15 Fun Non-Alcoholic Drinks For Your Next Party

You can have fun without booze. We do it all the time. You can also throw a great party without the alcohol, especially if you have a menu of non-alcoholic fun drinks at your disposal.

What are the best non-alcoholic drinks for a party? The best non-alcoholic beverages for a party are crowd-pleasing, refreshing drinks you know most guests will enjoy.

These can mean creative mocktails or big batch punches that make it easy on party planners with a more extensive guest list. 

Ingredients We Love

What is the most popular non-alcoholic drink? The most popular non-alcoholic drink in the United States and everywhere else is soda. Still, you don’t have to stop at mixers when you’re planning your party. 

Whether you’re going for alcohol-free versions of classic cocktail recipes or playing with creative concoctions, there are some ingredients to keep in case the party mood strikes.

• Sparkling sodas, tonic water, etc.
• Ginger ale or ginger beer
• Herbal teas
• Fruit juices (pomegranate juice, grapefruit juice, or apple cider)
• Fresh citrus for juicing and garnishes
• Shrubs or drinking vinegars
• Frozen limeade/lemonade
• Sugar or alternative sweeteners (simple syrup, agave, pure maple syrup)
• Herbs and spices, (cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger, mint)
• Verjus*
• Non-alcoholic spirits
• Coconut water
• Grenadine (It's not just useful for Shirley Temples. Play with that sunset effect on your coolest mocktails.)
• Non-alcoholic wine (You knew it was coming! Make it non-alcoholic sparkling wines if you want some fizz.)

*Verjus, or verjuice, is an acidic pressed juice from unripened grapes. Like wine or sweeter grape juice, it can be red or white. You can use it in your cooking, much like red or white wine vinegar, or use it as a mixer in your mocktails. We’ll share an after-dinner option!

Batching: Your New Best Friend

Introverts, feel free to work the bar if that’s what you’re after, but we assume most of you want to mingle at your own party. Big-batch mocktails and party punch recipes are the best way to keep drink service stress-free. 

Feel free to double or triple these recipes for non-alcoholic beverages as you see fit. Some of these non-alcoholic cocktails require room in your fridge or freezer, so keep that in mind as you make your big party batches.

Virgin Mimosa

A virgin mimosa has to be one of the most versatile mocktail recipes. Need some baby shower mocktails? Give ‘em mimosas. Planning a Mother’s Day brunch? Moms love mimosas. Keep things alcohol-free so everyone can get in on that orange juice and fizz, even pregnant besties.

Our favorite virgin mimosa recipe uses Surely non-alcoholic sparkling Brut as a champagne substitute. Still,  you can play around with other fizzy components if you’d like. 

Image Credit - Taste of Home

Citrus Slush

A big batch of this citrusy slush from Taste of Home is like an upgraded take on homemade lemonade. If you can’t find the gelatin listed below, this works with other flavors, too. A cherry limeade blend would be a pretty stellar summer drink, too. This one serves 25.

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ cups sugar (or your favorite sugar substitute)
• 1 package each lemon and pineapple gelatin
• 4 cups boiling water
• 1 can frozen (thawed) pineapple juice
• 1 package of unsweetened lemonade mix
• 1 cup lemon juice
• 10 cups cold water
• 2 liters of chilled ginger ale
• Lime slices for garnish

Steps:

1. Dissolve sugar and gelatin in boiling water in a large container.
2. Stir in the juices, lemonade mix, and cold water.
3. Cover and freeze, stirring a few times along the way. 
4. Remove from the freezer at least an hour before serving. 
5. Stir the mixture until it gets to your desired slushiness. 
6. Before serving, transfer 9 cups of the slush to your punch bowl and mix with half your ginger ale. 
7. Repeat with the rest of your slush and ginger ale.
8. Garnish with lime.

Image Credit - Better Homes & Garden

Garden Tea Punch

Iced teas are always a crowd-pleaser in groups that aren’t drinking alcohol, and this one is easy to batch for a larger party. Elevate your garden party with this punch from Better Homes & Gardens that’s big on mint. Club soda at the end adds some unexpected fizz. This one serves 8.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup water
• ⅓ cup sugar
• 1 ½ tablespoons mint (plus more for garnish)
• ½ cup orange juice
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• 1 cup brewed tea
• ½ liter club soda
• Ice cubes

Steps:

1. Bring water, sugar, and mint to a boil in a large saucepan. 
2. Remove from heat. 
3. Steep for 20 minutes.
4. Strain the mixture through a sieve and discard the solids.
5. Stir in tea and juices.
6. Chill for at least 2 hours.
7. Add club soda just before serving. 
8. Pour over ice and garnish with extra mint.

