Alcohol-free News & Trends - March 1

Celebs in rehab, soberpreneurs and so much more. Here’s my weekly roundup of fun, interesting news related to the dry life.

Shop Until The Last Drop!

A new alcohol-free spirits and beer shop is making waves in NYC, as the very first store of its kind in the city - and possibly the state. Spirited Away (not the spooky sad anime movie) was launched by Manhattanite Douglas Waters back in November who realized the same thing we all have: it’s near impossible to find one store that has it all, when you’re rethinking drinking.

It’s timely, as a lot of people have gone from drinking heavily during the pandemic, to realizing how unhealthy it is for them. Although only accessible to people in NYC, this is definitely the start of a new trend and we’ll soon be seeing these across North America.

Finally! Inclusive Hospitality At Work

If you went to a bar in North America pre-pandemic, there was only a small chance an alcohol-free cocktail or beer was on the menu. Although I wasn’t totally drinks-free back then, with my new rethinking drinking lens, I can see how exclusive this made the restaurant and bar industry. I dream of what I call “inclusive hospitality” - a welcoming menu that doesn’t exclude non-drinkers for whatever reason they don’t drink.

So, I did backflips when I heard about a Milwaukee bar called Concoctions, that has created an innovative way to offer something for everyone: customers can choose whether they want their drinks spiked…or not! Founder Hyacinth Nembhardt has drawn on her Jamaican background for drinks inspiration that work with or without the booze. Fan favourites include a drink called Treasure Beach - with a candy topping none-the-less. True inclusive hospitality at work!

Top Shelf: Computer Says No

The new Tanqueray 0.0% is making waves around the globe. My stance on this is that I will not support big alcohol with another penny, even if it’s a fucking great product. Tanqueray is owned by Diageo who also owns Seedlip, which is a terrible watered-down introduction to the alcohol-free spirits world. I support small batch producers, who have been at the forefront of helping people rethink drinking from the start.

If you have news or stories about alcohol-free subjects or rethinking drinking, I’d love to hear them! Please email me at hello@somegoodcleanfun.com.