6 Mocktail Recipes for Summer

What are Mocktails?

When you think of summer, often the first image that comes to mind is sitting on a patio or on the beach enjoying the warm, sunny weather while enjoying an ice-cold beverage. There are ways to cool off and enjoy a hot summer’s day without having to engage in alcohol consumption. Mocktails, an abbreviation for “mock cocktails”, are nonalcoholic beverages that mimic the same look and taste as festive cocktails. Mocktails come in different varieties including frozen drinks, hot or cold, fizzy or non-fizzy beverages, and can even include cream-based recipes. Mocktails provide individuals a nonalcoholic drink option that will be sure to fancy your taste buds while respecting your desire to remain sober and stay true to the goal of sober living.   

Why Cut Back on Alcohol?

Each person will have their own unique reasons for wanting to quit alcohol use or cut back on the amount of alcohol they are consuming. Regardless of your original motivation for quitting your use of alcohol, there are many benefits of reducing or eliminating your alcohol consumption including:

Improved Sleep Patterns

Engaging in alcohol abuse will impact your ability to have a deep, restorative sleep, similar to the challenges some face when weaning off Zoloft. After consuming alcohol, many will find that they awake early and are unable to return to a state of deep, restful sleep. When you significantly reduce the amount of alcohol that you are consuming, much like reducing intake when weaning off Zoloft, you will find your quality of sleep will improve. This, in turn, will improve other areas of your life, including your ability to focus and concentrate and a general shift in your mood and disposition.

Increased Energy

Eliminating the use of alcohol will improve your energy level as alcohol tends to create feelings of sluggishness, and tiredness, and instill a lack of motivation. Once you quit consuming alcohol, individuals will begin to experience an increase in energy and motivation. 

Better Quality of Moods and Emotions

Alcohol abuse impacts a person’s brain functioning by interfering with the neurotransmitters which are responsible for your mood and mental health. Alcohol has been known to worsen symptoms of anxiety and create additional stress which then further impacts your overall mood and mental health. As you eliminate or reduce your alcohol consumption, you will feel a difference in your moods and feel happier more of the time. 

Improved Skin

Due to alcohol dehydrating your body, your skin will become dehydrated resulting in gray or dull skin. After a short period of time of reducing your alcohol consumption, you will notice your skin becoming hydrated and looking brighter and full of color again. 

Concentration Levels Improve

When you are in the midst of alcohol consumption, you will feel difficulties in your ability to concentrate and remain focused on tasks at work, school, or within your home due to the brain fog it can create while under the influence of alcohol or while you are hungover.  Once you quit or cut back on your alcohol abuse, you will eliminate the stress and haze of intoxication and you will begin to feel in tune with your emotions and be able to be present at the moment to stay focused on healthy work/life balance.

Better Stomach Functioning

The use of alcohol has been known to cause severe stomach problems including irritable bowel syndrome, heartburn, and gastritis. Quitting alcohol consumption will improve your stomach and digestive system functioning and begin to eliminate the problems that were created during your alcohol abuse. 

Promote Weight Loss

Consuming alcohol equals consuming empty calories. Most alcoholic drinks are high in sugars and high in calories causing unnecessary weight gain. When you quit your use of alcohol, individuals will often experience weight loss. 

6 of Our Favorite Mocktail Recipes for Summer

Cranberry Sangria

Ingredients

Preparation

Step 1
Divide the ice cubes among 4 large serving glasses. Top with the pineapple, orange, and passionfruit.

Step 2
Divide the cranberry juice and ginger beer among the glasses. Top with the mint leaves and pomegranate seeds.

Strawberry Ginger Lemonade

Ingredients 

Preparation

Muddle strawberries in a highball glass. Add Lemon-Ginger Brew and stir well. Fill the glass with ice and garnish with a lemon slice.

Watermelon Mojitos 

Ingredients

Preparation

Step 1
Place sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to high. Bring to the boil. Boil, without stirring, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Set aside to cool completely.

Step 2
Place watermelon in a blender. Blend until smooth.

Step 3
Place lime slices in a large jug. Using the end of a rolling pin, slightly crush lime to release juice. Add watermelon, soda water, lime juice, and cooled sugar syrup. Stir to combine. Add mint.

