How to spend a New Year’s Eve celebration without a drop of alcohol

Here are some tips if you don’t want to drink at a booze-heavy party this New Years, and how you can make your own mocktails.

Alcohol at a New Year’s Eve party is about as expected as fireworks – but if you struggle with binge drinking or addiction issues, there are still plenty of ways to stay involved with partying friends.

After experiencing issues with binge drinking, Kathryn Elliott of the Alcohol Mindset Coach found ways to separate alcohol from having fun at the end of every year.

Ms Elliott helps others handle their own issues with alcohol, and is on her fifth New Years without the substance.

“I used to be someone who would put on a big party for a very late night,” she said.

“Then I’d be up early the next day with a bit of a hangover, cleaning up a lot of bottles.”

“It wouldn’t feel like a great way to start the new year. It would feel really tiring, and it’s amazing how different it is for me now.”

Drinking is an incredibly common social activity on New Year’s Eve. Photo: Supplied

Ms Elliott said she felt binge drinking had become very normalised in Australia, with an expectation to drink present in many social gatherings. Because of this, she spent her first New Years without alcohol with a smaller group of friends who knew what she was trying to do, and were able to be supportive of her.

If you’re going to a party with a larger group of people, Ms Elliott gave some additional tips. First, when drinking is less of a factor at a party, the focus can turn to food – so make sure you bring some food options, along with non-alcoholic drinks of your own if your host can’t provide them.

Second, if you feel heavily pressured to drink, try and show up earlier to the event. Arriving at a party where fewer people are drunk gives you a chance to enjoy yourself, and means you can leave earlier while still feeling like you spent time with your friends.

Kathryn Elliott, who's had several New Years celebrations without a drop of alcohol. Picture: The Alcohol Mindset Coach

Finally, she noted that some people who choose not to drink can face a degree of shame from those that do. To them, it’s important to keep the response basic.

“If you just keep it simple and positive and about you,” she said. “‘I’m not drinking at the moment.’ Not making any big grand statements. And then, people [may] leave you alone.”

Despite these issues she and her clients have faced, she said she felt the trade is worth it.

“For me, the connections feel more meaningful,” she said.

Natalie Battaglia of the Mindful Mocktail runs a company specifically for alternative drinks to alcohol, and also has experience preparing for a night at a party.

“I would recommend planning something the following morning that you

would not have done had you been drinking the night before,” she said.

“Whether that’s a walk on the beach, meeting friends for breakfast,

getting in some exercise … there really is nothing quite like the feeling

of waking up on New Year’s Day rested and ready to start the New Year.”

Natalie Battaglia shared one of her favourite mocktail recipes with news.com.au. Picture: The Mindful Mocktail

For mocktail ideas on New Years, Ms Battaglia recommended starting simple with things such as mimosas, with orange juice and non-alcoholic sparkling wine.

The following is one of her favourite recipes for a larger punch:

Easy New Year’s Eve punch

• 2 cups low sugar cranberry juice
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 2 cups non-alcoholic sparkling wine
• 1 cup ginger ale
• Orange slices, cranberries, pomegranate seeds and/or cherries for
• garnish

Method:

Mix cranberry, orange and pineapple juice in a punch bowl or large jug.


Add sparkling wine and ginger ale and stir gently.


When you’re ready to serve, add ice and fruit of your choice to garnish.

“I always spend my New Year’s Eve with close friends (who are all

drinkers!),” Ms Battaglia said. “And I find that when I’m around the right people, I don’t

feel the desire to drink alcohol at all.”

“You can still celebrate along with everyone else!”