Many people wonder if alcohol should be served at baby showers. While there are no hard rules, most baby showers do include some alcoholic options for the guests. The expectant mother may enjoy a mocktail or virgin cocktail, while other guests can indulge in a glass of wine, champagne, or a cocktail. Moderation and crowd preferences should guide alcohol choices. Read on to learn more about common alcoholic drinks served at baby showers.
Should alcohol be served at baby showers?
Alcohol is not required at baby showers, but it is generally acceptable to serve it in moderation. Here are some things to consider:
- Expectant mothers should not drink alcohol, so provide tasty non-alcoholic options for them.
- Know your crowd and what they will likely enjoy drinking.
- Limit alcohol to wine, champagne, beer, and simple cocktails.
- Offer a style of drinks that matches your baby shower theme.
- Provide plenty of non-alcoholic drinks as well.
- Serve alcohol responsibly and do not allow guests to overindulge.
With some forethought and care, serving alcohol at a baby shower can add to the festive atmosphere. The key is keeping quantities modest and focusing more on the mocktails and refreshments for the guest of honor.
Non-alcoholic drinks for expectant mothers
Since pregnant women should abstain from alcohol during pregnancy, here are some delicious non-alcoholic drinks to offer the guest of honor:
| Beverage | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Virgin piña colada | Pineapple juice, coconut milk, lime juice, simple syrup |
| Shirley temple | Ginger ale, grenadine, maraschino cherries |
| Sparkling lemonade | Lemon juice, simple syrup, sparkling water |
| Berry spritzer | Berry juice, sparkling water, fresh berries |
| Non-alcoholic sangria | Fruit juice, sparkling water, sliced fruit |
These festive mocktails let the mom-to-be celebrate with a fun drink too. Feel free to get creative with fruit purees, herbs, juices, and garnishes.
Champagne and sparkling wines
When it comes to alcoholic options, champagne and sparkling wines are common choices. They add a touch of sophistication and celebration to any baby shower. Consider serving:
- Champagne – Opt for a brut champagne, which is dry with crisp acidity.
- Sparkling wine – Cava from Spain or Prosecco from Italy are crowd-pleasing sparkling wines.
- Sparkling rosé – Pink sparkling wines are festive and trendy.
- Juice spritzers – For a lighter drink, mix sparkling wine with fruit juice or nectars.
- Mimosas – The classic champagne and orange juice cocktail always hits the right note.
Offering a sparkling wine toast is a great baby shower tradition. Just be sure to have plenty of non-alcoholic options on hand for expectant moms and any guests who abstain from drinking.
White and red wine
In addition to bubbly, many baby showers also offer white and red wine options. Follow these tips for picking crowd-pleasing wine:
- Pick an inexpensive wine since it’s unlikely guests will linger over multiple glasses.
- Choose a medium-bodied white like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.
- Select an easy-drinking red such as Pinot Noir.
- Offer blush wines for those who enjoy something between white and red.
- For daytime showers, lean towards chilled, bright whites.
- Serve wines at the appropriate temperature – whites chilled, reds at room temp.
Having at least one white and one red allows guests to choose their preference. Include wine stoppers and pour spouts to prevent opened bottles from going to waste.
Beer and cider
In addition to wine, serving beer and hard cider is an option if it fits your baby shower style. Consider these tips:
- Choose crowd-pleasing lager beers or ales, not IPAs which can be polarizing.
- Offer a wheat beer like Blue Moon which appeals to many palates.
- Select a cider that is moderately sweet such as Angry Orchard.
- Be sure to have pint glasses for the perfect beer-drinking experience.
- Keep bottles on ice to chill before serving.
- Offer lemon and lime slices as garnishes.
The key is selecting easy-drinking options that appeal to a wide range of preferences. For a casual co-ed shower, beer and cider may help guests feel relaxed.
Cocktails and punches
Fun cocktails and punches allow guests to indulge while keeping quantities in check. Some ideas include:
| Drink | Recipe |
|---|---|
| Baby shower punch | Lemonade, ginger ale, and juice poured over ice with sliced fruit |
| Bellini | Peach nectar or puree topped with Prosecco |
| Mango margarita | Tequila, triple sec, mango puree, lime juice |
| Pomegranate cosmo | Vodka, Cointreau, pomegranate juice, lime juice |
Float some cute baby shower picks or flowers in the punch bowl. Offering individual cocktails shows guests they can enjoy one festive drink.
Serving tips
Once you’ve selected what to serve, keep these tips in mind:
- Encourage guests to hydrate with plenty of water too.
- Offer fun drink stirrers, straws, citrus slices, olives, and other garnishes.