Step 4
Combine extra sugar and lime rind on a small plate. Place 1⁄4 cup of water in a separate bowl. Dip the rim of serving glasses into water, then in the sugar mixture. Divide ice among glasses. Add watermelon mixture. Serve immediately.

Pink Grapefruit Fizz 

Ingredients

Preparation

Step 1
Combine sugar and 1 1/2 cups cold water in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until the sugar has dissolved. Add grapefruit juice. Stir to combine.

Step 2

Transfer mixture to a jug. Cover. Refrigerate for 40 minutes or until cold.

Step 3
Add soda water, grapefruit slices, and ice just before serving.

Peach Melba Punch 

Ingredients

Preparation

Step 1
Roughly chop 3 peaches. Place chopped peach and pineapple juice in a food processor. Process until smooth. Transfer to a sieve set over a bowl. Using the back of a spoon, press the peach mixture through a sieve. Discard solids

Step 2
Place 1/2 of the raspberries in a bowl. Lightly crush with a fork. Thinly slice the remaining peach.

Step 3
Place ice cubes in a 2-liter-capacity jug. Add peach slices and purée, and crushed and whole raspberries. Pour over lemonade. Using a large spoon, stir to combine. Top with mint. Serve.

Mango Pine Lime Slushies 

Ingredients 

Preparation

Step 1
Blend the mango, pineapple, coconut water, and lime cordial in a blender until smooth. Divide the ice cubes among 4 large serving glasses and top with the mango mixture.

Step 2
Spoon the coconut cream on top of the mango mixture. Decorate with shaved coconut, lime slices, and pineapple tops, if you like.

Other Sober Friendly Summer Activities

Summer is a season that brings you and your loved ones together to enjoy quality time together in the warm, sunny weather on a summer day often surrounded by friends and social gatherings. Summer is a season that brings people together and there are plenty of sober-friendly activities that you can enjoy with your friends and family that will be enjoyable while keeping you on the road to recovery. Here are some fun activities that you can enjoy throughout the summer that will support healthy living and sobriety 

1. Go for a hike or backpacking trip 
2. Go camping with your family or friends 
3. Cool off by going swimming in lakes, oceans, or rivers while you enjoy the hot weather. While you are there enjoy a refreshing summer drink and your latest snack recipes 
4. Enjoy an ice-cold treat by going to a local ice cream store
5. Take up gardening as a hobby and enjoy creating your own personal oasis within your backyard 
6. Enjoy a local music festival or concert 
7. Attend a farmers market or outdoor night market 
8. Take your family or friends out for a nice outdoor summer picnic and try out new lunch recipes
9. Try a different workout routine such as outdoor yoga or walking 
10. Host a sober barbecue dinner party with your friends and family 
11. Enjoy outdoor games such as beach volleyball, tennis, or lawn bowling 
12. Go for a bike ride 
13. Enjoy a summer mocktail 
14. Try making new dinner recipes with different options of world cuisine with your loved ones 
15. Enjoy gazing at stars on a clear summers night while enjoying sparkling water or other refreshing drinks 

Concerned About Your or a Loved One’s Drinking? 

You may have been concerned about your drinking or a loved one’s use of alcohol for some time and wonder if it is time to seek addiction treatment help for alcohol abuse. The line between socially drinking and heavy drinking can sometimes get blurred for some individuals as alcohol use is common in American culture. Alcohol consumption is defined in the following categorizations:

Moderate drinking- This is characterized by choosing not to drink or if you do engage in alcohol consumption only having 2 drinks or less for men and 1 drink or less for women 

Binge Drinking- This is defined as men drinking 5 or more alcoholic drinks within 2 hours and four or more drinks for females within 2 hours. 

Heavy drinking- This is identified as men having 4 or more drinks on any day and 14 or more drinks within a week and, for females, having 3 or more drinks on any day or having 7 or more drinks within a week. 

If you or your loved one are engaging in binge drinking or heavy drinking behaviors, it may be time for you to address your alcohol abuse within an addiction treatment center. 

Here are 6 mocktail recipes to try out this summer! #mocktails #nonalcoholichttps://t.co/kYiELIiaXM

— Resurgence Behavioral Health (@RBHRecovery) May 2, 2022

Josh Chandler
After growing up in Chicago and North Carolina, Josh chose to get help with substance use disorder and mental health in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than five years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for four years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. Josh remains passionate about the field because he understands that one phone call can alter the course of a person's life.

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