I have the same problem. A drop of coffee/tea keeps me wide-eyed and bushy-tailed the entire night! So, I usually ask for herbal teas. They come in a variety of flavors: lemon, raspberry, camomile, etc. or combinations.

When travelling in Europe, I've been tacky enough to carry my own supply of herbal tea bags and just ask for hot water if the establishment does not have herbal teas of its own.

Hope this helps!

What do you drink when you go out in your home town?

I know lots of people that don't care for tea and coffee but I've never known it be an issue.

You'll find we have the same range of drinks here in London as you get in the US.

I don't understand what the issue is.

Unless it's a formal event of some kind and you feel you have to uphold some sort of image, I don't see why you can't enjoy a soft drink or water, while everyone else is having tea or coffee.

I agree with the previous posters. It won't be a problem at all. Just order what you would normally have at home when you go out. ...Soft drink, juice, water, milk, hot chocolate.

Hi chic,

Even if you go for afternoon (not high) tea at a fancy place, there will be alternative beverages.

Some folks have champagne.

I always order champagne at high tea!

As already said - just about anything you want -- mineral water, juice, champagne, gin and tonic, chocolate -- just about anything . . . .

When in doubt, we order Champagne. It goes with everything.

Come to think of it, Champagne would probably be very good at high tea as opposed to afternoon tea.

"When everyone is enjoying a cup, is there anything else which I can order (at a high tea, for example)? Any advice is appreciated."

Hi chicgal. A herbal tea is probably the best option at afternoon tea, if you decide to go. Most places where you would purchase a tea will also have other drinks, mineral water etc. available. You are unlikely to be in a situation where tea is the only option! Also, please don't think that here in England everyone 'stops for tea' in the afternoon. That's a myth.

Very, very sad to see how this world is degenerating and to what low levels we are falling.

Liquor to substitute for tea!!!

All these people soused during a time that was invented for tea and CONVERSATION!

I suppose the next unheard of tragedy you will suggest is throwing tea into Boston Harbor???

Hey easy,

Champers isn't liquor.

It's not like we are suggesting Scotch and water.

But Scotch (w/ or w/o water) would be good too.

Many years ago when my ex and I lived in the UK we would go up to London several times a year. Back then pub hours were very stict and one could not get a drink in the late afternoon. One day we popped into the Dorchester for afternoon tea and as we were served a nice Assam, we glanced around and saw that many folks had gin, Whisky, champagne. . . . That is when we discovered that hotel licenses allowed "residents" to drink any time. From that day forward - afternoon tea was my husbands favorite meal in London

When we had afternoon tea at the home of friends in England, the only alcoholic alternative was invariably dry sherry, especially as the afternoon wore on. Not a bad option.

Absolutely, dry sherry. However, I think that champagne would be a very acceptable alternative. I think it depends on the weather; in cold weather, sherry seems to be more appealing. On one of those hot, sticky summer days that sometimes come along, champagne would be very refreshing.