AAA's Great Pretender's Non-Alcoholic Holiday Drink Recipes Add Taste to the Party

Nonalcoholic drink guide helps reduce drunk driving deaths

AURORA, Il - December 3, 2007: With descriptions such as "spicy," "fresh," "brisk" and "zesty," AAA Chicago's popular and free booklet of nonalcoholic drink recipes combines good taste with good advice to help reduce drinking and driving deaths and injuries during the holidays. The 2007-2008 Great Pretenders Party Guide features some of the best nonalcoholic drink recipes gathered from AAA's Diamond Award-winning restaurants throughout the Midwest.

Designed to conveniently fit inside a stocking (hung by a chimney with care), the Great Pretenders Party Guide takes the alcohol, but not the fun, out of upcoming holiday celebrations.

For a true taste of Christmas try Cinnamon Cheer, from the Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn, Mich., or maybe something a little more on the healthy side such as Pomegranate Lime Fresh, from The Fairmont Chicago, both AAA Four-Diamond rated establishments.

These are just a couple of the alcohol-free drink recipes included in the 2007-2008 special edition of The Great Pretenders Party Guide, published by The Auto Club Group and available free online (www.AAA.com/Pretenders) or at participating AAA branch locations.

The nonalcoholic recipes in the compilation were provided by AAA Diamond-rated hotels and restaurants in the eight states served by the six AAA clubs in The Auto Club Group (ACG): AAA Chicago, AAA Michigan, AAA Minnesota/Iowa, AAA Nebraska, AAA North Dakota and AAA Wisconsin.

According to the National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA), in 2006 more than 17,600 people died in the United States in alcohol-related crashes. That's about one death every half hour.

To emphasize the drinking and driving problem, the guide has several charts showing how alcohol affects drivers. There also are tips for helping party hosts monitor alcohol consumption and deal with someone who drinks too much.

In addition to nonalcoholic drink recipes, the guide has information for party hosts on trendy new food items that are tasty and easy to prepare.

To obtain free copies of The Great Pretenders Party Guide, visit any AAA branch office in person, call toll-free 866-YOUR-AAA (968-7222), or download a copy of the booklet at www.AAA.com/Pretenders.