If there’s anything St. Patrick’s Day is known for, it’s the color green and drinking a lot of alcohol. You might see people trotting around with borgs full of green liquid or sitting in bars clinking pints to celebrate. If anything, the holiday serves as a golden excuse to go out and get drunk. Which is great for those who drink — leprechauns are short and so is life. But the drinking-centric holiday can be a little tricky to navigate for those who don’t drink. Don’t get green with envy while abstaining from drinking though, because you’ve got options. Whether you still want to enjoy the socialization aspect of the holiday’s partying or just want to do something special for the occasion, here are a few ways to celebrate a sober St. Patrick’s Day as a non-drinker.
Fill your borg with a mocktail.
Just because you don’t drink doesn’t mean you can’t have a borg at your side for St. Patrick’s day. You can still give your gallon a festive name, decorate it with shamrocks and rainbows and pots of gold, and fill it up with a tasty, alcohol-free beverage. If you’re looking for something really simple, you could go with lime-flavored sparkling water or Sprite or lemonade and green food dye. Or you can fill it up with a mocktail recipe. Look for punch recipes (ideally green ones), since those are going to make a larger quantity than a single serving. Though, I’d recommend avoiding dairy-based bunches like those with sherbet.
Try non-alcoholic Guinness and Irish-inspired mocktails.
Guinness, being an Irish stout, is a staple in St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. But you’re not out of luck if you don’t drink, because Guinness has a non-alcoholic version: Guinness 0. Now, fair warning, you can’t buy it in some states if you’re underage. But if you are over 21, grab some stout glasses and give it a try in the name of the holiday.
Depending on where you live, some local bars might have non-alcoholic beers available if you’re wanting something to sip on while out on the town. If you’re staying in and want to put in a little more effort than opening a can, try mocktail versions of classic Irish (or St. Patrick’s Day-inspired) cocktails like Irish Coffee or Shillelagh cocktail.
Cook up an Irish classic.
Look, St. Patrick’s Day is a Tuesday, and maybe you don’t want to hit the town. Or maybe you’d just simply rather avoid the crowds and have a smaller celebration. In addition to popping open a can of Guinness 0, consider whipping up an Irish meal. Try rich, meaty Irish stew, shepherd’s or cottage pie (my personal recommendation) or Dublin coddle.
If you’re looking for sides, go for colcannon, which is like Irish mash potatoes, boxty, which are Irish potato pancakes, or some soda bread (it’s easier than sourdough too). And if you’re looking for something sweet, try out Irish apple cake.
Make Jello “shots.”
Jello shots…without alcohol…so is what I’m recommending to make green Jello? Almost, yeah. Mocktail Jello shots can be made by replacing the alcohol in the recipe with refrigerated fruit juice or soda. Jello shots are undeniably fun — great for a holiday celebration — so why miss out on the treat when you can just make a version that works for you? Plus, if you’re wanting to be super on theme, there are plenty of ways to decorate your Jello “shots” for the occasion. Who doesn’t like sour rainbows, whipped cream, and sprinkles?
Sample Irish snacks.
If you’re planning ahead, and don’t mind splurging a little, consider ordering a few traditional Irish snacks or candies to try on St. Patrick’s Day. Taytos, Keogh’s crisps, Oatfield Emerald chocolate caramels, and even Cadbury are just a few of your options. And hey, with this route, you can enjoy snacks while making use of the holiday to try out another culture’s foods.
Go all in on the gimmick.
Pour yourself a bowl of Lucky Charms. Add some green food-dye to your drink. Enjoy some chocolate coins. Make a mint milk shake (or grab a Shamrock Shake). There are plenty of silly, non-alcoholic ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, even if they’re a little gimmicky. What matters is finding a way to get you in the playful spirit of the holiday sans alcohol, a task not even remotely as hard as hunting down gold at the end of a rainbow. So grab a pint of Guinness 0 or an Irish treat, turn on the Dropkick Murphys, and enjoy your non-alcoholic St. Patrick’s Day