Many readers know that, like some eight million people in England, I have what’s politely called ‘a problem with alcohol’. Actually, I don’t have a problem now because I gave up alcoholic drinks some 45 years ago now, having nearly lost my life to the compulsion - a good part genetic in my case.

Now, enforced isolation from two years of lockdown plus high levels of anxiety, still ongoing, have led to a large increase in the numbers of people drinking at levels considered to be dangerous, according to the government’s Office for Health Improvement and Disparities.

If ‘no-drink-drinks’ - mocktails - sounds like a downer, it is emphatically not. Years back, people used to tell me I couldn’t possibly have a good time without drinking alcohol. Not true at all; I have an infinitely better time. Being in the grip of a physical and mental compulsion is an appalling and very sad place to be. But what chaps like me really, really want is delicious non-alcoholic drinks so I was delighted to discover a bunch of Merry Mocktails, devised by The Mixer.

Yes, I know The Mixer website comes from the Campari Group and is mostly about alcoholic cocktails – which is fine for people who don’t have a problem with alcohol. I’m just glad to see they are giving recipes for ‘mocktails’ as well. Both for people like me and, of course, for everyone who wants to drive home safely.

RECIPES

1. Cranberry Fizz Punch:  I’m going to serve this for our Christmas party. Mix it up just before guests arrive, The Mixer recommends.

Ingredients

• 700ml cranberry juice

• 700ml freshly squeezed orange juice

• 450ml lemonade

• 450ml soda water or sparkling mineral water

• About 260g frozen cranberries

• A few sprigs of rosemary or thyme

• Lime and orange slices

• Ice

Method

1. Pour all the liquid into a large punch bowl

2. Add frozen cranberries, orange and lime wheels and garnish with fresh thyme or rosemary

3. Add ice and stir gently

4. Serve with a ladle and chilled glasses on the side so that everyone can help themselves.

2. Grapefruit & Rosemary Christmas Mocktail: this is almost virtuous!

Ingredients

• Juice of 1 freshly squeezed grapefruit

• 6 cherries – remove stones

• About 60ml sugar syrup (make a batch with 125 ml water to 125g sugar; heat in small saucepan until sugar dissolves then cool]

• Soda water or sparkling mineral water

• 2 rosemary sprigs

Method

1. Add the cherries and sugar syrup to a highball glass, and mash down vigorously with the back of a small wooden spoon (or use a cocktail ‘muddler’)

2. Add the grapefruit juice and fill the glass with ice

3. Top with soda and garnish with rosemary.

3. Cherry Lime Rickey – sweet, tart and delish!

Ingredients

• 15ml cherry syrup (easy to find online)

• 30ml freshly squeezed lime juice

• 120ml soda water or sparkling mineral water

• 3 Maraschino cherries [The Mixer recommends Luxardo brand)

• Lime wedge

• Rosemary

• Ice

Method:

1. Add the lime juice and cherry syrup to a highball glass and stir

2. Add ice and cherries

3. Top with club soda

4. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and a wedge of lime.

Prize Draws