This article was published on January 6th, 2023

With a new year comes new goals, ambitions, and resolutions. This doesn’t mean you should miss out on cute and fun drinks. Enter the mocktail! Many people decide to cut alcohol from for the month of January. For some, this can be a difficult choice. Whether it’s for weight loss or sobriety, short-term or indefinitely, the switch can feel a bit jarring.

If you’re joining the weight-loss crowd this year, keep this Shirley Ginger on hand. Going “cold turkey” doesn’t always work, and that craving for sweet drinks is hard to dismiss. Have you ever watched a gay go without their iced coffee? You can still have a little “something something” without breaking your calorie count. After all the sugar and holiday food, cutting back in January is always at the top of the list, and this mocktail is low-calorie enough to give you a guilt-free treat.

If sobriety is your focus this year, but you still enjoy mixing drinks, this is for you. So much of queer culture happens in clubs and bars. While this can make for exciting evenings, the pressure to drink can be strong. Don’t feel like you need to miss out on social events because you might be called out for not drinking. A mocktail like the Shirley Ginger is covert enough whether you’re trying to blend in or have a colorful drink in hand on the dance floor!

If nothing else, being able to mix up a great, low-calorie mocktail for your friends who are chasing their own goals is a wonderful sign of support. Much of our queer experience is centered on support and love for each other. If you have someone who’s decided to cut the alcohol, mixing this up at the next brunch will show that you care and support their new life journey. 

Here’s everything you need: 

• 4 oz ginger beer 
• ¾ oz lime juice 
• ¼ oz grenadine

Add ginger beer and lime to a highball glass filled with ice. Stir. Slowly add grenadine. Garnish with dehydrated lime round and a maraschino cherry. 

Enjoy and drink responsibly.