Burns Night is a great chance to see how much of the positive side of alcohol culture lies in its social trimmings rather than the substance, in this case a shared ritual and in being accepted on equal terms. With goodwill this is achievable regardless of our drinking preferences.
An alcohol-free Burns Night dram-alike can be a real help and you can make one for next-to-nothing with some black tea. a formula used for generations on stage and screen. As with most alcohol-free drinks its largely about joining in and avoiding unhelpful comments. Sláinte! ■
