DURHAM -- To the sound of blenders spinning, students mixed bananas, syrup and candy canes together in an effort to promote alcoholic alternatives.

Featuring creations topped with whipped cream and raspberries, oranges and cherries, the mocktails being prepared at Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School Wednesday were part of an Ultimate Mix Contest intended to promote alcohol-free beverages and safe and sober driving this Christmas season.

"The whole idea is to promote a safe way to party," said Joan McRae, a guidance counsellor and an Ultimate Mix coordinator for John Pereyma, as she sipped one of the mocktails.

The top three winning groups go on to compete at the regional Ultimate Mix Contest in Ajax, Nov. 24, which features finalists from nine schools in Oshawa, Ajax, Pickering and north Durham.

John Pereyma's event included 14 teams.

"They brought in all their own ingredients and made their own posters," Ms. McRae.

For the contest, teams had to create drinks with a theme and slogans and present information to promote driving sober.

"Orange-aid is the drink that can safely quench your thirst," said student Rhiannon Carey, standing in front of her display board featuring the mocktail's ingredients and anti-drunk driving messages.

"Drunk people may be funny, but drinking and driving is not funny," said Kristen Marten.

Her group blew out its blender while creating batches of its chocolate-banana smoothie.

Other drinks included Rainbow Punch, Paradise Punch, Colada Pop, Kool Tropical Explosion and Arctic Rush.

"It's just good to have sober drinks for people," said Madison Tremblay, dressed in gloves and a Santa hat to promote her group's Candycane Icicle. "It's nice when you're in the holiday season to have a holiday drink."

Her recipe is made by her family during the holidays. It came second in the local contest.

The first-place team won for its Winter Wonderland drink, featuring nutmeg, vanilla syrup, condensed milk, raspberries, whipped cream and more. The girls who created the drink did so to promote teenagers celebrating alcohol-free.

"There's a lot of pressure on young people to drink, we thought it would be a good thing to get involved with because we're against it," said student Amy Lai.

"There's no fun drinking and not remembering the fun you had," said her teammate La-Teshia Dyeth, age 16. "I think (the contest) will raise awareness."

The third-place winner was a Moco Coco drink created by Joy Vanderteems, Shelfy Peils and Tristian Corp.

The program has been around for at least seven years and this is the fourth time Monsignor John Pereyma has participated, said Ana Pacheco-Rye, a youth health promoter at the Oshawa Community Health Centre.

Its intent is to get youth to educate each other.

"And to show them it's cool to be sober at a party," Ms. Pacheco-Rye said.

Even if a school doesn't have time to present an Ultimate Mix event such as John Pereyma's, students can still participate, said Ms. Pacheco-Rye. They can contact her next season at apachecorye@ochc.ca to find out more information.