The holiday season invariably means holiday parties with alcohol. For people with Parkinson’s, alcohol can affect everyone differently. Some people with Parkinson’s choose to avoid alcohol because it doesn’t mix well with their medications, and they can be more sensitive to hangovers. Some people with PD report they still drink moderately and enjoy it. I found nothing in the literature other than recommendations from naturopathic sites which indicates alcohol affects the central nervous system and should be used with caution.

From Your Medical Source: A modest intake of alcohol is not a problem for people with Parkinson’s disease. However, medications should not be taken with alcohol, and you should avoid alcohol altogether while you are building up the dose of a new drug.

If you are amongst those who choose not to drink alcohol or have family members who do not, here are a few fun healthy non-alcoholic cocktails for the holidays.

Healthy Non-Alcoholic Cranberry-Apple Cider Punch

Ingredients

• 4 cups apple cider, chilled
• 2 cups cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
• 2 cups ginger ale, chilled
• 1 can (12 oz) frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
• Garnish with rosemary cranberry sprig, frozen cranberries or orange peel curls, if desired

Steps

1. In 4-quart container, stir together cider, cranberry juice, ginger ale and orange juice concentrate. Refrigerate until serving time.
2. Just before serving, pour punch into punch bowl. Garnish with cranberries and orange peel curls or rosemary.

Serves 20

Source Betty Crocker

Healthy Non- Alcoholic Pineapple Ginger Sparkler

Ingredients

• 4 cups (1 liter) ginger ale, chilled
• 4 cups pineapple juice, chilled
• 1 piece (2 inch) fresh ginger, sliced thin
• 1 orange, thinly sliced
• ½ cup fresh basil leaves, destemmed

Steps

1. In a 64-ounce pitcher, combine the ginger ale and pineapple juice.
2. Top with oranges, ginger and basil.

Serves 8

Source Tablespoon

Healthy Non- Alcoholic Sparkling Pear Punch

Ingredients

• 2 cups pear juice
• Juice of 1 lemon
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 liters ginger ale
• Sliced fresh pear

Steps

1. Pour pear and lemon juice into a large punch bowl.
2. Stir in sugar.
3. Mix in ginger ale.
4. Add sliced pear for garnish.

Serves 12

Source Tablespoon

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