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The holiday season can be incredibly fun. It’s full of eating, gift-giving, and socializing with family and friends. That socializing often accompanies lots of drinking. Drinking at a party is pretty much expected, which is fine. But not everyone is a drinker. More and more people are opting to go sober.
Being sober during the holidays can be isolating. Our sober friends are often left with limited options or options that draw attention to the fact that they are not drinking. A good host, first and foremost, makes sure their guests are comfortable. If you are looking to be a good host, you will do as much as you can to ensure your sober guests feel not only comfortable but welcomed.
There are a few easy ways to accommodate your sober guests, without shining a huge spotlight on them. These super easy adjustments will ensure your friends, family, and guests will appreciate you as a host.
How To Be A Better Host For Sober Guests
Have Plenty of Sober Options
First and foremost, making your sober guests comfortable starts with having something for them to actually drink. And not just one something, if you have multiple options for alcohol, afford your sober friends the same courtesy. You don’t want to isolate them or draw negative attention to their options, so make your alcoholic and non-alcoholic options comparable.
For holiday parties, people often opt for several alcoholic drinks and then a soda or juice option. Step that up by adding other options such as water, Sweet tea, Hot Cocoa, hot Tea, Coffee, Non-Alcoholic Cider, non-alcoholic alternatives, or Mocktails! You can even make it interactive by creating a drink station, a hot cocoa bar, or an apple cider bar.
You can make some adjustments to recipes you are already creating in order to maintain consistency and use similar ingredients. Consider non-alcoholic alternatives such as non-alcoholic beer and non-alcoholic spirits. Or make some easy swaps, club soda, gingerbeer, and lemon-lime soda all provide some fizz. The gingerbeer, lemon-lime soda, lime juice, or lemon juice can provide a bit of tang or a little bite.
Make Your Sober Folks Comfortable
Make your sober friends comfortable by letting them know beforehand that there will be no pressure to drink. No one will intentionally ask them more than once nor draw attention to their not drinking.
Inform them that there will be plenty of options for them. Also let them know that the options won’t be set too distinctly apart from the other options, to prevent isolation, but everything will be clearly labeled.
Set The Tone With Other Guests
When and if you can, let other guests know you are a sober-friendly home. Inform them that this simply means non-alcoholic options are available to everyone, drinkers and non-drinkers. Also, let them know you don’t press the issue of drinking with others in your home.
Plan ahead, don’t make it an afterthought. Plan out your cocktails and mocktails at the same time. You can even check out some holiday-inspired cocktails and edit them to be mocktails. You can also check out these mocktail recipes for ideas.
Mocktail Recipes for Sober Hosting
If you want to make mocktails for your guests, you will want to aim
Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine
Mulled wine is a seasonal staple. It’s sweet and aromatic and feels like the holidays in a warm, cozy cup. That’s a feeling everyone should experience so replicate it with this pomegranate juice-based non-alcoholic version that is super easy to make.
Gingerbread Mocktail
This is a fun spin on the ever-growing popular Gingerbread martini. It’s bursting with the warm, spicy flavors of winter and combined with sweet and creamy ingredients to balance it all out.
Holiday Pomegranate Ginger Mocktail
If you’re looking for a holiday option that feels like warm winter fruits but with some life, here is the perfect recipe. This pomegranate ginger mocktail does an amazing job of balancing out the fruit, the bite of the ginger, and the wintertime spices, all wrapped up into one delicious drink.
Non-Alcoholic Peppermint White Russian
In my book, peppermint is a must around the holidays. This peppermint White Russian creates a deliciously coffee-based drink that has just the right amount of peppermint to make it pop. It will be something guests will not want to put down.
Winter Citrus Spritz Mocktail
If you’re looking for something a bit more bright in nature, this winter citrus spritz is perfect. Bright and bubbly, this mocktail will liven up any holiday soiree.
Toasted Marshmallow Mocktail
What’s the holidays without some marshmallows and fire action? This recipe tastes like sitting but the fireplace enjoying hot cocoa on Christmas day, what more could you ask for?
Making adjustments for your friends and family is often so simple on the front end, but it makes a massive difference to your guests. They will see how much effort you put into making sure they have plenty of options and feel comfortable, which is more than most people often do. All while it only took you a few extra minutes of your time, and maybe a couple more ingredients.
Make sure all of your guests, drinkers and non-drinkers alike, have an amazing time and put you right at the top of their favorite hosts’ list.
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