White Sangria

A white sangria is perfect for summertime parties where you’re worried about spillage. Our recipe for non-alcoholic white sangria starts with our dealcoholized sauvignon blanc, then we take some liberties with our fruit preferences.

Feel free to play with whatever berries or tropical fruits are in season. If it’s cranberry season, this one is great as a winter holiday drink or at the start of Dry January. The fizz in this one comes from a can of club soda, sparkling water, or ginger ale.

Image Credit - The Spruce Eats

Sparkling Cranberry Punch

That shoutout to Christmas mocktails got us thinking about cranberries. When served in a chilled punch, those tart flavors are welcome year-round. This easy batch punch from The Spruce Eats serves up to 25. Just chill all of your ingredients before putting this one together.

Ingredients:

• 2 quarts cranberry juice
• 1 can frozen pink lemonade, thawed 
• 1-liter sparkling water
• Ice cubes
• Fruit slices for garnish

Steps:

1. Combine cranberry juice and lemonade in a large punch bowl.
2. Stir in sparkling water.
3. Serve over ice and garnish with sliced fruits.

Image Credit - Kitchn

Smoky Watermelon Agua Fresca

A touch of smoked paprika adds surprising savory notes to this cooler from Kitchn. We see this one going over well at summertime barbecues with grill-heavy menus. Dust the finished drinks with additional salt and paprika for a fun touch. This one serves 10.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs seedless watermelon, cut into chunks
• Juice from one lime
• 2 teaspoons smoked sea salt
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• Sparkling water
• Ice
• Lime wedges for garnish

Steps:

1. Pulse watermelon, lime juice, salt, and paprika in a blender until smooth.
2. Pour the mixture into a bowl through a mesh strainer.
3. Serve the mixture over ice.
4. Top with sparkling soda and lime wedges for garnish. 

Image Credit - Southern Living

Maybe Margarita Mocktail

The “maybe” in the name isn’t any judgment on whether this one is delicious because that’s a “yes.” It’s the shocked look you’ll get when you tell your friends no tequila bottles were opened as part of its creation. Serve 5 with this recipe from Southern Living that’s easy to double.

Ingredients:

• 5 cups limeade
• ½ cup orange juice
• ¼ cup fresh lime juice
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt (plus a little extra for a salt rim)
• 2 cups soda water or seltzer of your choice
• Ice cubes
• Lime wedges

Steps:

1. Stir limeade, orange juice, and lime juice in a pitcher or punch bowl.
2. Add salt and stir until it’s dissolved.
3. Top with soda. 
4. Add ice.
5. Serve in salt-rimmed glasses with lime wedges for garnish.

Cucumber Mint Spritzer

Our refreshing cucumber mint spritzer is a play on a mojito mocktail without having to break out the muddler. That bright green hue is perfect for spring or summertime gatherings. If you don’t love cucumber, watermelon and mint are a delectable combo, too. 

We love our Surely sparkling Brut with this one. The cans are easy to pack if you’re planning a party on the go.

Image Credit - Slumber & Scones

Strawberry Shrub Julep

If your party simply demands mint juleps — the Kentucky Derby comes to mind — have some fun with shrubs in this recipe from Slumber & Scones. New to shrubs? The combo of sugar, fruit, and vinegar is a sober bartender’s go-to when a drink calls for a little sweet and sour. 

This one makes 4, but shrubs are easy to batch and cool in the days leading up to more significant events.

Ingredients:

• 8-10 fresh or frozen strawberries
• ¾ cup sugar
• ¾ cup white balsamic vinegar
• Sea salt
• Fresh mint leaves
• 2 cups soda water

Steps:

1. Heat strawberries, vinegar, and sugar over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves.
2. Mash the strawberries and let the mixture thicken for 5-8 minutes.
3. Stir in a pinch of sea salt.
4. Transfer mixture to a covered container and let it cool completely.
5. Pour mixture over ice, ½ cup of soda, and mint. 
6. Stir to combine.
7. Garnish with more mint.

