Sobriety on vacation
Trying to stay sober from Halloween to Thanksgiving to New Years is a huge task compared to the rest of the year. Family celebrations, themed bar events, and work meetings happen several times during this part of the year, and for people with an alcohol disorder, this can be quite a challenge.
While Thanksgiving doesn’t have a primary connection with drinking, it often tops the drinking vacation charts. The holidays are usually the first major break of the year for students and working adults, giving way to widespread drunkenness at parties and bars.
Looking for options on this Thanksgiving Day
A cursory Google search for “Thanksgiving drink ideas” yields dismal results if you’re looking for a sober option. Of the first 100 results, “Cocktail” appears 193 times. It’s clear that there is an alcohol-friendly bias in using neutral terms, so the following list of Thanksgiving and Fall drink ideas is for people looking for a sober vacation.
Thanksgiving soft drinks
Lingonberry sparkler
Mix even portions of cranberry juice and ginger ale in a glass and add fresh cranberries and sprigs of rosemary for style! A refreshing drink that cuts through some of the richness of a Thanksgiving dinner.
Maple cider
Apple cider is a classic, but requires a little patience and a crock pot. If you’re starting from scratch, you need a dozen apples, an orange, a pomegranate, cinnamon sticks, and maple syrup to add the Canadian flair.
Sugar cookie hot cocoa
This drink spans Thanksgiving and Christmas and goes a long way in creating a cozy feeling on a cold day. Whole and condensed milk together with dark chocolate and cocoa powder create the classic hot cocoa experience. Add vanilla and almond extracts, and add powdered sugar to add a hint of sugar biscuit to the mixture!
Ginger-honey-lemon tonic
Another refreshing option for this holiday season, this tonic will cleanse your sinuses with the pungent taste of ginger and lemon. The name of the drink contains most of the ingredients except the water, which mixes everything together.
Pumpkin Spice Drink
Apparently the mascot for autumn beverages, pumpkin spice drinks have grown in popularity in recent years. The eponymous pumpkin spice brings that autumn feeling and is nicely sweetened when mixed with brown sugar, milk and whipped cream.
Maintaining sobriety
While these times can make staying sober harder, it’s not impossible. If you’re going to an event and want to bring something, you might want to bring one of these drinks to make sure you have a safe option.
If you need help or are at risk of relapse this holiday season, ask for help. Sensitive treatment providers are at your side with advice and action when you are in need.