Thanksgiving Cocktails

About author / Victoria Wesseler

Healthy eating advocate; master gardener; local food expert. Even veggie haters love her recipes.

With the holiday season fast approaching; my guess is that alcohol sales and, for some individuals, personal alcohol consumption will increase. Pre-dinner cocktails, champagne, wine, beer, and other alcohol based drinks are often a traditional part of many seasonal events and celebratory meals. “Responsible hostessing” dictates that you would never serve your guests excessive amounts of alcohol at an event in your home and you would probably be as cautious in a public setting such as a bar or restaurant. But what defines excessive drinking? A glass of champagne or two before dinner? A six-pack of beer during a sporting event? A pre-dinner cocktail, a glass or two of wine with your meal, and an after dinner drink? How much is too much? And is it really true that moderate alcohol consumption can actually be good for you?

When it comes to the debate over the health benefits of drinking alcohol in moderation, there are a number of sources defending any number of positions. Find one that says there are benefits and you’ll quickly find another that warns of the risks. Some experts, including those at the Mayo Clinic, say that moderate drinking may have some health benefits. Moderate drinking is defined on the Mayo website as one drink per day for an adult woman or an over 65 year old adult male and two drinks per day for an adult male under 65 years old. A standard drink is the equivalent of 12 ounces beer, a 5 ounce glass of wine, or 1 ½ ounces of liquor.

Those who say that moderate drinking has health benefits cite the possibility of individuals reducing the chance of developing heart disease and stroke. Those who caution about the risks of even moderate consumption cite an increased risks of cancer, heart muscle damage, fetal alcohol syndrome, and liver problems.

Certainly there are people for whom even the slightest amount of alcohol can be a hazard to their health including, but not limited to, those who have a history of strokes, liver disease, and women who are pregnant. And individuals who are on certain types of medication, both prescription and over the counter, should take great care when indulging in alcoholic beverages.

So, here are a few tips for the holiday season, or any time for that matter. Drinking alcohol is your personal choice and responsibility. Feel free to just say no and enjoy a club soda or other alcohol-free beverage at parties or meals. If you do partake, know your limits. Talk to your doctor about your personal health status and what’s right for you when it comes to alcohol consumption. And when you’re the host or hostess, offer your guests a selection of non alcoholic drinks, such as sparkling bottled water, juices, and soft drinks.

This Thanksgiving, we will be serving “Apple Gobbler” and “Plymouth Rock” cocktails before dinner. I created them so you can simply omit the liquor in both and still have a refreshing alcohol free drink for the kids, designated drivers, or non-drinking adults at your event. Enjoy!

Serves/Makes: 1

• 1 1/2 ounce Plymouth gin
• 1/3 cup cold cranberry juice cocktail
• fresh cranberries threaded on a cocktail pick

Serves/Makes: 1

• 1/2 cup unfiltered apple cider, chilled
• 1 1/2 ounce bourbon whiskey
• 1 long cinnamon stick