Image Credit - Cook With Manali

Blueberry Ginger Cooler

It’s never a bad time to serve up fresh blueberries. This cooler from Cook With Manali adds a hint of spice with fresh ginger for the perfect picnic spritz. The recipe starts at 6 servings, but it’s easy to double for a large group.

Ingredients:

• 1 liter water
• 1 ¼ cups blueberries (plus more for garnish)
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger
• 3 cans lemon-lime sparkling water
• Ice cubes
• Mint for garnish

Steps:

1. Bring water, blueberries, and ginger to a boil.
2. Add sugar and mix until dissolved.
3. Lower the heat and mash the blueberries.
4. Simmer for up to 15 minutes.
5. Cool the mixture completely.
6. Let the mixture sit at room temperature for 2-3 hours.
7. Strain the syrup and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve.
8. Serve over ice and top with sparkling water, blueberries, and mint garnish.

Image Credit - Chelsea’s Messy Apron

Raspberry Sherbet Punch

This family-friendly punch from Chelsea’s Messy Apron is easy to adapt depending on the event and fruit preferences. For an extra touch, freeze half of the sherbet in scoop form. Garnish with those at the end to keep your punch colder and looking pretty. Serve up to 24 with this one.

Ingredients:

• ½ gallon raspberry sherbet
• 2 liters lemon-lime soda
• 4 cups of pineapple juice
• Raspberries for garnish

Steps:

1. Mix sherbet with lemon-lime soda and pineapple juice in a punch bowl.
2. Garnish with raspberries (and frozen sherbet scoops if you took that step).

Image Credit - Vegetarian Ventures

Hibiscus Arnold Palmer

Serve an Arnold Palmer but make it fancy. This iced tea recipe from Vegetarian Ventures is an herbaceous addition to any backyard gathering or picnic party. It serves 6, but is easy enough to double and batch.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup lemon juice
• ½ cup agave nectar
• 3 ⅓ cups filtered water
• 4 cups prepared hibiscus tea
• Mint leaves, lemon slices, and blueberries for garnish

Steps:

1. Bring ⅓ cup water and ⅓ cup agave syrup to a boil
2. Stir and let simmer for 3 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and pour into a pitcher.
4. Add lemon juice and the remaining water.
5. Pour in your tea and stir.
6. Serve over ice with garnishes.

Non-Alcoholic Peach Bellini

This fruity mocktail is a fancy addition to any daytime party menu. If they’re in season, we love the idea of fresh peaches in this one, but there’s no shame in frozen peaches or peach nectar.

Our non-alcoholic peach bellini blends peaches with Surely bubbly and honey or agave syrup for a refreshing, slightly sweet treat perfect for summertime soirées. Add a little fresh mint for garnish to make it even prettier.

Image Credit - Iowa Girl Eats

Strawberry Coconut Water Lemonade

Homemade lemonade is always a hit at parties. Add strawberries and coconut water to take that lemonade straight to the islands. The sparkling water in this recipe from Iowa Girl Eats is optional, but we always like a little spritz at our barbecues. This one serves 5 but is easy to double.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup water
• ½ cup sugar/sweetener of your choice
• ¾ cup lemon juice
• 1 lb strawberries
• 2 cups coconut water
• Ice cubes
• Sparkling water

Steps:

1. Make a simple syrup with water and sugar on the stove or in the microwave. 
2. Chill the syrup thoroughly.
3. Combine lemon juice and strawberries in a blender until smooth.
4. Stir in coconut water and syrup to taste.
5. Pour over ice.
6. Top with sparkling water.

Image Credit - The Zero Proof

Ginger and Verjus Dessert Mocktail

Every dinner party deserves a sweet ending. This recipe from The Zero Proof mixes verjus, one of our favorite acidic ingredients, with brown sugar and ginger for something that’s sweet, a little spicy, and maybe even a little sassy, try it for Sober October. It serves 4, but is easy to double for larger dinner parties.

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup water
• ¼ cup verjus
• 1 cup ginger ale
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups crushed ice

Steps:

1. Make a quick simple syrup with brown sugar and water on the stove or in the microwave.
2. Stir syrup with verjus, ginger ale, and vanilla.
3. Pour drink over crushed ice.