Alcohol seems to go hand in hand with the holidays - from cheer to "cheers!" - for better or worse.

For some that presents a personal challenge. For others it creates a conundrum about what to serve the non-drinkers at the gathering. And for many of us a New Year's Resolution to cut back our alcohol consumption is just around the corner. That means a spike in soft-drink sales but, honestly, what non-alcoholic beverage offers the complexities, subtleties and sensations of a finely crafted spirit? Are we doomed to drinking syrupy-sweet "mocktails" on a night out?

Ben Branson, the founder of Seedlip - the world's first non-alcoholic spirits distiller - found the answer to those questions and more in a book of medicinal distillation recipes dating back to 1651 and the company now offers three distinctive flavour profiles in gorgeously evocative packaging. Sip them straight, mix with tonic or apply your best mixology skills to creating the next breed of non-alcoholic cocktails. There's nothing "mock" about them. This truly is the solution of what to drink when you're not drinking.

Just because you choose to drink less, doesn't mean you can't drink well.

In communities where they take Halloween seriously, it's a holiday that presents an opportunity to confront fears, exorcise personal demons and commune with the spirit world. At its commercial worst, Halloween is fundamentally about promoting characters from the comic book universe and collecting free sugar. Somewhere in between is where most of us experience this fascinating orphan of a holiday.

Now, if you're looking to provision for the great giveaway at the door, you might want to give us a miss. We don't carry anything "chocolatey", only real chocolate! But if you do want to get into the .... spirit.... of things then there's lots to choose from:

First of all, there's the pumpkin fudge. We have customers who seem to sniff it out a few days before we've even put it on the shelf and they've already made a considerable dent in our stock of this decidedly seasonal treat. If you don't want to miss this year's bumper crop, you might want to get here before the weekend.

Second, if you're making creepy-themed treats at home, we've got everything you need for baking that says "BOO!" - including spooky cooky cutters, blood-coloured icing and dagger, machete and monster-eyes cookie and cupcake decorations.

Third, if you want to be like Mrs. McAuley who always stood on the porch of her house at Halloween dressed as a witch, dispensing little cups of hot chocolate out of her dry-ice enwrapped cauldron while spooky music played in the background... well we've got lots of great cocoa and hot chocolate mixes.

Fourth, if you're thinking past the porch - more about interior decor - we have a variety of harvest and Halloween themed table charms and other decorative items.

And Finally, if you're planning a more adult kind of evening - perhaps a séance/dinner party, Bat and Cat shaped black pasta cheesy ravioli from Queen's Pasta (pictured above) is the perfect primi course for your feast of goat's blood or spiders-flambé or whatever you have in mind. Oh heck, the kids will love them too!

Have a safe and happy Halloween and don't forget to contribute your Jack-o-Lantern creations to the Pumpkin Parade in Sorauren Park!