Celebrating Valentine’s may conjure up images of picnics with Champagne, a dinner out with red wine, toasting to love, or pretty cocktails sipped as lovers meet on the year’s most romantic date night.
For many people, however, having alcohol for a Valentine’s celebration may not be the preferred tipple of choice. Pregnant women, those for whom alcohol may interfere with medication, or people who are simply choosing not to imbibe need not despair – celebrating an alcohol-free Valentine’s Day can be just as enjoyable, says Ayanda Mvandaba, CEO of Drink Nil, an online retailer specialising in non-alcoholic wine, gin, spirits, and beer.
“Valentine’s Day is a special day of love and affection, but we’ve all grown used to images of happy couples celebrating with chocolate, flowers, and wine. The reality is that you don’t need alcohol to enjoy an occasion or to have fun. A drink may help you to relax and be more comfortable if you’re feeling nervous, but once you get into the swing of things without having had a drink you realise it’s possible to have a great time without alcohol.”
That’s not to say you need to make Valentine’s toasts with a glass of water or juice. Rather, says Mvandaba, it’s that there are so many delicious non-alcoholic choices out there to choose from. “In the past alcohol-free drinks were often sugary or had a basic, rather unappealing, flavour profile. But the range of non-alc drinks has grown so much that people now have a wealth of high-quality options to choose from.”
For fun ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day without alcohol, try these activities:
Serve breakfast in bed
Valentine’s Day falls on a Wednesday this year, so your work schedule may not allow you to indulge in a leisurely midweek breakfast. Still, it’s an adorably romantic way to start the day, so keep it simple with muffins or waffles that you simply have to warm up, along with sliced strawberries, cream and a glass of OJ – all served on a pretty tray.
Cook a romantic dinner
Prepare an intimate and quiet dinner together at home. Choose your favourite recipes or try something new, such as preparing a dessert together. Select a Spotify playlist of easy-to-listen background music, then dial up the mood with candles, a beautifully laid table adorned with rose petals, and heart-shaped ice cubes placed in a water jug on the table. “This is one night of the year that you have full permission to do all the cheesy things that say I love you,” remarks Mvandaba. “Set the tone for the evening by watching the sunset together – it’s such a romantic thing to do. For added fun, dress up on the night and relish one another’s company – it’s a lot cuter than sitting in a crowded restaurant.”
Make delicious mocktails
Celebrate the day of love with yummy mocktails that are beautifully garnished. With summer still in full swing, refreshing non-alcoholic drinks will prove a winner on a hot evening, especially because they won’t make you feel hungover the next day,” says Mvandaba.
There are many easy mocktail recipes online that can be made with alcohol-free gin or spirits, she adds. “Impress your partner by pouring them sparkling cranberry punch with slices of lemon in, or add strawberries to a Pina Colada mocktail for a pretty-in-pink drink. Grapefruit mocktails are also perfect to quench summer thirst. Have fun pairing fruity flavours with non-alc spirits and spritzers and don’t skimp on beautiful glass and garnishes… think citrus twists, edible flower petals, cucumber ribbons or fruit skewers.”
Create DIY gifts
Get creative and make handmade gifts for each other. Whether it’s a scrapbook of memories, a personalised playlist, or a heartfelt letter, putting time and effort into a gift shows how much you care. Buy basic art supplies and have an art session painting or sketching each other, or simply the sunset or outdoors. Even if you aren’t the arty type, you’ll have fun and it will be a sweet memento of Valentine’s Day.
Treasure hunt
A treasure hunt is fun at any age. Treasure can be anything from a poem that you’ve written about your loved one, to their favourite chocolate bar, or a pair of movie tickets. You could try this in your own house or garden… just plan it in advance and try to make the clues romantic, fun, and not too easy!
Write love letters
Take the time to write heartfelt letters to each other expressing your love and appreciation. Exchange them and read them aloud to each other for a touching and intimate moment. “I write notes to my husband all the time and pop them into his lunchbox, place them where he can find them at random, or if I ask him out on a date. Love notes are a thoughtful touch that capture a moment – they show your partner you’re thinking of them and taking time from your day to say so. Plus they’re fun to find!”
Whether you’re on a first date or you’ve been together for ages, the pressure to have a good Valentine’s experience never goes away, so Mvandaba advises that you plan it together as a couple. “Make planning what you’re going to do a part of the experience. If one half of a couple feels they have to come up with the idea for a perfect date, it can create unnecessary pressure. The more things you can do together, the better the experience will be.
“Above all, enjoy yourself. Worrying about whether it will all go to plan is normal, but it helps to remember that you don’t expect your date to be perfect, so don’t put that pressure on yourself. And definitely don’t try and pre-determine the outcome – just decide that you’re going to have a fun time, and enjoy yourself!”
