Pepsi or another cola), something light (7-Up or Sprite), and something diet.
If your guests include anyone under the legal drinking age or simply someone who doesn’t imbibe, a kindly host will offer a non-alcoholic cocktail that’s special. Just because he’s not drinking doesn’t mean he shouldn’t get a fun drink!
A respectable non-alcoholic drink can be as simple as a Shirley Temple: Mix ¼ cup lemon-lime flavored soda with 1½ tablespoons grenadine syrup and garnish with a maraschino cherry. (Check the label of the grenadine - some have alcohol, some don't.)
Almost any mixed drink recipe can be adapted by simply leaving out the alcohol.
Virgin Margarita
- 1½ ounces sweet-and-sour mix
- ½ ounce lime juice
- ½ ounce orange juice
Cherry Fizz Cocktail
- 1 pound frozen sour cherries, thawed and stemmed
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup powdered sugar or bar sugar
- 3 cups sparkling water, chilled
- Fresh cherries with stem, for garnish
Most grocery stores sell non-alcoholic champagne, non-alcoholic beers, and ready-made mixed-drink mixes that can easily be substituted for the alcoholic versions.
Flora’s Drink Hideout has dozens of recipes for everything from non-alcoholic “champagne” to “The Cowabunga,” a blender drink of chocolate and fruit.
Drinks Mixer has a long list of non-alcoholic drinks and, for the easily overwhelmed, a list on the right side of the screen of the most popular 40.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving of Orange County has recipes for non-alcoholic cocktails sent in by bartenders and others. Try the South Sea Cooler.
The Great Pretender’s Party Guide, put out by AAA chapters in the Midwest, has fun, non-alcoholic drink recipes from bartenders and chefs in Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin and more.
Drink Recipes Bar.com has some unusual non-alcoholic drink recipes. Check out the chocolaty Just a Moon-Mint.
