To think if you're spending a fortune on booze at Christmas, spare a thought for the non drinkers

[LunchpackOfNotreDame]

It's beginning to irritate me how people willingly spend a fortune on nice wine or beer for people who drink alcohol but expect non drinkers (be they driving or pregnant or on medication etc) to put up with cheap lemonade or water.

Aibu to ask if you are catering for non drinkers then you get them some nice soft drinks?

Take your own?

Can I ask what you would want? We're hosting this year, and I'm pregnant, and have no idea what nice soft drinks to buy! I usually just drink squash but did what to get something a bit more exciting for Christmas!

I'm buying Belvoir mulled fruit punch, some naice cordial, cola, lemonade, and whatever else I get ideas for.

What would you like to drink?

I always put a slice of lemon in their water. Isn't that enough?

To be honest when we are entertaining especially at Christmas, the soft drinks (for adults) are always the last thing I think of.

It's wine, beer, spirits/cocktails, kids drinks. Then 'oh shit better get a couple of naice sparkling juice stuff'.

You should bring your own as it's only polite to go with a gift or two anyway. I would always take a bottle. And during my four pregnancies, I took soft drinks.

If I forget to buy soft drinks, I put water in a huge jug with ice and lemon. It's not a big deal is it?

Well presumably you'd take a bottle of wine to a party/social occasion, so why not just take a bottle of what you'd like to drink?

Why is it OK to cater for the booze but expect the non drinkers to bring their own?

pinksquash that's the sort of thing I mean. Or even some nice fruit juice and sparkling water - not sure which supermarket does it but I went for dinner to friends and they had a nice lemongrass and something juice which was delicious.

It doesn't have to be costly. Just something 'nice' to be a bit special at christmas

If it's a bring your own then yes I bring my own

We always do Christmas as a family and whoever hosts does all the drinks and food, we swap round each year but even though they spend the earth on bottles of wine and beer the soft drinks are an after thought and usually are a jug of water or similar

The options are usually fizzy pop that has been bought for mixers or whatever is in cupboard that kids drink. Or if really posh, j20's which are so sickly.

It's not personal. It's exacty the same when you visit someone who doesn't drink alcohol. They don't have a clue what to serve or how much to serve and then get surprised at how much people drink. Or maybe that's just me

Tbh, there aren't a lot of good options out there. J20 is disgusting, I'd never serve anyone that.

The Belvoir type stuff is ok (but still just v sugary and one dimensional) Fentimans is better. Still though, hard to drink such sugary options all night.

Real gap in the market here if anyone fancies being entrepreneurial.

That's definitely not something I've ever had to worry about in this house at Christmas
If I had a non drinking guest I'd ask them what they wanted, same as I do with guests drinking alcohol. If you haven't been asked I'd take a couple of bottles of something you like with you.

Ah now I became an expert at this recently as I did sober October! Sparkling water definitely, it adds a bit of oomph to fruit juices like cranberry or whatever you have. Also I love elderflower cordial so also this with sparkling water or still, slice of lemon, ice even fresh mint! My pregnant friend visited recently and was pleased to be offered something other than squash

So no, yanbu. But maybe bring something you like to parties?

Yanbu.

And it doesn't have to be complicated. Cloudy apple juice topped up with an inch of soda or tonic water is lovely. Virgin Moscow mules (ginger beer, ice and lime), Virgin bloody Marys, all the Belvoir cordials are nice with fizzy or plain water, Cranberry juice in all its variants, San Pellegrino fruity cans, tonic water with lime cordial. All nice, all easy to get and store.

Yanbu, there are so many good options in the UK now for non alcoholic drinks. I live in Europe and the choice here is much more limited. Fresh ginger in hot water, left to cool and mixed with sparkling water is good and sugar free.
Does anyone know of a good alternative to red wine? I'm looking for a nice winter drink.

YANBU. Fentimans pink lemonade. Sparking water with crushed ice, mint and lime. San Pellegrino cans. Pukka teas.

Shloer (sp) is lovely too.

I do eldeflower or schlor

Is that how you spell them

I will check for peoples favourites and happy to take requests

We dont have big boozy parties though so its not usually a problem

Schloer is exactly what you need! Love that stuff.

Or non-alcoholic cocktails. Booze free mojitos are yummy as are virgin pina coladas.

Or a "virgin Cuba Libre" a la Sheldon Cooper

I always cater for non-drinkers. If I'm making mulled wine then I also make spiced apple juice and I regularly stock up on delicious drinks from the farm shop (including the proper apple juice for mulling). It's just part of being a decent host surely?

Am I the only one to think sparkling water tastes disgusting? Even with cordial.

When I was younger I used to take my drink of choice with me, as the idea that you would not be drinking alcohol would not even enter my friends' heads. Nowadays I'm happy drinking plain non-sparkling water, and I happily surprised when I'm given something nice and I don't count orange juice as nice.

Argh, got strike out and bold mixed up

I've been off the goose since the end of October and feel your pain. Most of the non alcoholic drinks are sweet, sugary or just plain boring - 5th sparkling water of the night anyone?

Anyway I've fund the drink!! Tonic water!! It is not sweet and Fever Tree made a fab low cal version in 200ml bottles. Have taken that the last two weekends when we've been at friends for dinner.

Am doing a large drinks party next week and will have fruit punch and many many little bottles of San Pelligrino. I always think non alcoholic drinks taste better out of the little bottles.