Save Money On New Year Booze

Here's how to have a very merry New Year's Eve - without breaking the bank.

A whopping 73 per cent of us are planning to stay at home to welcome in 2008, according to a recent Fool survey.

Our plans to stay at home may be partly driven by a desire to save money, but, of course, even at home the expenses can still mount up -- particularly where alcohol is concerned.

With this in mind, I've had a look around to find the best deals and discounts available on festive beverages. Whether you're planning to throw a party, snuggle up with a loved one or have a family celebration, this should help you cut back on the cash spent on booze.

I've tried to include the best-value deals in both the lower and higher price brackets, and also included some good offers on soft drinks for those who don't fancy a tipple.

All deals quoted should be valid from Boxing Day until New Year's Eve (at least), while stocks last.

So here you are:

Champagne and sparkling wine:

If you fancy some really cheap fizz,Asdais selling Bucks Fizz at £1.46 per bottle, and Cava Brut for £3. You can also get Bucks Fizz atSainsbury'sfor £1.46 (reduced from £1.99).

A little way up the price scale,Tescois offering Marquis de Monistrol Vintage Cava, and Marquis de Monistrol Vintage Rose Cava, for £4.99 each (reduced from £7.99).

'Real' champagne for under a tenner includes: Sainsbury's Etienne Dumont Champagne for £9.99 (was £19.99),LidlChampagne Brut Reserve at £9.99, andSomerfieldVeuve Edouard Champagne for £9.99 (was £19.99).

If you're able to splash out a bit more on the bubbly, Tesco's Bricout Cuvee Prestige Champagne is now £12.49 (was £24.99).

And if you buy more than two bottles of champagne atMajestic Wine, you get all your purchases for around half price. For example, buy 2+ bottles of Heidsieck Gold Top 2002 (usually £29.99 each) and get them all for £14.99 each instead.

Tesco currently has several champagnes, and other sparkling wines, at half their original price. AndThreshersis currently running a 3-for-2 deal on all champagne.

Finally,Marks & Spencerhas £5 off several different champagnes.

Wine:

For those working on a really tight budget, Lidl Lambrusco is currently selling at just £1.19.

Marks & Spencer currently has deals on 2006 Gold Label Chardonnay and Gold Label Cabernet Sauvignon - they're both £3.49 (reduced from £5.49).

Good old M&S can also help you keep things warm and spicy, with red and white mulled wine at £3.99 (reduced from £5.99).

Somerfield has some good half-price wine deals on at the moment: You can get four bottles of Stowells World Estates (white/red/rosé) for £10 (£4.99 each).

In addition, Almena Real Rioja Reserva is now £4.99 (was £9.99), while Hardys Crest Cabernet Shiraz Merlot, and Chardonnay Sauvignon blanc/rosé, are now £3.99 (reduced from £7.99).

Thresher's Dows Estate Selection is also half price at £4.99 a bottle (reduced from £9.99), and the store also has 3-for-2 deals on most of its wine.

Finally, Majestic wine is offering various big discounts if you buy two or more bottles of wine from them.

Port and spirits:

Lidl has plenty of (scarily) cheap spirits on offer at the moment - including dry gin (70cl) for £6.78, vodka (70cl) at £6.99 and brandy (70cl) for £6.59.

If you're looking for port without a big price tag, try Sainsbury's - it's currently selling Dow's Trademark Port at £5.49 (reduced from £10.99).

And Marks & Spencers is also worth a look - the store's Taylors Finest Reserve Port is now £5.99 (reduced from £8.99).  

For those wanting whiskey to warm the cockles,WaitroseGlenfiddich Special Reserve 12-year-old Single Malt Whisky is now £17 (reduced from £25).

AndMorrisonsis offering Glenmorangie 'The Original' Malt Whisky at £15.99 (reduced from £25.99).

Marks & Spencer Williams & Humbert Pale Cream Sherry is now £3.99 (reduced from £5.99).

Finally, if you're looking for alcopops, Somerfield has offers on Bacardi Breezer Orange/Watermelon/Pineapple and Smirnoff Ice. Packs of 4 (275ml bottles) are now £2.79 (reduced from £5.59). 

Beer, cider and stout

Asda seems to be leading the way with offers in this department. You can currently buy three 4-packs of selected beers for £9 (including Budweiser, Cobra, Fosters, Grolsch, Miller, Stella Artois, Tiger and others).

And you can pick two 18/20-packs of selected beers for £15 (including Boddingtons, Carling, Fosters, John Smith's, Stella Artois and Strongbow Cider).

Somerfield is selling 12x440ml packs of Guinness Draught for £9.99 - that's 4 cans extra for free. And the store also has a deal on its 8x440ml pack of Strongbow Dry Cider, which is now £3.49 (reduced from £6.99).

Elsewhere, Thresher is selling 10-packs of Stella Artois (440ml cans) for £7.99.

Soft drinks:

If you're steering clear of alcohol, there are also plenty of offers on soft drinks around. Here are a couple of the best:

Waitrose and Morrisons are both operating buy-one-get-one-free deals: Waitrose on Schweppes Lemonade (2l - 93p each)... and Morrisons on all varieties of Schloer (1l - £1.99 each).

Morrisons also has deals on Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Coca-Cola is currently £2 for two 2l bottles (£1.45 each)... and you can get three Pepsi 6-packs (330ml cans) for £3.

Finally, If you're after mixers, Sainsbury's has a 3-for-2 deal on Schweppes mixers (1l - 89p each).

Hopefully, you'll find something here to bring a thrifty sparkle to your celebrations. Whatever you end up doing, I hope you have a very merry and Foolish start to 2008!