How to Host a Summer Party When Not Everyone Drinks

There is something about summer that makes us want to have people over.

Maybe it's dinner outside when the sun doesn't disappear until almost nine. Maybe it's friends around the pool, music playing somewhere in the background, or one of those nights when everyone planned on staying for an hour and somehow nobody leaves until it's dark.

And when we start planning those nights, we tend to think about the same things.

• What's for dinner?
• Who's bringing what?
• Do we have enough chairs?
• What should we drink?

That last question almost automatically becomes beer, wine, and cocktails.

Which is fine.

But then someone isn't drinking.

Maybe they're sober. Maybe they're cutting back. Maybe they're driving. Maybe they're pregnant. Maybe they're taking medication. Maybe they simply don't feel like drinking tonight.

And suddenly we're standing in front of the refrigerator saying:

We have water?

It doesn't have to be a big deal.

In fact, that's kind of the point.

You don't need to turn your summer party into a sober event just because some of your guests don't drink. A little thought beforehand can make everyone feel like they were actually considered.

Here are seven simple ways to do it.

1. Don't Make Alcohol the Starting Point

Think about the best parties you've been to.

It probably wasn't the bottle of wine you remember.

You remember the people. The food. The music. Someone telling a story that had everyone laughing. Sitting outside long after dinner was finished. The friend who said they were leaving three times and somehow stayed another two hours.

Start there.

Plan a night people want to be part of, and let the drinks be one piece of it.

When alcohol stops being the main event, whether someone is drinking becomes a lot less important.

2. Give Alcohol-Free Drinks the Same Attention

This doesn't mean you need an elaborate menu of handcrafted mocktails.

It just means putting a little more thought into the alcohol-free side of the cooler.

Good sparkling water. Fresh lemonade. Iced tea. Something with fresh fruit. A pitcher you've actually made ahead of time.

Put it in good glassware. Add ice. Slice some citrus.

Make it something you'd happily choose yourself.

There is a big difference between offering someone an alcohol-free drink and making them feel like you remembered them when you planned the party.

3. Don't Make Anyone Explain Why They're Not Drinking

This might be the easiest thing on this entire list.

Someone says, “I'm not drinking tonight.”

You say, “Cool, we've got a bunch of stuff.”

That's it.

They don't owe the room an explanation.

You don't need to ask whether they're doing a challenge, trying to lose weight, pregnant, taking a break, sober forever, or just sober until Tuesday.

And if someone reaches for an alcohol-free option without saying anything at all?

Even better.

Let people drink what they want to drink without turning their choice into a conversation.

For someone who is newly sober or quietly reconsidering their relationship with alcohol, that small bit of normalcy can mean more than you realize.

4. Make It Obvious What's Alcohol-Free

If you're serving both alcoholic and alcohol-free drinks, make the difference easy to understand.

Nobody should have to pick up a beautiful pitcher and wonder what's inside.

This doesn't require giant signs announcing that the alcohol-free drinks are over here.

Keep it simple.

Separate pitchers. Different garnishes. Small labels if necessary. Keep alcohol bottles away from the alcohol-free setup.

The goal isn't to draw attention to who's drinking what. It's to make choosing easy.

5. Give the Night Something Else to Revolve Around

One reason alcohol can become such a big part of gatherings is that sometimes there isn't much else happening.

So give people something to gather around.

Put together a great playlist. Make dinner outside. Light the firepit when the sun goes down. Put out a yard game. Serve dessert later instead of immediately after dinner. Take a walk to the beach. Let the kids jump in the pool way past when they're supposed to.

It doesn't need to be organized entertainment.

You're simply creating little moments throughout the night that have nothing to do with refilling a glass.

6. Make Alcohol-Free Feel Special, Not Like a Substitute

Alcohol-free drinks don't have to spend their entire existence pretending to be alcoholic ones.

Sometimes you don't need fake tequila.

You need a really good drink.

Fresh fruit. Herbs. Citrus. Sparkling water. Interesting flavors. A beautiful glass. Lots of ice.

Make something that belongs on the table because it's delicious, not because it's the consolation prize for whoever isn't drinking.

7. Remember Why Everyone Came

Eventually the sun goes down.

The plates get cleared.

Someone turns the music down.

People start gathering their things and saying goodnight.

And nobody leaves thinking about the exact bottle of wine that was served.

They remember the night.

The conversation you didn't expect to have. The ridiculous thing somebody said at dinner. The song everyone knew. The kids running through the yard. The breeze that finally showed up after a hot day.

That's what you were hosting all along.

Not drinks.

People.

And whether someone had wine, sparkling water, or something you made especially for them doesn't have to matter nearly as much as we've been taught to think it does.

The Nova Pour: Zero

We've been wanting to create something new around here.

Not a collection of alcohol-free drinks trying desperately to convince you they're cocktails.

And definitely not a sad glass of club soda with a lime dropped into it.

The Nova Pour: Zero is about making alcohol-free drinks and mocktails we'd genuinely want to make, serve, and drink.

Some will be simple. Some might get a little fancy. They'll change with the seasons and the moments we're making them for.

But every one starts with the same rule:

It has to be good enough that nobody feels like they're getting the backup option.

For our first Pour: Zero, we started with a simple idea: blackberry, vanilla, lime, and bubbles. Then we built a drink around it.

Blackberry Vanilla Soda

An Easy Blackberry Mocktail for Summer

Fresh blackberry. Soft vanilla. Bright lime. Lots of ice and sparkling water.

This one belongs outside on a warm August evening.

What You'll Need

• Fresh blackberries
• Vanilla simple syrup
• Fresh lime
• Chilled sparkling water
• Plenty of ice
• Fresh mint or a lime wheel for garnish, optional

How to Make It

Lightly muddle a few fresh blackberries in the bottom of a glass.

Add plenty of ice, a splash of vanilla simple syrup, and a squeeze of fresh lime.

Top generously with chilled sparkling water and give everything a gentle stir.

Taste it. Want it brighter? Add more lime. Want a little more sweetness? Add another splash of vanilla. Make it the way you actually want to drink it.

Finish with fresh blackberries, mint, or a lime wheel if you have them.

That's it.

Nothing pretending to be something else.

Just a really good summer drink.

Making It for a Party?

Set out the blackberries, lime, vanilla simple syrup, ice, and sparkling water and let everyone build their own. It keeps the sparkling water cold and bubbly, and guests can make their drink sweeter, brighter, or more fruit-forward depending on what they like.

If you're also serving alcohol, keep the Pour: Zero ingredients together so guests know exactly where to find an alcohol-free option without having to ask.

A Good Host Makes Room for Everyone

Hosting people who don't drink doesn't require changing the entire party.

It requires the same thing good hospitality has always required.

Pay attention to the people you're inviting.

Make them comfortable.

Give them something good.

And then stop worrying about what's in everybody's glass and enjoy the night with them.

We'll bring the drinks. Pour: Zero.

Frequently Asked Questions