When you need this

Bars, restaurants and parties have their own vocabulary, and you need it whether you drink or not. Most of it is about three things: what kind of drink it is, how it's served, and how much someone has had. The words for nonalcoholic drinks are part of the same set, and they're more common every year.

In the US, you have to be 21 to buy or drink alcohol, and bars check ID at the door or when you order. Plenty of adults don't drink at all, for reasons of health, faith, sport, or no reason they need to share. So the words "nonalcoholic," "mocktail" and "designated driver" are as normal on an American night out as "beer" and "wine."

Phrases

with alcohol, or without it

a sweet, fizzy drink with no alcohol

a mixed drink made without alcohol

beer served from a barrel, not a bottle

a mixed drink with alcohol

served over ice

one drink for each person in the group

early evening, when drinks and snacks cost less

asked to show ID to prove your age

the person who won't drink so they can drive

not affected by alcohol at all

a little affected by alcohol, or a lot

feeling sick the morning after drinking too much

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Practice · 3 min

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