New Year's Eve Cocktails: Decorating Ideas for Your Drinks

Okay, so it's that time of year, once more - Christmas is over, but you've still got New Year's Eve to see through, right?
Whether you've got a few pesky teenagers hanging around for the 'big countdown', or some elderly relatives that aren't prepared to try out a good old Cosmo, there's bound to be something for everyone, in this article.

Serving Suggestions & Decorations:
Okay, so, before I dish out the best cocktail recipes, I'm going to give you a few pointers on how to serve them, bearing in mind the occasion.
Sparklers: Well, they're not just for bonfire night / fourth of july, you know! You can prop them up in practically anything, just be sure they're not anywhere where they're likely to catch alight, obviously.
If you have any ring-shaped punch bowls (i.e - with a hole in the middle), place a mound of playdough or blu-tac in the middle, and prop a few sparklers in the middle, lighting them just as your guests are arriving - the longest lasting ones stay alight for about five minutes, so make sure they're paying attention!
Party Poppers: No, you don't have to wait until the big moment to pop a couple of these - why not pop a few over your table, before serving any food, or simply sprinkle some confetti over your tablecloth?
Water Coolers: No, I don't mean the boxes you have to keep your beers cold at the beach; these are plastic versions of ice cubes, which you can get in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colors - these are great for parties, and you can purchase a variety of 'celebration' style ones, perfect for New Year's Eve.

The Drinks:
Okay, so that was the basic decoration ideas, and now it's on to the drinks, right?
All these 'recipes' focus on using up any leftover drinks you might have from Christmas, meaning you won't have to go out and spend a fortune on more alcohol, or have to try and find something kid-proof, either.
Fruity Firework:
This can be adapted for alcohol, but is a brilliant idea for your 'designated driver' or any teens staying up to see the new year through.
All you'll need is a quarter glass of pomegranate juice, quarter of a glass of orange juice and half a glass of lemonade (which you would replace with champagne, if you wanted an alcoholic version, obviously!). Pour the three over ice, and coat the rim of the glass with a small amount of sugar, to combat the acidity of the orange and pomegranate.
The Snowball:
A known Christmas classic, this is perfect for any elderly relatives or teenagers, who have to watch their alcohol intake, although many people love this traditional drink.
It's great for using up any leftovers you have from Christmas, so all in all, it's pretty perfect!
Simply take two shots of Advocaat (you can buy this from most supermarkets, especially around Christmas time, it's a pale yellow color, for those who don't know), and a shot of lime cordial (just squeeze half a fresh lime, if you can't find the cordial), and mix them in a cocktail shaker.
Pour these two over ice cubes, and top the glass up with lemonade.
Serve with a slice of lime, if you so wish.
Amaretto Coffee:
Great if people are starting to get a little tired, as the night comes to an end, make use of that Christmas amaretto, by simply splashing about a cap-full into a mug of black coffee.
Alternatively, if you're guests aren't a fan of very strong coffee, why not try two-thirds of a mug of coffee, and top it up with some Baileys?
Trust me on this one, it tastes a lot better than it sounds.

Okay, those are a couple of drink ideas for New Year's Eve, I hope you all put them to some good use!