Drinking alcohol is a prevalent theme at weddings, holiday celebrations, and conferences. However, one in four individuals indicate attempting to cut down on their alcohol use, 30% of American adults report not drinking at all, and over 50% of adults worldwide report not drinking at all. It’s crucial to include nondrinkers when planning your events and to provide them with more alternatives than just water, soda, and coffee.

We have advice and suggestions for alcohol-free events, so whether you’re organising a wedding without a bar, require drinks for guests who don’t drink, or want to create an inclusive conference setting, we’ve got you covered.

Think of non-drinkers while organizing your gathering .

The first choice to make is whether your event will be completely alcohol-free, include a little amount of alcohol (for a toast or during cocktail hour), or allow visitors to bring their own booze.

Once you’ve decided on the event’s alcohol policies, bear the following considerations in mind while you make your plans:

It’s perfectly okay to forgo alcoholic beverages at an event, whether it’s for personal taste, customer preference, financial restraints, venue restrictions, or religious considerations.

Make sure visitors who don’t drink alcohol are aware of their alternatives if the event isn’t entirely dry. Beyond club soda and water, every event should include simple-to-access, delectable, non-alcoholic alternatives, regardless of whether there is an open bar or just a champagne toast.

Avoid activities where visitors must consume alcohol: It increases the pressure, making those who decide against drinking feel as if they must defend their decision. No matter the event—bridal showers, weddings, birthday parties, retirement celebrations—respect your guests’ preferences.

Even if some visitors could turn down the invitation to a sober gathering, it’s probable that the dry event will be well-received. Guests who don’t drink will feel comfortable staying longer, and those who do drink won’t miss it.

How to inform event guests that alcohol will not be served in Alcohol-Free Events

If you decide to advise attendees in advance that your event is alcohol-free, do it verbally or by posting a note on the wedding or event website instead of on the invitation. No more explanation is necessary; a notice stating that alcohol will not be served and that it is not authorised on the property should be sufficient.

Bring life to dull occasions with little worry

Start now Free advice for alcohol-free weddings, parties, holidays, and galas

Fortunately, there are several alternatives to presenting sparkling grape juice as an alcohol substitute. These concepts for sober social parties will wow your guests:

1. Decide on a mocktail bar or create a specialty drink.

Creative non-alcoholic cocktails provide amazing taste profiles and all the visual impact of the alcoholic variations, without the spirits, so mocktails are no longer just the “virgin” versions from the standard menu. Without alcohol, sparkling juices or ciders may fulfil guests’ need for bubbles, but colourful beverages with several layers of colour and glittering syrups are conversation starters on their own.

2. Make the garnish a big deal.

Not only are edible garnishes used for alcoholic beverages. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, garnishes may also improve the taste and scent of a beverage. To complete each glass and enhance its own taste character, add twists, skewers, or a sugar or salt rim. Alternately, set up a garnish buffet and let visitors try out their own special choices. Some of the most outrageous inventive food garnishes include:

candies: skewered brownies or cookies, gummy worms, spun sugar, candied citrus, candied ginger, cotton candy, and toasted marshmallows

Fruit: Kiwi, pear, starfruit, fresh figs, dragonfruit, cranberry and orange skewers, and fresh berries

Lilac, lilac blooms, lavender, chamomile, wood sorrel, orcid blossoms

Herbs: rosemary, basil, sage, thyme, mint, and lemon balm

Cucumber, pickled asparagus, jalapenos, and crispy tempura carrot are some examples of vegetables.

Cinnamon stick, freshly powdered nutmeg, cardamom, anise seeds, and vanilla beans are some warm spices.

Food items: cheeseburger sliders, bacon pieces, jerky, waffles, doughnuts, and crab claws

Brown sugar, nonpareils, chocolate syrup, dried flower petals, cinnamon and sugar, crumbled graham crackers, toasted coconut, and coffee grounds are other sweet rim decorations.

Paprika, truffle-infused salt, crushed salted nuts, celery salt, lemon pepper, chili-lime salt, and shredded horseradish are some of the savoury rim decorations.

3. Provide a wide selection of premium non-alcoholic products at the bar.

With new alternatives emerging from favoured spirits makers and new businesses, non-alcoholic options are growing in popularity. Despite a global decline in beer sales, non-alcoholic beer sales increased by 23% in 2019. Due to millennials’ decreased interest in drinking, booze-free goods and events have a greater chance of success. It’s not as unusual to host a dry or alcohol-restricted event as it was in the past. Check out the selections from up-and-coming companies and well-known breweries that are benefiting from the expanding 0.0 ABV trend. Remember that “alcohol-free beer” doesn’t always imply that there is no alcohol in it; in the US, anything with an alcohol concentration of less than 0.5 percent may be designated as “non-alcoholic.”

