Drivers, people who are pregnant, people on medication, people training for a run and people who simply fancy a night off all end up at your bar. A good alcohol-free section means everyone gets a proper drink, not a warm can of cola from the back of the fridge.
A host who offers good alcohol-free drinks makes every guest feel welcome, and it is part of hosting well. Our hosting safely guide covers water, food and getting guests home, and the NHS has general advice on alcohol and on understanding units. Nobody needs a lecture. The aim is choice, served with the same care as anything else, so that "what are you having?" has a good answer for everyone.
Zero and low options
- Alcohol-free beers and lagers: a wide range now. Keep them as cold as the rest.
- Alcohol-free spirits and aperitifs: for a "G and T"-style serve with tonic.
- Alcohol-free wine and fizz: handy for toasts.
- Low-alcohol options: clearly labelled so guests know what they are getting.
Label them clearly on the menu board and in the fridge so they are not grabbed by mistake. "Low" and "alcohol-free" are not the same thing, so read the label and pass that on to guests rather than guessing. Someone who is driving, pregnant or avoiding alcohol for health reasons may want a drink with no alcohol at all. If you have taps, a dedicated alcohol-free tap shows you take it seriously; see beer taps.
Give the alcohol-free bottles their own shelf in the fridge, at the front, so they are as cold as everything else. A warm alcohol-free beer is a sure way to make someone feel like an afterthought.
Soft drinks and winter warmers
Soft drinks with some effort
- Cordials and tonic: elderflower, lime or ginger with soda and lots of ice.
- Homemade lemonade in a jug.
- Iced tea, made the day before.
- Shrubs and switchels (vinegar-based drinks) for something different.
- Tonics and mixers with fruit and herbs. See garden bar planting for herbs in pots.
Hot drinks for winter
A winter garden bar needs something warm.
- Hot chocolate, with toppings for children and adults alike.
- Spiced apple juice, warmed.
- Tea and coffee from a flask or a kettle.
- Alcohol-free mulled drinks.
A kettle needs a suitable socket; see power. Without power, a couple of good flasks filled in the kitchen do the job, and hot drinks in mugs with blankets on the benches will keep people outside longer than any heater. Keep hot drinks away from small children and do not leave a full kettle on the edge of the counter.
Presentation and the menu board
Presentation
Alcohol-free drinks deserve the same glass, garnish and ice as everything else.
- Use the same glasses as the "proper" drinks. See glass and storage.
- Add a sprig of mint, a slice of citrus or a few berries.
- Serve over plenty of ice. See ice and cooling.
- Give them names on the board, like any house serve.
Putting it on the board
A menu board with an alcohol-free section in the same style as the rest works well.
- List three or four alcohol-free drinks.
- Put them near the top, not at the bottom in small print.
- Use fun names that match the bar's theme.
Our menu boards and chalkboards guide covers surfaces and pens. For theme ideas, see tiki bars and beach bars.
Children, water and keeping stock
Children love their own drinks from the "bar". Use plastic glasses outside, make up a "mocktail" or two and keep them well away from adult drinks, ideally on a different shelf or in a different cool box. See family-friendly garden bars.
Water belongs on every menu. A jug of tap water with ice and a few slices of cucumber or lemon on the counter, with glasses beside it, means nobody has to ask.
For stock:
- Keep a few cans and bottles in reserve so the alcohol-free shelf does not run dry first.
- Ask regular guests what they like and keep one or two of their favourites in.
- Note what goes quickly at a party and buy more of that next time.
Pick three alcohol-free drinks you would happily drink yourself, chill them tonight and give them a name on the board.
Quick answers
What should I have for non-drinkers at a garden bar?
A few alcohol-free beers, an alcohol-free spirit with tonic, a cordial with soda and water. Serve them with the same care as everything else.
How do I make alcohol-free drinks feel special?
Use the same glasses, plenty of ice, a garnish and a name on the menu board.
What hot drinks work in a winter garden bar?
Hot chocolate, warmed spiced apple juice and alcohol-free mulled drinks. See winter garden bars.
Sources
Primary guidance checked 10 November 2026.