Should Pubs Introduce Standard Alcohol-Free Menus?

It has been reported that approximately 1 in 5 adults are now teetotal; great for health and well-being but not such great news for pubs that see the majority of their profits coming from alcohol sales.

When people go to the pub, the obvious choice is either beer or wine, in some cases cocktails when they are on offer. For revellers who want to join in with merrymaking without any risk of a hangover what options are there? Juices, soft drinks, tonics? Yeah, sure these are all acceptable however an orange juice, for example, stands out like a sore thumb amid a room full of pints. Of course, being a little different shouldn’t matter but very often ‘teetotallers’ are sidelined in the choice market allowing the more profitable alcohol drinks to take precedent. There is a solution to this situation that sees all sides, the business and the sober guests, winning.

If pubs began stocking a choice of alcohol-free wines and beers all punters whatever their tastes and preferences would be catered for and able to join in with frivolities. The range doesn’t need to be vast with landlords paying out huge sums of money to please a small percentage of guests however the menu would still cater for alternative tastes all the same.

Try out some of these examples to see how they could potentially embellish your drinks menu;

Alcohol-free white wines

Eminasin Verdejo. A Spanish white wine that compliments salads, fish and seafood.

Romance en Blanc Organic White. A dry wine with the perfect blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.

Weinkonig Riesling. Made with Germany’s finest grapes, the strong flavour is elegant yet strong.

(Don't forget to utilise a Wine Cooler!)

Alcohol-free red wines

Eisberg Alcohol-free Rose. A pleasant, fruity aroma and an appealing sweet rose and strawberry flavour.

Torres Natureo Syrah. A red wine with redcurrant notes and a juicy feel on the palate.

Eminasin Doce Meses. The flavour is sweet and fruity despite the slightly vinegary aroma.

Alcohol-free beers

Clausthaler Premium Alcohol-Free Lager. A sharp flavour, but as close to real lager as possible.

Cheers Alcohol-Free Beer. A Portuguese beer that closely mimics real beer but without the alcohol content.

Arcobrau Craft Wheat Beer. Previous winner of the World Beer Award in the ‘best alcohol-free wheat beer’ category this beer has a fresh flavour, is full bodied and rich in vitamins.

Alcohol-Free cider

Stowford Press Low Alcohol Cider. Tastes just like the real thing.

Cocktails have become huge business for pubs and bars in recent years leading to excitement around all taste concoctions on every level. Why should bars not also cash in on the trend for virgin cocktails? Boosting profits while serving all party goers with fruity combinations without the need for them to forego their ‘no alcohol’ life decision surely makes good business sense.

Why not allow your mixologists to experiment and create some award-winning mocktails? Here are some of our favourites;

Virgin cocktails

Pomegranate Mojito Cocktail. Make ice cubes with a few pomegranate seeds frozen within. Add mint and lime quarters into a large jug and bash with a rolling pin to release the flavours. Add pomegranate juice and lemonade. Strain into a glass, add the pre-made ice cubes and garnish with lime slices and mint.

Apple, Elderflower and Mint Sparkle. Mix elderflower cordial with cloudy apple juice. Add a small handful of mint leaves and stir. When serving, half fill glasses and top up with sparkling water.

Orange Lime Relaxer. Shake Sprite, orange juice and lime juice before pouring into a chilled glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Shirley Temple. Add grenadine to a glass and fill with ice cubes. Top up with ginger ale or Sprite. Garnish with a Maraschino cherry and an orange wedge.

With a little trial and error, businesses will find the perfect ratio of non-alcoholic choices resulting in the attraction new customers keen to participate and maximising overall profit. Guests can fully enjoy a glass of wine, a pint or a cocktail without falling off the teetotal wagon!