Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Healthy Choices for Partying

Part of hosting a good party is ensuring your guests' comfort. That includes supporting guests who don't want to drink alcohol and encouraging moderation in those who do. The following ideas for hosting parties come from "Responsible Drinking Party Ideas," created by the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence in Durham, NC.

Caring hosts can:

  • serve food so guests don't drink on an empty stomach
  • serve non-carbonated mixers like juice, because carbonation speeds alcohol absorption
  • serve plenty of non-alcoholic drinks for those who want them--including drinkers!
  • serve alcohol in measured amounts, not from open containers like kegs
  • serve alcohol at spaced intervals, to encourage guests to not have more than one drink an hour
  • provide a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere--let your party put guests at ease, not your booze
  • offer activities and entertainment such as games and music so that socializing does not just revolve around eating and drinking
  • stop serving alcohol before the end of the party; let guests have two hours to allow alcohol to leave their body before they leave your house
  • take responsibility for intoxicated guests: don't let anyone drive home drunk. Arrange for taxis or designated drivers, or let people stay the night. You can be held legally responsible for injuries sustained or caused by guests you have served alcohol to.


Great Non-alcoholic Party Recipes

Citrus Collins

Fill a 10 oz to 12 oz glass with ice cubes.

Pour over the ice:
2 oz orange or grapefruit juice
1 oz lemon juice
1 oz flavoured syrup (such as grenadine)

Fill the rest of the glass with club soda and garnish with orange slice or cherry.

Piña Colada

15 oz can of coconut milk
46 oz pineapple juice
ice

Mix coconut milk and juice in a blender. Add 4oz of mixture to 4 oz ice. Blend and serve.

C&C Express

6 oz chocolate chip ice cream
1/4 c brewed espresso coffee
1/4 c half and half
3 T coconut milk

Mix in a blender at low speed until smooth. Pour into 8 oz glass, top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Serve at once.

Orange Julius

1/3 c frozen orange juice concentrate
1/2 c milk
1/2 c water
1/4 c sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
5-6 ice cubes

Combine all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth. Pour in glasses, serve at once. 2-3 servings.

Mild-Eyed Margarita

1 c bitter lemon or lime soda
juice of 1 lime
2 tsp sugar
salt to taste
crushed ice

Pour soda in ice cube tray and freeze. Place in blender; and lime juice and sugar and blend. Rub lime juice around rim of glass and dip it in salt. Serve over crushed ice.

Mai Tai

Combine in a shaker or tall glass:
1/2 c pineapple juice
1/4 c club soda
1 T grenadine
1/4 c orange juice
1 T cream of coconut

Shake or stir to blend and add crushed ice to serve.

Fruit Daiquiris

For each drink, put one cup crushed ice in blender with a teaspoon of sugar and 1/2 cup of fruit. Fresh fruit works best, but be sure it is ripe.

Viennese Coffee

1/4 c whipping cream
1/2 tsp grated orange peel
1 T powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
4 cinnamon sticks
3 c very strong coffee (decaf is fine)

Combine cream, sugar, and vanilla, beat until stiff. Pour coffee into four cups. Float whipped cream mixture on top. Garnish with orange peel. Use cinnamon sticks as stirrers.

Mexican Sunset

1 c chilled orange juice
1/2 oz grenadine

Pour orange juice into tall glass. Add grenadine and allow to settle on bottom of glass. Serve over ice.

Dry Dock Manhattan

1/3 c well-chilled black cherry soda
2 tsp lime juice
1/4 tsp bitters

In cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients. Add ice. 1 serving.

Martoonie

1 serving of club soda
generous dash of bitters

Add bitters to club soda. Garnish with lemon twist. Serve over crushed ice.

Durham Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
3109-A University Drive
Durham, NC 27707-3703
(919) 493-3114

Wellness - Stress - Parties - Moderation/Abstaining

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