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A guide to sans-alcohol entertaining

Soapdom Party Tips and Alcohol-Free Drink Recipes for New Year’s Eve!

Still planning your activities for New Year’s Eve?  Here’s a few ideas to help keep alcohol to a minimum and still have a blast!

Non-alcoholic drink recipes, and how to deal with big drinkers at your party this New Year’s, courtesy of MADD California (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers). 

Alcohol-Free Drink Recipes and Responsible Hosting Tips

As a host, you want your guests to enjoy themselves. As their friend, you want to do all that you can to keep them safe and to decrease the chances of your friends becoming another alcohol-related traffic statistic. This means that you take action by following these lifesaving tips:

Before Your Party . . . 

*When planning a party, be honest with those who are known to drink too much. Tell them that driving after drinking is unacceptable. Get them to agree to find alternate means of transportation.

*Invite guests who are compatible to avoid their feeling left out from the crowd – lonely or unfriendly people often drink to excess.

*Plan activities or entertainment to keep the focus away from drinking.

*Appoint a reliable (preferably sober) bartender to help you keep track of the size and number drinks that guests consume.

During Your Party . . .

*Before the party even begins, ask all who will be drinking to appoint a designated driver. Serve only non-alcoholic beverages to the designated drivers.

*Offer a variety of non-alcoholic beverages for the designated drivers and others who prefer not to drink alcohol.

*If you serve alcohol, always serve plenty of food. Foods high in protein and carbohydrates like cheese and meats are best. Avoid too many salty snacks – salty snacks tend to make people thirsty and may cause them to drink more.

*Never force a drink on a guest. Respect the choices of those who choose not to consume alcohol.

*Never serve alcohol to someone under the legal drinking age and never allow children to serve alcohol at parties.

*If someone is drinking too much, engage him/her in conversation – anything to slow down the drinking. Offer high protein food. Offer to make the next drink – use less alcohol.

*Stop serving alcohol 90 minutes before the party is over and serve a great dessert with coffee or other non-alcoholic beverage. Remember, coffee won’t sober them up but time will!

When Your Party is over . . .

*If some of your guests have had too much to drink and they do not have a sober, designated driver, arrange a ride with another guest, call a taxi, drive them home, ask them to stay the night – NEVER LET A PERSON DRIVE AFTER DRINKING!

*As your guests leave, encourage them to wear their seat belts and warn them to be aware of others on the road who may be impaired – offer a little more than just the common “drive safely.”

What’s more, if a guest leaves your party while alcohol-impaired and has an automobile collision, you could be held responsible for costs associated with the crash, including medical bills and property damage. Also, you could be sued for emotional pain and suffering.

Sure-To-Please Alcohol-Free Drink Recipes

Lemon Strawberry Punch
Allstate Insurance Company

3 cans (6 ounces each) frozen lemonade concentrate
1 package (10 ounces) frozen strawberries, thawed

1 quart ginger ale, chilled
In a large punch bowl, prepare lemonade concentrate as directed on can; stir in strawberries (with syrup). Stir in ginger ale and, if desired, add small scoops of strawberry ice cream or ice cubes. Makes 28 servings (1/2 cup each)

South Sea Cooler
MADD

3 oz. orange juice
½ oz. undiluted grapefruit juice concentrate
1 oz. coconut cream
1 oz. light cream
Shake with a large scoop of shaved ice. Serve in tall glasses.

Fruit Fizz
MADD

Add the following to a shaker of cracked ice:
1/3 cup pineapple juice
1/3 cup orange juice
1/3 cup limejuice
Grated rind of ½ lemon
1 tsp. Powdered sugar
Shake, strain into cocktail glass or tumbler. Add club soda to taste.

Espresso Frappe
Ritz Carlton, San Francisco
AAA-California State Automobile Association

2-ounce shot of espresso
1 Tbsp. Sugar or Simple Syrup*
Heavy cream
1 scoop ice
Blend until smooth. Sprinkle with chocolate.
Serves one.

*Simple Syrup
In a medium saucepan, cook 2 cups of sugar in 1 cup of water over high heat, stirring constantly to dissolve sugar. Bring mixture to a full boil. Remove from heat and cool. Mixture may be stored in refrigerator for several weeks.

Virgin Mai Tai
Grand Hyatt, San Francisco
AAA-California State Automobile Association

6 oz. orange juice
6 oz. pineapple juice
Dash of grenadine
Dash of orgeat syrup
Dash of sweet and sour mix
Pour over ice. Serve in large snifter.

Mocha Madness
Doubletree, Sonoma County
AAA-California State Automobile Association

½ C. strong espresso coffee
1 16 oz. can Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup
1-liter club soda
1-quart low fat (or skim) milk
1 C. heavy cream, lightly whipped Ice
Optional garnish: curls of semi sweet chocolate
Blend coffee, syrup, soda and milk in punch bowl. Add ice. Top with whipped cream. Garnish with chocolate curls, if desired.
Serves 10

For more great recipes, contact Mothers Against Drunk Drivers at 1-800-I AM-MADD or:
http://www.madd.org
http://www.maddcalifornia.org/

The Alcohol Detox Guide: Staying Healthy on the Road to Sober:
http://www.recoveryconnection.org/alcohol-detox/

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