3 Lessons I've learned after almost four years of throwing parties sober.

1. Always put an end time on the invitations. You'll often find "Carriages at 1 AM" in the UK on formal invitations. So, I decided to carry the tradition to my parties. When throwing my "Merry Merry" Christmas party this year, I mentioned on the group text that it would end by 9 PM, to coincide with my non-negotiable bedtime.

2. Make it about something other than booze. Activities work great, especially if there are kiddos around. So many parties are just about the drinks, but I've learned that incorporating an activity or two works wonders to take the focus off the pounding of the drinks. We play white elephant with the children every year when we have our annual Merry Merry Christmas party. They always get super excited about it, and it's a fun time for the whole family. We also do a prize for best Christmas jumper.

3. Provide NA alternatives to everyone. This year, I offered Wild Idol sparkling wine OR a glass of Prosecco. I'm not a massive fan of spending money on ethanol, especially for people I love, because of the harm I know it causes, so I give everyone the choice. At this point in the game, fewer and fewer people are doing major boozing in my home, which I love. Offering a NA alternative also normalises the idea (for the little people watching) that you actually don’t need alcohol to have fun!

What are some of your party tricks for having a great party without alcohol?