How to Host a Great Party Where Nobody Has to Drink

Many party guest lists in India now include people who are not drinking that night. They might be a friend who goes running at 6am or someone who has stopped drinking. Hosts used to set aside a small corner of soft drinks for them. A simpler approach is one drinks table with good options for everyone, and no comments about who drinks what.

Rule one: one table for everyone

Put the non-alcoholic beer in the same ice bucket as the regular beer, not on a separate shelf for the non-drinkers. When both options sit together, nobody notices which one a guest picks, and that is the whole goal. A guest holding a SOMA looks like a guest holding a beer, because SOMA is a beer.

Rule two: do not comment on anyone's drink

The quickest way to spoil a mixed table is to ask a guest why they are not drinking. As the host, you set the tone. Offer every drink once, and do not comment on what anyone chooses.

How much to buy

For a party of 10 to 12 people, stock 6 to 8 non-alcoholic beers as well as the regular beer. Some of the guests who drink alcohol will probably have one too, often late in the evening, when they want to slow down. A 6-pack of 500ml SOMA cans costs ₹894 at launch, which is ₹149 a can, and unopened cans keep until the next party.

Serve it cold, in a glass

The usual rules for serving beer apply. Serve it at 4 to 6°C and pour it into a glass. If you remember only one thing, chill the non-alcoholic beer properly, because a warm one is as disappointing as any warm lager.

Pairing the menu (from our own pairing chart)

Sundowner, the crisp lager, is the easy choice for a crowd. Serve it with momos, paneer tikka, wood-fired pizza, grilled chicken or anything fried. Juice Riot, the hazy IPA, is made for the spicy dishes, such as biryani, chilli paneer, barbecue wings and tacos. Its big tropical hop flavour eases the heat better than a strong beer can, because alcohol makes chilli feel hotter and Juice Riot stays under 0.5% ABV. Sunday Wit goes with fresh, brunch-style dishes such as Thai curry, bruschetta, eggs and lemon tart. Dark Arts is the beer to end a dinner party with. Serve it with seekh kebab, smoked barbecue, aged cheddar and, above all, chocolate dessert. Stout with brownies is our favourite pairing in this post.

Two drinks that take five seconds to make

A SOMA shandy is half a can of Sundowner with fresh lime and a pinch of salt, and it suits a Bangalore afternoon. A beer-mosa is Juice Riot topped with fresh orange juice, and it is a good drink for Sunday brunch. Both take far less effort than a cocktail.

For the host who is also not drinking

A host who is not drinking used to spend the party pouring drinks for everyone else while their own glass stayed empty. Pour yourself the stout instead and join the toast. The party is just as good, and you wake up the next morning without a hangover.

Every SOMA beer in this post is under 0.5% ABV. You can pre-order at shop.getsoma.store. Production starts after December 2026, and nothing ships before then. Delivery in Bangalore will cost a flat ₹29.