September serves as Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. Raise awareness in the office when you celebrate happy hour, build rapport and unwind without alcohol. All the recovering alcoholics will appreciate the gesture, and you stay healthier, too.
1. Skip the Bar
Naturally, most happy hour celebrations occur in a bar. That location encourages drinking, though. Instead, arrange to meet in a non-alcoholic location like the break room, a local restaurant or under a park’s pavilion. Provide snacks and non-alcoholic beverages as you help coworkers release stress and get to know each other better while staying sober.
2. Serve Non-Alcoholic Drinks
You don’t need cocktails or beer to have fun. Serve juice, lemonade and coffee or tea instead. Three faux beverages also create an atmosphere of fun without ruining the party.
*For a tropical taste, serve Acapulco Gold. It combines coconut cream, pineapple juice, grapefruit juice and whipping cream. Serve it over ice as a refreshing and healthy drink.
*Babylove mixes coconut milk, pineapple juice, plain cream and banana syrup. Pour it over ice and top with banana slices for a cool beverage.
*Stir grenadine and orange juice together to make the Batman Cocktail. When served over ice, it tastes delicious and sweet.
3. Plan a Fun and Social Alternative
Rather than meeting for drinks, plan a socially fun alternative like bowling, zip lining or karaoke. You could also visit a museum, take a painting class or volunteer at an animal shelter together. The shared activity assists your coworkers in building bonds, and the focus is on fun and teamwork rather than alcohol.
All the non-alcoholic happy hour celebrations in the world won’t keep an alcoholic from drinking. They can, however, encourage people in recovery to stay committed to health. Likewise, if you or a coworker have a drinking problem, contact your insurance company about available resources to help you quit and get sober and healthy today.