4. Join the trend of dry bars.

Cities are seeing a rise in the popularity of dry bar establishments. Choose your location and use these choices to establish your own dry bar for your next event:

Serve mocktails with tangy, sweet shrubs.

Tempt visitors with a range of premium hot chocolate tastes, including dark, milk, white, caramel, and chili-chocolate…

Every taste is OK.

By renting a slush machine to offer out non-alcoholic frozen beverages, you can bring out the child in your audience.

Serve well-known alcoholic beverages without the alcohol: Harry Potter fans will enjoy a butterbeer, and a Shirley Temple will remind you of the times you felt like an adult at gatherings when you were younger.

With fizzy, frozen, or still choices, create a lovely lemonade bar that would be ideal for a summer event. Stock it with lemonade in all flavours, including strawberry, pomegranate, mint, and basil. Your creativity is your only constraint.

5. Encourage dancing even in the absence of alcohol.

Get a jazz, hip-hop, or ballroom dance teacher to provide a group class to your visitors. They will participate in the learning environment and leave with a new ability they may use to wow their future spouse.

6. Consider a new theme.

The absence of beer, wine, or cocktails won’t be noticed by visitors if you create a setting that is less likely to include alcohol.

For a sophisticated, sober gathering, have a garden tea party with finger snacks, lovely sweets, and an amazing variety of teas.

Organize a barbecue with an emphasis on the food. Serve each visitor a specially selected sampling tray—similar to a beer flight, but with a range of succulent meat bites prepared in delectable sauces and marinades.

Create a 1950s-style soda shoppe to offer burgers and fries, fountain sodas, and milkshakes as you recreate the hit musical Grease.

Make promises when the sun is rising on a mountain. After leaving their tents, visitors may drink gourmet coffee from camp cups since they probably prefer caffeine to alcohol at morning.

7. Offer interactive food alternatives to keep visitors occupied and amused.

The audience won’t reach for beverages since they’ll be too busy eating with their hands:

8.Provide a fondue station

Include doughnuts, pastries, ice cream sundaes, and parfaits in a “decorate your own dessert bar” to satisfy everyone’s sweet craving.

Use mouthwatering centrepieces that are edible.

Roll your own spring rolls to occupy hands.

A build-your-own taco, stir-fry, or poke bowl meal gives diners control. Transform your gathering into a café.

Serve upscale lattes decorated with artistic foam designs, and schedule spoken word or acoustic music performances to keep your visitors entertained. Putting visitors in a setting where alcohol isn’t often present might help them notice the absence less.

9. Give them a topic of conversation.

Organize a trivia contest where each table takes on a team. Have someone yell out trivia questions during the reception, such as “connected to the bride and groom, or not!” and encourage the teams to come up with the answers. Send a gift to the victorious squad.

10. Select a distinctive location that prioritises the experience above the booze.

Rent a paintball field, bowling alley, tennis court, or roller skating rink. Rent a sailboat, and travel the bay while riding the waves. Meet up at a theme park and ride till you’re all lightheaded. At an apple orchard, spread out on picnic blankets, go on hayrides, and let everyone participate in making fresh apple cider to bottle and take home. Putting the emphasis on the location or activity reduces the chance that visitors may forget to get a drink.

11. Select scrumptious hot, alcohol-free drinks.

To fit the warm atmosphere, provide hot cider, non-alcoholic gl gg, or a hot spiced cranberry citrus punch instead of toasting on New Year’s Eve or letting the wine flow at holiday feasts.

12. Keep visitors occupied and engaged.

Instead than concentrating on who is toting a highball glass, put the joy in fun. Create life-size board games like chess, Candyland, or Connect Four, gather around a campfire with s’mores and hot chocolate, or incite some friendly rivalry with lawn games.

13. Do not anticipate drinking.

Instead of hosting a Saturday night soirée, consider doing a weekday party or brunch. If the moment is correct, visitors are less likely to forget to drink.

14. Bear the visitors’ triggers in mind.

Non-alcoholic beer, wine, or mocktails served to resemble alcoholic beverages may trigger cravings if the gathering is being hosted for friends or family in recovery. In favour of entirely alternative choices, it could be advisable to avoid the fake alcohol and even dishes that have been marinated in alcohol. But don’t just assume—ask them what they like

15. Change out the toast.

It’s OK to completely omit the toast, particularly if the occasion is unconventional in any case. Toasts aren’t necessary, despite great-aunt Mary’s objections. Just let the Maid of Honor, Best Man, and other customary toasters know in advance of your selection.