- Set up a self-serve station so guests can help themselves.
- Use punch bowls, pitchers, and drink dispensers for large batches.
- Keep plenty of ice on hand to chill wine, beer, and cocktails.
- Hire a bartender if your budget allows to free you up to mingle.
With some ice, garnishes, and festive glassware, you can elevate any beverages for your baby shower.
Mocktail and cocktail recipes
Want to wow guests with delicious mocktail and cocktail recipes? Here are some to consider:
Mocktails
Virgin Mojito
– 1 cup ginger beer
– 1⁄2 cup lime juice
– 8 mint leaves
– 2 tbsp agave nectar
– Lime slice garnish
Muddle mint leaves with agave nectar in a glass. Add ice, lime juice, and ginger beer. Garnish with lime.
Strawberry Basil Lemonade
– 1 cup strawberries, sliced
– 15 basil leaves
– 1⁄2 cup lemon juice
– 1⁄4 cup agave nectar or simple syrup
– 2 cups cold water
Muddle strawberries and basil. Add lemon juice, agave, and water. Pour over ice and garnish with strawberry slices.
Blueberry Orange Spritzer
– 1 cup blueberries
– 1⁄2 cup orange juice
– 1 tbsp lime juice
– 1 cup sparkling water
– Orange slices
Muddle blueberries in a glass. Add orange juice, lime juice, and sparkling water. Garnish with an orange slice.
Cocktails
Watermelon Margarita
– 1 1⁄2 oz tequila
– 1⁄2 oz triple sec
– 3⁄4 cup watermelon puree
– 1⁄2 oz lime juice
– Lime wedge garnish
Rim glass with salt or sugar. Add ice and ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into glass. Garnish with lime.
Peach Bellini
– 2 oz Prosecco
– 1 oz peach nectar
– Sliced peach garnish
Pour peach nectar into a champagne flute. Carefully top with cold Prosecco. Garnish with a peach slice.
Pomegranate Punch
– 1 bottle pomegranate juice
– 1⁄2 cup vodka
– 1⁄4 cup lemon juice
– 1 tbsp honey
– Pomegranate seeds
Stir together pomegranate juice, vodka, lemon juice, and honey until combined. Pour over ice and garnish with pomegranate seeds.
Non-alcoholic drink ideas
Don’t forget about all the delicious non-alcoholic beverages you can offer guests who don’t drink.
- Fruit infused water with citrus, berries, cucumbers, or melons
- Fresh juice blends like orange carrot or apple beet
- Iced tea sweetened with honey, lemonade, or agave nectar
- Spa water with sliced fruit and herbs like mint, basil, or rosemary
- Hot coffee drinks like mochas, lattes, and chai tea
- Virgin Bloody Mary’s or Mango Mary’s
- Italian sodas with flavored syrups and sparkling water
- Smoothies or frappes made with fruit and juice
- Flavored hot chocolate with espresso, spices, or peppermint
- Sparkling punches with juice, soda, herbs, and sliced fruit
Let guests add their own custom garnishes like citrus wheels, fresh herbs, berries, and melon balls using decorative skewers.
Non-alcoholic punch recipes
Punches are easy to make in big batches and please both kids and non-drinking adults. Try these recipes:
Strawberry Lemonade Punch
– 3 cups lemon juice
– 2 cups sugar
– 8 cups cold water
– 2 cups strawberry puree
– Sliced strawberries and lemons for garnish
Stir together lemon juice, sugar, and water until sugar dissolves. Mix in strawberry puree. Add sliced fruit before serving.
Hibiscus & Ginger Punch
– 3 cups brewed hibiscus tea
– 1 cup ginger juice
– 1/3 cup honey
– 3 cups pineapple juice
– 1 cup lime juice
– Pineapple and lime slices
Combine all ingredients except fruit slices. Refrigerate until chilled. Pour over ice and garnish with fruit slices.
Blueberry Mint Limeade
– 4 cups water
– 1 cup lime juice
– 1 cup blueberries
– 1/2 cup sugar
– 20 mint leaves
– Lime and blueberry garnish
In a pot, combine water, lime juice, blueberries, and sugar. Muddle berries and simmer until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and add mint. Let cool, then refrigerate until ready to serve over ice with fruit garnish.
Conclusion
Determining what drinks to offer at a baby shower requires some thought about the guest of honor’s preferences and the shower’s style. While the mom-to-be will enjoy delicious mocktails, many hosts also include champagne, wine, or simple cocktails in moderation for other guests. The key is providing a variety of festive, crowd-pleasing beverages so all can celebrate the mom-to-be and baby. Just be sure to focus on tasty non-alcoholic options for the guest of honor.