Every December, Americans trade their usual drinks for something a little more “seasonal” - steaming mulled wines, cozy Irish coffees, spiked hot chocolates and candy-cane martinis that feel far more innocent than they are.
But a new survey by Bisnar Chase, polling 2,002 adults (21+), reveals just how badly people underestimate the strength of these festive favorites.
Respondents were asked whether they consider a range of Christmas cocktails - including eggnog, mulled wine and hot toddies - to be as strong as low-alcohol beer.
The results were surprisingly clear: on average, over 1-in-3 (41%) Mississippians believe these holiday drinks are no stronger than low-alcohol beer - this compares to a national average of 38%.
More specifically:
In Mississippi, 44% of adults think eggnog packs no more punch than a light beer, while another 33% say the same about mulled wine. And in the Magnolia State, 44% also mistakenly believe that hot toddies count as low-alcohol cocktails.
The wider data shows how deep the confusion runs:
- 20% believe holiday cocktails don’t count toward the drink-drive limit.
- 57% admit they have unknowingly drunk more at a holiday party because the drinks were “festive” or “didn’t taste strong.”
- 46% expect warm drinks (such as spiked hot chocolate, lattes or mulled wine) to be weaker than cold cocktails.
- And when faced with a menu item called Santa’s Milkshake, almost half (48%) would assume it’s alcohol-free.
The misunderstandings don’t end there. When asked which Christmas cocktails they believed they could legally drive after having one:
- 23% chose spiked hot chocolate.
- 10% chose a sugar cookie martini.
- 7% chose a snowball cocktail.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, 77% of Mississippians think restaurants and bars should label the alcohol strength of these drinks - a sign that people know they are operating with guesswork.
The findings point to a cheerful but risky blind spot. And behind all the cinnamon, whipped cream and seasonal novelty lies a serious issue: misjudging holiday cocktails can quietly push people over the legal limit, exposing them to criminal charges, license suspensions and long-term consequences that last far beyond the holiday season.
