A drink of one's own

Want to pace yourself over the festive season? Cutting back on your alcohol intake or avoiding drinking at social events doesn't need to be a bore. The State Library of New South Wales has a range of book-themed, alcohol-free mocktail recipes to try out this summer.

What do you get when you cross literary favourites with delicious thirst-quenching concoctions?

Whether you are going alcohol-free or just wanting to cut back on your drinking during the festive season you will find some tasty, refreshing options in the Literary Mocktails recipe collection from Drug Info.

Mocktail recipe menu

• Bah Humbug – a Dickens-inspired sweet and sour extravaganza of pomegranate, mint and lime
• A sidecar named desire – abandon yourself to this Tennessee Williams-inspired ginger delight
• Grape expectations – get fruity with this sweet and tart grape and cranberry classic
• Tequila Mockingbird – like sunrise in a glass, inspired by Harper Lee's modern masterpiece
• The turn of the screwdriver – get eerie with this Henry James-inspired blood-coloured fizz
• Watermelon for elephants – a hot pink coconut romance inspired by Sara Gruen's once banned novel

Mocktails are a great alternative to alcoholic drinks for designated drivers, pregnant women, young people or anyone wanting to reduce their alcohol intake or avoid alcohol all together.

Drug Info is a specialist service of the State Library of New South Wales, in partnership with NSW Health. The service manages the Drug Info website, the Drug & Alcohol Info Hub (a travelling interactive information display for communities), a collection of plain language books and factsheets for NSW public libraries and public programs.

For free and confidential advice 24/7 call Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS) on 1800 250 015. Counsellors are available to provide information, referrals, crisis counselling and support. Or start a Web Chat with an ADIS counsellor online Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 5pm.