Here are a variety of recipes for easy-to-make mocktails. Most ingredients are probably already in your fridge. If not, a quick trip to your local grocery store will solve the problem. Measures are approximate.
| Apple juice | 1 litre (4 cups) |
| Whole cloves | 10 |
| Whole allspice | 10 |
| Ground nutmeg | Dash |
| Salt | Pinch |
| Cinnamon | 2 sticks |
Supplies: Large saucepan, mugs. Mixing: Pour juice into saucepan. Add spices. Cover and heat on low until almost boiling. Serve in mugs. (Serves 6)
| Butter | 15 ml (1 tbsp) |
| Brown sugar | 80 ml (1/3 cup) |
| Cinnamon, nutmeg | Pinch of each |
| Allspice, cloves | Pinch of each |
| Strong freshly brewed coffee | 1.4 litres (5.5 cups) |
| Milk | 200 ml (3/4 cup) |
| Orange or lemon twists |
Supplies: Large saucepan, mugs, electric beaters (optional). Mixing: In saucepan, beat butter and sugar into a creamy consistency. Blend in spices. Add hot coffee and stir until sugar melts. Stir in milk and heat just to boiling. Pour into heated mugs and garnish with orange or lemon twists. (Serves 6)
| Cranberry juice | 1 litre (4 cups) |
| Pineapple juice | 1 litre (4 cups) |
| Water | 250 ml (1 cup) |
| Salt | Pinch |
| Cinnamon | 2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) |
| Ground cloves | 3 ml (3/4 tsp) |
| Nutmeg | 1.25 ml (1/4 tsp) |
| Allspice | 2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) |
| Cinnamon sticks | 10 |
Supplies: Large saucepan, mugs. Mixing: Combine spices and water in the saucepan. Stir and bring to a boil. Add fruit juices and reheat just to boiling point. Serve piping hot with a cinnamon stick stirrer in each cup. (Serves 10)
| Apple juice | 1 litre (4 cups) |
| Lemon juice | 60 ml (1/4 cup) |
| Soda | 875 ml (3.5 cups) |
| Lemon peel | 8 strips |
Supplies: Two litre (8 cups) pitcher or bowl. Mixing: In the pitcher, combine apple and lemon juice. If serving drinks at once, add soda. If serving individually, half fill glasses (4 oz) with soda and top with apple-lemon mixture. Garnish with a lemon strip. (Serves 8)
| Peach nectar | 1 litre (4 cups) |
| Grapefruit juice | 1 litre (4 cups) |
| Carbonated water | 1 litre (4 cups) |
| Ice cubes |
Supplies: Large 4 litre (16 cups) mixing container, pitcher (optional). Mixing: Combine all the ingredients and mix. Scoop into a pitcher, then pour into ice filled glasses. (Serves 12 to 15)
| Cranberry juice | 1.14 litre (4.5 cups) |
| Orange juice | 1 litre (4 cups) |
| Almond extract | 5-10 ml (1-2 tsp) |
| For tart drink: soda | 2 litres (8 cups) |
| For sweeter drink: ginger ale | 2 litres (8 cups) |
Supplies: One 8 litre (2 gal.) container for mixing. Punch bowl and cups, or highball glasses. Mixing: Chill all the ingredients for at least 3 hours. Combine the juices in your mixing container and all almond extract to taste. Cover. Refrigerate. Add soda or ginger ale just before serving. (Serves 20)
Does food, coffee, exercise or a cold shower help sober you up?
Only time can sober you up or lower your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). Contrary to popular belief food, coffee, cold showers or exercise will not speed up the elimination of alcohol from your system. You are safest if you completely separate driving from drinking. Transport Canada states that if you have a BAC of .08 it takes about six hours for your body to completely process that alcohol and return to a BAC of zero.
What’s considered an average drink?
A 1.5 ounce of distilled spirits, a five-ounce glass of table wine or a 12-ounce glass of regular beer will all have the same effect on the body.
Do I have to blow .08 per cent or higher to be charged with drinking and driving?
No. Despite what most people think, blowing .08 per cent or higher on a breath alcohol test is only one of three ways you can be charged with impaired driving under the Criminal Code of Canada.