National Mocktail Week

Starting the year right with a bit of a body cleanse after many people have been drinking quite a bit of alcohol during the preceding holiday season, this event goes hand in hand with Dry January, which is celebrated during the entire month.

But instead of making it seem like it’s a chore to give up alcohol for the month, National Mocktail Week offers an opportunity to make it feel like a celebration that everyone is invited to!

History of National Mocktail Week

This event was founded in 2018 as the idea of Marnie Rae, who is an online influencer, cancer survivor and supporter of clean living.

As a person who is 17-years sober, Marnie Rae’s website contains a wide range of recipes for mocktails, inspiration for those in midlife, encouragement for people facing cancer, and much more.

National Mocktail Week was established to help people live their lives in a healthier manner while still enjoying a delicious drink – which doesn’t need alcohol to be tasty.

With an eye toward better health, as well as a fuller bank account, this event encourages folks to enjoy and delight in some of the most tasty beverages while giving their brains and bodies a rest from the alcohol!

How to Celebrate National Mocktail Week

Enjoy a Mocktail

The beauty of mocktails is that they can be enjoyed without having to face the consequences of feeling woozy, headachy, or any of the other struggles people can have with their health when they drink alcohol!

National Mocktail Week encourages everyone, of any age, to celebrate with a special beverage that simply doesn’t need alcohol to taste great.

Head over to a favorite restaurant to enjoy a Shirley Temple, Virgin Margarita, or some other delightful cocktail without the booze.

Make Mocktails at Home

Have loads of fun getting involved with National Mocktail Week by grabbing some recipes and having a fun, alcohol-free, night with friends and mocktails. Check out some of these delicious mocktail ideas:

• Winter Sans-gria: made with cranberry juice, lime juice, ginger ale and rosemary sprigs
• Hibiscus Mint Spritz: use Hibiscus syrup, lime juice, muddle mint leaves and club soda
• Vanilla Fig ‘Martini’ – with fig jam, lemon juice, honey, cream soda, vanilla bitters and a lemon twist

Learn About the Impact of Alcohol

One excellent way to celebrate National Mocktail Week might be to learn a bit more about what alcohol does to the body and why it might be a good idea for some people to cut back or even avoid it altogether.

While it is true that some medical professionals say that a glass of wine a day can be fine, or even healthful, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns that the potential for harm is much higher than the protective impact and no level of alcohol consumption is truly safe.

Here are some of the reasons to consider reducing the amount of alcohol consumed:

• Alcohol has been classified as carcinogenic, increasing the risk of cancer
• Studies have shown that alcohol use can cause the brain to shrink
• As depression rates rise globally, it’s important to remember that alcohol is a depressant and can make depression worse
• Alcohol can negatively affect motivation, decision-making, relationships, work life, judgment, mood, memory and so much more