Question:It has finally become obvious to me that I am putting my kids at risk by always serving alcohol when our friends and family party, but serving non-alcoholic punch or pop seems so dull. What can I serve that is non-alcoholic and looks and tastes special?

Answer: Here’s a list of recipes for non-alcoholic drinks provided by the Minnesota Prevention Resource Center:

Sangaree Punch

Chill 1 quart of cranberry cocktail and 1 cup of grape juice. At serving time, pour chilled juice over cracked ice. Top with maraschino cherry, lemon slice and orange slice.

Houdini Cocktail

1/2 pint strawberry ice cream

1 cup milk

4 teaspoons bottled grenadine syrup

Whole strawberries

Beat ice cream and milk until foamy thick in blender; pour into glasses.

Pour grenadine from spoon down inside each glass (forms bright crimson layer at the bottom).

Garnish with strawberries. Three to four servings.
Catawba Cocktail

Place several ice cubes in a large old-fashioned glass. Add a dash of lime juice. Garnish with cherry and a slice of orange. Fill glass with Catawba grape juice.
Mexican Sunset

1 cup chilled orange juice

1 1/2 jiggers grenadine

Pour orange juice into tall glass. Add grenadine and allow to settle on bottom. May be served over ice. One serving.
Shirley Temple

1 serving of ginger ale or lemon-lime soda

1 jigger of grenadine

Fill old-fashioned glass with ice cubes and ginger ale or lemon-lime soda. Add grenadine. Garnish with orange slice and cherry.
Orange Julius

1/3 cup frozen orange juice concentrate

1/2 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup water

5 or 6 ice cube

1/4 cup sugar

Combine all ingredients in blender; cover and blend until smooth. Two to three servings.
Pina Colada Perfecto

1 jigger crème of coconut

2 jiggers pineapple juice

1 1/2 jiggers club soda

Mix over ice. One serving
If you would like to talk about the challenges of raising children, call the toll-free Parent WarmLine at 1-888-584-2204/Línea de Apoyo at 877-434-9528. For free emergency child care call Crisis Nursery at 1-877-434-9599. Check out www.familiesandcommunities.org.

Maryanne Law is the executive director of the Parenting Resource Center in Austin.