Exclusive:
Non-boozers are being invited to try alcohol free options at their local pubs as thousands of establishments rally to attract the sober Gen Z amid soaring closures
Local pubs have long been at the heart of the community, serving as a meeting point for friends, families and groups.
But with the threat of closure looming ominously as the younger Gen Z turn their backs on booze, landlords are now appealing to the sober to also sample the delights of their local.
From low and no alcohol drinks to traditional architecture, roaring fires, stunning beer gardens and friendly faces, the pub industry wants to see everyone enjoy pubs once more – and it is a cause The Mirror is fighting for.
Indeed, until recently, the last people you’d expect to see at last orders would be teetotallers. But non-boozers are now being invited to delve into a cocktail cabinet of low and no alcohol tipples.
With DrinkMonitor data showing that 36 percent of us drink alcohol less often than monthly, or not at all – a rise from 30 percent in 2018 – this market cannot be ignored. CAMRA Chairman Ash Corbett-Collins tells The Mirror: “A great local is more than just good beer, it’s about socialising, celebrating, and a focal point for a thriving community. A great choice of low and no alcohol beers can help good pubs be great.
“This scene has exploded, showing a huge demand for interesting, independently brewed low and no beers. Whether pub goers fancy a beer when they’re the designated driver or just choose not to drink, choice is vital, and the more people in pubs, the better!”
In Hull, a city where alcohol-related deaths are 21 percent above the national average, they’ve taken the zero alcohol message one step further by designing special pub crawls for non-drinkers. Enter the Low Ale Trail, a partnership of around 35 pubs across the city, that offers a huge selection of low- and no-alcohol drinks to give partygoers an alternative to drunken carousing.
Three separate strands of the trail take in glamorous wine bars, independent boozers and historic watering holes. First we prop up the bar in The Old Town branch, just 15 minutes’ walk from the train station, which winds its way through Whitefriargate, where we meet Robert Jackson, owner and proprietor of the Drum & Cymbals.
His staff have served more zero-alcohol pints to punters than ever before. “Heineken told me they’ve had a 41% yearly increase in sales of their 0% beer,” he says, as we sip no-alcohol Doom Bars in the newly refurbished pub.
“People are a lot more conscious of their health these days. They’re more mindful of wanting to get home safe and so they’re choosing not to drink alcohol at all.” The pub serves eight different no-alcohol beers, as well as a range of mocktails.
The cheapest is Peroni’s 0% offering, which comes in at £4.50 on a weekday (the price goes up to £5.10 at the weekend), compared to £5.70 for a bottle of the normal Peroni.
“You can’t tell the difference in taste,” says Robert. “And that’s great for customers who maybe feel a little shy about not drinking around their mates. We’re definitely starting to lose that stigma now though, with more of us choosing not to drink.”
Robert believes more of his punters want to feel safe on their night out, without worrying about how they’re getting home. “If you’re in a safe environment, you can relax,” he explains. “We had the Hull City team in recently. They know they’ll be in a safe space here. And the majority of them don’t drink alcohol [during the football season] because they’re conscious of their health.”
Next we visit the Head of Steam, which serves a range of low- and no- ales and lagers, as well as a 0% gin. General manager Emily Fitzgerald says demand was so high for the first two weeks of Dry January that their low and no alcohol stock sold out.
“This year, especially, sales have really increased,” she says. “I can’t actually keep up. The demand is there for it and I hope it carries on past January. Drinking low- or no-alcohol is the perfect way to have a night out without the hangover.”
Where to find low and no alcohol pubs around the UK
London: Club Soda
Visit the Tasting Room in central London’s Drury Lane for a vast selection of low- and alcohol-free options including wines, premixed cocktails, beers, spirits and soft drinks, or sign up for one of its regular alcohol-free cocktail masterclasses to learn how to mix your own drinks.
Manchester: Hinterland
The first ever sober bar opened in the Northern Quarter last year, offering ethically sourced no-booze cocktails and beers in the basement of the Manchester Buddhist Centre on Turner Street.
Leeds: Functional Drinks Club
Opening in Otley in 2023, the Functional Drinks Club serves kombucha on tap, along with spirits, wines, non-alcoholic craft beers, ciders and homemade kimchi and sauerkraut. You can even ask for the Sober Sommelier, where owner Kev will ask you questions about your gut health and pick out the best drinks for your microbiome based on your answers.
