18 Tips for The Best Booze-Free New Year's Eve

So you aren’t drinking or don’t want to be tempted to drink alcohol and you want to start your new year off fresh. How do you celebrate when you aren’t drinking? All the usual, go-to New Year's Eve ideas for Sober Girls, will look a little bit different. 

It's still possible to have a good time, but before we jump into what to do on NYE, take a deep breath and let any intense expectations, or fears of boredom, slip away. The less pressure you put on the night itself and yourself the better!

Whether it’s your first New Year’s Eve booze-free or your 7th, this year, try something different or start a new New Year’s tradition.

It's still possible to have a good time, but before we jump into what to do on NYE, take a deep breath and let any intense expectations, or fears of boredom, slip away. The less pressure you put on the night itself and yourself the better!

Here are 18 booze-free New Year’s Eve ideas to ring in 2024. 

1. Bake NYE cupcakes: Let's not limit this just to cupcakes, feel free to bake anything your heart desires. Maybe there is a recipe you have wanted to try or a family favorite, but don't forget to make them NYE-themed by sticking a sparkler on top.

2. Zoom: If you're far away or can't hang out with friends and family members, hop on Zoom. To make it feel fun and special, lower the lights and ask each other deep meaningful questions or pull tart cards and light candles.

3. Have a movie marathon: If the thought of peeling yourselves off the couch seems impossible, don't. Stay right where you are and watch movies till midnight, because that counts. And it's also a good excuse to eat popcorn. (As if you needed one.)

4. Learn how to mix NA drinks: Nothing says New Year's Eve quite like a fancy mocktail, so why not roll out your bar cart and make a few non-alcoholic drinks? You could even create a new "2024 cocktail" representing your future.

5. Find your new go-to restaurant: Treat yourself to a buffet of delivery from a few different restaurants, and see which one will be your new go-to spot in 2024.

6. Watch the ball drop: No matter what happens, don't forget to watch the ball drop. The ball in Times Square is always a great choice, but you can make a whole night out of watching celebrations from around the world.

7. Make a vision board for 2024: Turn it into an activity, get out the markers, magazines, and craft paper, and make a collage of places you'd like to go and things you'd like to do, make fun, vibrant "2024 Vision" and stick it to your fridge.

8. Have a pillow fort picnic: Build a pillow fort and spend the night hanging out inside listening to music and eating fun finger foods.

9. Get dressed up: If it's been a while since you've worn anything other than sweatpants, use New Year's Eve as an excuse to get dressed up.

You could even turn your apartment into a club. Put on that glittery top, add a festive "2024" headband, and blast music while you dance around the house.

10. Have a cook-off: Choose a few ingredients, set a timer, and have yourselves a cook-off. Then judge who made the best dish. Reveal hidden skills, like the fact you know how to chop really fast.

11. Do karaoke: Pull up lyrics videos on YouTube or go all out and rent a karaoke machine, and spend the night singing. Karaoke is a perfect NYE activity because it's a guaranteed good time. Bring out your inner Beyonce and hit those notes girl!

12. Do a hot chocolate tasting: For a simple idea that'll give you plenty to talk about, go to Trader Joe's and pick up a few different types of hot chocolate. Discuss how many marshmallows are too many marshmallows, the best chocolate powder-to-milk ratio, and other important issues.

13. Go ice skating: Even if you don't know how to skate, ice skating always reminds me of being a kid and having a good time. Tap into your inner child and do a couple of laps around the rink.

14. Chat about what you're grateful for: Order a pizza, gather yourselves on the couch, and talk about the highlights of 2023, like, perhaps, the fact you are re-evaluating your relationship with alcohol. Aim for about ten things, and discuss why you chose the memory and what it means to you.

15. Play board games: When in doubt, remember that board games will never fail you. So pull out a favorite and play a few rounds.

You'll have something fun to do while you countdown to midnight.

16. Make a TikTok: What better way to commemorate a new year than with a TikTok?  Pinpoint the latest dance trend and give it a try.

17. Cold Plunge: If 2023 had to be wrapped up in two words they would be cold plunge. You have seen the TikToks and Instagram Reels of people submerging themselves into icy water, now it is your turn to reap the benefits. Look up local cold plunge/sauna companies in your area or find a body of water and create your own.

18. Stay in bed: If you can't figure out what to do, hop into bed and stay there till morning. You can watch movies, eat snacks — or all of the above.

Remember, though, it doesn't matter what you end up doing as long as you enjoy yourself. Here’s to a new year and Happy 2024!