Celebrate the Holidays Without Alcohol

Americans are less likely to celebrate the holidays with alcohol than any time since the Prohibition era. A recent Gallup poll found the number of Americans who say they consume alcohol has declined to 54%, the lowest rate since Gallup started tracking drinking behavior in 1939. The trend away from alcohol use is especially evident among people ages 18 to 34, with only 50% saying they drink alcohol.

The reason for the shift in drinking habits is the growing view that even moderate alcohol use is bad for your health. A majority of American adults (53%) now believe that drinking in moderation—one or two drinks a day—is harmful. Two-thirds of younger adults view moderate drinking as bad for health.

People who continue to drink alcohol are consuming less of it, Gallup also found. The people surveyed reported consuming an average of 2.8 drinks over the preceding week, down from a high of 5.1 drinks per week in 2003.

With those trends in mind, you may want to offer your holiday guests more non-alcoholic drink options this year. Here are some ideas for ways to celebrate the holidays without alcohol, including festive non-alcoholic drink recipes and fun activities that don’t involve drinking.

Plan Inclusive Gatherings

With about half of your friends and neighbors now preferring to abstain from alcohol, it’s important to plan holiday gatherings that are inclusive, making everyone feel they can be part of the celebration. Offering the same number of non-alcoholic drink options as alcoholic choices lets all your guests know they are welcome. Here are some ideas for non-alcoholic drinks to serve:

• Vermont brewed non-alcoholic beers. Several Vermont breweries offer non-alcoholic versions of their brews with full-bodied flavors. These include Switchback and Zero Gravity. If there’s a brewery in your area, stop by and ask what non-alcoholic products they have available.
• Maple and botanical elixirs. A favorite Vermont flavor—maple—has been crafted into non-alcoholic drinks produced by several local companies. For example, Woodnose offers a unique product made with aged, fermented maple syrup and artisanal coffee. TreTap produces drinks with sparkling maple tree water, while Vermont Switchel offers a beverage that combines maple syrup with apple cider vinegar and lemon juice.
• Bubbly Vermont-made beverages. If you’re looking for something that’s bubbly and non-alcoholic to ring in the new year, there’s a wide range of Vermont-made choices. These include TÖST, Bitter Bubble, All Times Sparkling Cider, and Cold Hollow Sparkling Apple Cider.
• Do-it-yourself drinks. You can make your own tasty non-alcoholic drinks and mocktails, including traditional seasonal favorites gløgg and wassail. Be sure to label them as not containing alcohol. Check out our non-alcoholic drink recipes for the holidays.

Fun Things to Do

As the host of a holiday gathering, you can make sure your guests who don’t drink alcohol feel more comfortable by planning activities that take the focus off drinking. These can include:

• Game or trivia night. Get everyone involved in playing games like Charades and Pictionary, board games, or a challenging round of trivia.
• Watching holiday movies. Organize a playlist of the best holiday movies and then have a movie marathon.
• DIY craft station. Set up stations where guests can decorate their own cookies or make personal ornaments.
• Photo booth. Put up a backdrop and gather some props that guests can use to make silly photos. Polaroid cameras are still available and can be used to make instant printed photos that can be hung up for everyone to laugh about and admire.
• Karaoke contest. If you have a karaoke machine, motivate your guests to participate in singing by offering prizes for the best and worst performances.
• Artistic challenge. Place supplies like aluminum foil, ribbon, string, construction paper, and tape on tables and let teams compete to make something artistic out of the items in only 10 minutes.
• Get outside. Go for a group walk around the neighborhood to look at holiday lights or sing carols. Be sure to take some hot non-alcoholic beverages with you or have some ready at home when you return to help everybody warm up.

Holiday Connections

This is a wonderful time of the year for families and friends to celebrate. Gathering together makes people feel connected and less isolated. We hope you’ll be inspired to host a gathering of your own that everyone will enjoy, whether they drink alcohol or not.