This two-part feature explores what Brits drinking less and students going out less means for the nighttime economy. In Part 1, we looked at the possible demise of nightclubs. Read about it here. today, Emily Mee looks at how businesses are adapting…
Britain’s nightlife economy is at risk if it fails to adapt to changing attitudes towards alcohol.
As we mentioned in the first part of this feature, adults, especially young people, are drinking less alcohol and cutting back on important nights out to save money.
So what will attract customers again?
For Carl Considine, the “alternative options” offered by alcohol-free cocktail bars seem to be a huge success.
Manchester’s Love From is always packed with people enjoying a night of cocktails and fun, but the difference is that everyone there is sober.
“That’s clear: we’re a night venue, not a daytime venue. We don’t serve coffee, drinks or hot food,” he says.
Karl himself has struggled with alcoholism in the past, when he “never had a quiet night” and “always wanted to take it further.”
While I love you (@love.fromco) is a safe space for those in recovery, and Carl makes it clear that the bar is “absolutely” a place for everyone – including those who like to drink but want something different.
While they’ve had to deal with trolls online who don’t understand the concept, they’ve had positive feedback from customers and say they receive “lovely messages” online every day.
Will alcohol-free bars become even more popular?
Love From isn’t the only alcohol-free nighttime venue to emerge in recent years. These include London’s LGBT club night House of Happiness and alcohol-free bar and shop Club Soda.
But Laura Willoughby, who owns Club Soda, says she doesn’t think there will be a huge increase in alcohol-free venues because “what people really want is choice.”
“Ultimately, wherever alcohol is served, there should be suitable alcohol-free options so that everyone at the party can choose what they want to do,” she says. .
She explains that Club Soda holds workshops for retailers to learn about non-alcoholic products, and those that have eventually expanded their non-alcoholic menus have seen an increase in group bookings.
“Everyone wants to have a good time. They don’t want to sit there drinking tap water or a super sweet soda that they can only drink one or the other. They want to go all in,” she said. To tell.
It’s no longer just a thought
Low-alcohol and non-alcohol products are currently the fastest growing segment of the industry.
drink expert Dan Whiteside He says the quantity and range of products has “exploded” in recent years and you can find them in most bars and restaurants.
Liam Davey, head of bar at steakhouse chain Hawksmoor, said sales of non-alcoholic drinks had seen a “huge spike”.
His company is starting to pay more attention to that part of the menu, “to be honest, it might have been a little more whimsical or kid-friendly before.”
While most pub and restaurant chains have adapted and now have improved menus of low-alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks, he says smaller businesses have been slower to change.
Then there’s the pervasive marketing problem. The perception is that some of these products are too expensive. This means that when people don’t drink, they choose cheap cola or lemonade instead.
So, what else can companies do?
Sasha Lord, Greater Manchester’s night-time economy adviser, said she was advising pubs to offer more event-based nights, such as darts and quizzes, to attract people back.
This is a sentiment echoed by Laura, who says that Gen Z is experience-driven in their social lives.
“It’s not based on the strength of the drink in the glass, but rather on a nice night out,” she says.
