Everyone will have their own reasons for choosing not to drink alcohol. It could be for their mental health, due to a history of substance use, wanting to avoid a hangover or to feel more present in the moment. Whatever their reason, they deserve support from family and friends.
A person could be going alcohol free for their physical health too. Alcohol is a known risk factor for cancer and has been linked to seven types of cancer including mouth, throat, bowel, breast (female) and liver. Despite this, alcohol forms a part of many social and cultural activities in Australia, but nearly two-thirds of South Australians don’t adequately perceive alcohol as being an important risk factor for cancer.
Here are our top tips to help you support your friends and family being alcohol-free this festive season:
1. Provide non-alcoholic drink options
You can get creative with mocktails and experiment with fruity, savoury, and even spicy flavours. Mixing and matching your own mocktails can be a great way to cater for guests of all ages, all while offering a great alternative to alcohol for those who may not want to drink or would like to cut down on their alcohol consumption.
A focus on food can also steer the conversation away from drinks. If you’re preparing meals for your festive event, check out some of our delicious, healthy recipes.
2. Plan fun activities for your guests
Festive events can be more than a sit-down meal or a barbecue. If you’re organising end of year celebrations for work or your social group, consider activities that don’t centre around alcohol.
These might include outdoor games like backyard cricket, group activities like a game of charades, or even wellness sessions like yoga or meditation.
By thinking about fun and connection outside of alcohol, you can ensure that guests feel included in celebrations and activities regardless of their drinking preferences.
3. Supportive small talk
Small talk at parties and events can revolve around alcohol. Hosts can quickly ask a guest what they’re drinking or offer alcohol as the first drink out of habit. But for alcohol-free guests, these social niceties can sometimes feel exclusionary or like peer pressure to drink.
Planning some conversation starters which don’t revolve around drinking alcohol can be a small, simple way to include all your guests. You could ask about holiday traditions, goals for the new year or highlights from the year just gone, to name a few ideas.
It is also important to not question a guest too hard if they tell you they’re not drinking. Pressing someone for a reason can make them feel pressured into drinking or like an outsider in a social setting.
4. Alternatives to alcohol-based gifts
It’s all too easy to buy a bottle of something for the person you don’t know well. However, there are many gift options available which don’t centre around alcohol.
Snacks and crafts make a great gift option—even more so if you’re able to make them yourself. If you’re unsure what a person might enjoy or if they have any dietary restrictions, check with a mutual friend before you get started.
You could also opt to get someone a gift voucher, allowing them to spend it on something of their choosing. Or giving someone a silly, novelty gift can be a great way to break the ice and get your guests talking.
Want to learn more?
Your guests could have any number of reasons for choosing to go alcohol-free. Some might be exploring sober curiosity – a movement which encourages a more mindful relationship to alcohol.
In 2023, Cancer Council SA spoke to public health researcher Dr Belinda Lunnay about her studies into sober curiosity. Her research indicated there were a lot of social pressures around drinking, including Australia’s social drinking culture making it difficult for some to say no.
We have also heard from members of our community on how their relationship with alcohol changed because of cancer. Former “Wine Mum” Becky spoke to Cancer Council SA in 2025 to share her cancer story and how things changed for her when she decided to go alcohol-free.
If you’re sober curious and want more tips on how to enjoy being alcohol-free this festive season, check out this post from the Alcohol and Drug Foundation.
For confidential telephone counselling, information and referral service, you can call the Alcohol Drug Information Service (ADIS) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 1800 250 015.