Advice on avoiding alcohol at work and at professional gatherings

The experience of all participants, including drinkers and non-drinkers, is enhanced when the alcohol culture at conferences, networking events, team-building activities, and post-work parties is defined. It is customary to respect food limitations, and the same courtesy ought to be shown to nondrinkers.

At gatherings that include drinking, awkward situations might occur. Attendees who don’t drink may want to conceal any health issues or pregnancy. Attendees could refrain from drinking for moral or personal reasons, in order to maintain their composure while networking, or just because they don’t enjoy it. If other participants start to wonder why there isn’t any alcohol, it might become awkward or problematic.

Reduce the pressure to drink at business parties by following these suggestions:

16. Give staff alcohol-free rewards.

While for some people a round on the boss is a nice way to close the week, it might place unnecessary strain on others who don’t drink. Treat workers to lunch during the workday as opposed to happy hour after work.

17. Pick a location that doesn’t emphasise drinking a lot.

Have your meeting in a coffee shop, a pleasant loft, or a co-working space rather than a brewery or a bar. Find special places here.

18. Rebrand networking occasions.

Cocktail Hour suggests drinking, but “Social Hour” emphasises making relationships.

19. Ignore the drink tickets for free.

Instead, provide non-alcoholic beverages for free or at a low cost during a post-conference mixer or yearly sales team meeting.

20. Establish a rule prohibiting excessive drinking.

Make it clear that participants are expected to consume no more alcohol than necessary. Excessive drinkers are either cut off or asked to leave.

21. Request that waiters and bartenders refrain from requesting alcohol orders.

Instead of asking “Would you want to try a margarita?” or “Can I get you another beer?” what can I offer you?

22. Let those who don’t drink blend in.

Drinks should be given in the same glasses whether they are alcoholic or not so that participants who want to remain anonymous may avoid uncomfortable inquiries from nosy coworkers.

23. Create a social calendar that doesn’t depend on intoxication.

Develop non-drinking choices into the evening networking schedule and encourage post-session activities and gatherings that don’t focus on alcohol or happen at a bar.

It doesn’t have to be all or nothing since Stanford University’s policy mandates Equally Attractive Non-Alcoholic Beverages at all events, guaranteeing that everyone who attends has something cool to drink. To avoid giving the impression that they are an afterthought or less desired alternative, non-alcoholic beverages should be just as simple to get, enjoyable, colourful, and alluring as the alcoholic ones. Making non-drinkers feel more at ease by reducing alcohol options or expanding non-alcoholic options may also help stretch the budget.

24. Go semi-dry

Avoid alcohol and stick to wine or beer.

25. Instead of being the standard, make alcoholic beverages a choice.

Instead of automatically offering spirits, provide a menu of non-alcoholic beverages and let customers add a shot.

26.Before meeting with the caterer or bartender, get ready.

Don’t accept bland selections when hiring a caterer; insist on high-quality non-alcoholic beverages instead. Make sure the bartender makes a matching mocktail if they are making a specialty drink for the occasion.

27. Restrict the sale of alcohol to bars.

Maintain soft refreshments on the tables and allow customers to purchase alcoholic beverages at the bar rather than having staff automatically refill glasses at tables or distribute drinks. In this manner, there is no implied duty to take a drink.

28. Reduce the length of the alcohol serving window.

Instead of serving alcohol all night, just serve it at cocktail hour or the toast.

Include non-drinkers in your event’s seating plan and layout.

Even if alcohol is served at the event, you may decide to reserve areas for those who don’t wish to drink.

29. Remove alcohol from one or more dining areas.

Including alcohol-free tables in your seating arrangement allows attendees who need to get away from drinkers this alternative. Provide a short message on the event website informing visitors that you are providing alcohol-free tables so they may choose without attracting attention.

30. Designate areas where alcohol is prohibited.

Only serve alcohol inside; save the comfortable outdoor fire pit and the city-view balcony as alcohol-free areas. The setting may make this simple: Drinks often cannot exit the facility due to restrictions on where alcohol may be served under certain liquor licences. Alternately, declare all interior areas to be alcohol-free with an option to consume alcohol at an outside bar.

Finally, without attracting too much attention, make it simple for those who don’t drink to understand their alternatives. It is your duty to provide a selection of non-alcoholic beverages that visitors may enjoy without feeling the need to make special requests or ask the staff to go above and beyond.

Next, look into the newest trends in event catering or find inexpensive workplace party ideas.

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