Non-alcoholic drinks for New Year's Eve

Non-alcoholic drinks for New Year's Eve

At midnight every glass goes up at once, including the ones held by the driver, a pregnant guest and someone who simply does not drink. Well-chosen non-alcoholic drinks for New Year's Eve make those glasses look as festive as the rest of the table, with no carton of juice in sight. Fill every glass with something worth a toast!

An alcohol-free midnight at a glance:

• The toast: kombucha with citrus, fruit syrup topped up with sparkling water or coconut water with lime can all be served in champagne flutes.
• Outdoors at Hogmanay: alcohol-free mulled wine served hot in mugs suits a celebration in the cold.
• Snacks: seasoned popcorn, nuts, dried fruit and hummus can go on the table before the first guest arrives.
• Labels: under UK guidance „alcohol-free” means no more than 0.05% ABV, while „low alcohol” allows up to 1.2%.

Non-alcoholic drinks for New Year's Eve: what to serve

A festive drink without alcohol needs a base with real flavour, something sparkling and a garnish. Juices with a sharp or deep flavour, such as pomegranate, cherry or cranberry, make a good base, as their taste still comes through once diluted.

The healthy juices category at 4ecoshop includes pomegranate, cherry and 100% cranberry juice, plus lime, lemon and ginger juices for sharpening a mix. Keep the bubbles for last: sparkling water added just before midnight is still lively when the glasses go up.

Non-alcoholic cocktails for New Year's Eve

Three alcohol-free New Year's drinks for the midnight toast start from different bases: kombucha, fruit syrup and coconut water.

Non-alcoholic cocktails with kombucha

Kombucha is a fermented tea with a light fizz and a pleasantly sour note, which makes it a good base for a grown-up drink. Vigo's organic kombucha with turmeric and ginger 330 ml is made with fermented tea, unrefined cane sugar, turmeric, ginger and pepper, and according to its label it contains no alcohol. Serve it well chilled with a slice of orange or a squeeze of lemon.

Fruit syrup spritzers for an alcohol-free New Year's Eve

Syrup at the bottom, sparkling water on top and a few frozen berries make a colourful spritzer for an alcohol-free New Year's Eve. In our juices, syrups and jams category you will find Krokus blackcurrant, strawberry and blueberry syrups, each 355 g (280 ml). Syrup is concentrated, so add it a spoonful at a time and taste before filling the jug.

Non-alcoholic drinks with coconut water and citrus

Coconut water has a mild, slightly sweet taste that pairs well with lime or grapefruit and a few mint leaves. Chill it well, squeeze in half a lime and hang a strip of zest on the rim of the glass. COCOSA coconut water with pineapple juice from Diet-Food (330 ml) brings a fruity note to the same mix.

Alcohol-free mulled wine for Hogmanay outdoors

In the cold, a hot spiced drink in a mug is easier to hold than a chilled glass. Poured hot into a flask, alcohol-free mulled wine travels with the guests.

The Beutelsbacher organic non-alcoholic mulled wine 700 ml is made from 95% apple juice and 5% elderberry juice with cinnamon, cloves and cardamom. Warm it slowly without letting it boil, keep an opened bottle in the fridge and finish it within five days.

Healthy party snacks for adults

Snacks on New Year's Eve stay on the table from evening until well after midnight, and a good mix of healthy party snacks includes something crunchy, something sweet and a cold dip.

Healthy party snacks: popcorn and baked crisps

When popcorn is popped at home from Bio Planet kernels, you decide how much salt and oil goes on it. For an adult bowl, season it with smoked paprika, rosemary or grated parmesan. Baked crisps can fill a second bowl, and next to them go the spelt, rye and einkorn sticks from Piec Przemian (45 g) on the wholegrain snacks shelf at 4ecoshop.

Nuts and dried fruit platters

Small separate bowls of nuts and fruit can go out early and be topped up through the night with no cooking at all. Guests see straight away what they are reaching for.

A good platter mixes three or four groups:

• Plain nuts: macadamias, Brazil nuts, cashews and hazelnuts bring the crunch.
• Nuts in chocolate: almonds and hazelnuts in chocolate or cashews in coconut chocolate take the place of a dessert.
• Dried fruit: figs and apricots add a soft, sweet contrast to the nuts.
• Freeze-dried fruit: Bio Planet raspberries and strawberries add colour and a light crunch.

The healthy nuts category also has pine nuts, walnuts and almonds, which makes it easy to change the mix from one party to the next.

Hummus and dips

Chickpea hummus pairs well with sliced peppers, cucumber and carrot for dipping. Ready-made choices include NaturaVena hummus with sun-dried tomatoes or with olives (185 g) and plain Vega Up hummus (190 g). Two of these hummus flavours served side by side with wholegrain sticks make a cold snack for the table.

Hogmanay food: Scottish New Year traditions

The first person to cross the threshold in the new year is called the first-foot and traditionally brings gifts for the house.

Three dishes traditionally belong to the Scottish New Year:

• Shortbread: a buttery biscuit that the first-foot brings along.
• Black bun: a dense fruit cake baked inside pastry.
• Steak pie: a meat pie served on 1 January.

Instead of the whisky that first-footers historically carried, a first-foot today can bring a flask of warm spiced apple and elderberry drink.

Alcohol-free, de-alcoholised or low alcohol: UK labels explained

Guidance published by the Department of Health and Social Care in 2018 gives each of the three UK label terms its own alcohol limit.

Here is how they compare:

For a guest who avoids alcohol completely, look for 0.0% on the label.

Planning an alcohol-free New Year's Eve: our last word

Non-alcoholic drinks for New Year's Eve belong on the menu like any dish: chosen when you plan the table and bought with the rest of the shopping. Serve them in the same flutes as everyone else's, on the same tray and at the same moment.

Frequently asked questions about non-alcoholic drinks for New Year's Eve

Does kombucha contain alcohol?

Kombucha can contain trace amounts of alcohol, because small quantities may form while the tea ferments. It is sold as a soft drink, and the label of each bottle is where to check the details.

Which alcohol-free New Year's drinks can replace champagne at midnight?

A sparkling grape or apple juice drink can take the place of champagne in a flute, and so can a sparkling drink labelled 0.0% ABV. Sparkling water with a splash of pomegranate juice gives a similarly festive colour.

How do you make non-alcoholic cocktails for New Year's Eve without added sugar?

Mix pure fruit juice with sparkling water and fresh citrus, leaving out syrup and sugar. Mint, grated ginger or frozen berries add flavour without any sweetening.

What does „alcohol-free” mean on a UK label?

On a UK label, „alcohol-free” means the alcohol has been removed and the drink has no more than 0.05% ABV. The guidance behind the term is voluntary, so the ABV figure printed on the label is the detail to rely on.

What is traditional Hogmanay food?

Traditional Hogmanay food includes shortbread, black bun and a steak pie on 1 January. Alongside the food, the first-foot traditionally brings coal, salt and a coin.