We know how hard it is for a smoker to step into a bar and resist the urge to immediately whip out a cigarette. Taking a trip to the Mandarin Oriental’s (5 Connaught Road, Central, 2522-0111) M and Captain’s bars should help relieve such cravings. In honour of the smoking ban, both watering holes are serving a selection of smoke-inspired beverages, like Cigar and Cigarette, a set of two cocktails designed to look like their namesake tobacco vessels.

Antonio Lai, bar manager at FINDS (2/F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central, 2522 9318), has also designed a set of drinks that incorporate smoky flavours, like the Smoked Mule with Lime Air – a Moscow mule made with smoked vodka and ginger ale, topped with a frothy substance tasting of lime essence. The Smoked Mule is just one of several whimsical alcoholic creations on the bar’s new Molecular Mixology set menu, a $688 experience that combines cocktails with fine Scandinavian food.

Soho’s Deja Vu (41 Staunton Street, Soho, 3481 9996) just introduced a new list of inventively named summer cocktails. Three use Kronenbourg 1664 as the main ingredient, while the other three are designed around prosecco. The Heaven on Earth, a mixture of Kronenbourg, cucumber, elderflower and sake, is the best of the bunch - it is light, refreshing, and beautifully presented. All six new beer and prosecco cocktails are $75.

Only three areas will be lucky enough to sell Guinness’s 250 Anniversary Stout later in the summer: the United States, Australia and Hong Kong. This premium, commemorative beer is carbonated rather than nitrogenated like Guinness’s traditional draught, giving it a unique taste. Gift-set boxes filled with four cans of Guinness plus one bottle of the 250 Anniversary Stout will be available for the two-week period from July 31 to August 13 at local supermarket chains like Park n Shop, Wellcome and CRC. Also as part of their anniversary celebrations, Guinness are offering anyone the chance to win one three amazing Guinness Experiences – Space: take a ride on the Virgin Galactica space plane. Sea: take trip under the ocean and enjoy a Guinness at the unique underwater bar 70m below the surface. Studio: a private gig with the Black Eyed Peas. To enter log onto www.guinness.com.

Belvedere vodka have just launched their newest spirit, Belvedere IX (pronounced “eye-x”), a luxury vodka set to be sold only in nightclubs. The liquor is blended with nine exotic ingredients, including guarana, cinnamon and eucalyptus, which gives IX a signature flavour. Its distinct pink-and-black bottle also helps Belvedere IX stand out in a sea of new premium vodkas. Starting this month, the libation can be found at leading nightspots like M1NT (108 Hollywood Rd, Central, 2261 1106) and Azure (29/F, Hotel LKF, 33 Wyndham Street, LKF, 3518 9330).

If you like watching football and cold beer, Carlsberg’s current promotion marries your two passions with the offer of a scratch card to anyone who buys two Carlsbergs. Big prizes can be won through the cards, including a ticket for the Tottenham Hotspur FC vs South China FC game on August 2. The promotion is being offered at Carlsberg-stocked bars around the city.