Fitzpatricks, a temperance bar in Rawtenstall that was established in 1890

A temperance bar, also known as an alcohol-free bar, sober bar, or dry bar, is a type of bar that does not serve alcoholic beverages.[1][2][3] An alcohol-free bar can be a business establishment or located in a non-business environment or event, such as at a wedding.[4] Alcohol-free bars typically serve non-alcoholic beverages, such as non-alcoholic cocktails known as mocktails, alcohol-free beer or low-alcohol beer, alcohol-free wine, juice, soft drinks and water.[2][5] Popular temperance drinks include cream soda, dandelion and burdock, sarsaparilla, and Vimto, among others.[6] Various foods may also be served.[2][7]

History

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a number of temperance bars were established in conjunction with various temperance organisations. Originally, these advocated a moderate approach to life, especially concerning the consumption of alcohol. Later they moved toward abstinence from alcohol. Temperance bars with full temperance licenses (allowing them to serve on Sundays despite English trading laws) were once common in many high streets and shopping areas in the North of England. The temperance movement had a massive following, fueled mainly by nonconformist Christian denominations, such as Methodists.[8]

Temperance bars were the first outlet for the drinks Coca-Cola and Vimto in the early 20th century.[6] They were also sometimes called "temperance taverns".[citation needed]

In the past, the bars quite often asked their patrons to sign a pledge of temperance, meaning that they would abstain from intoxicating liquors; today's wave of alcohol-free bars are frequented by both teetotalers and drinkers who wish to have fun in a drink-free environment.[1] The recent popularity of alcohol-free bars is fueled by the declining usage of alcohol amongst the millennial generation, as well as the increased availability of information regarding the negative effects of alcohol on health.[6][1]

By country

Australia

In the 19th century coffee palaces were established as alcohol-free hotels in Australia.[9]

New Zealand

In 2015 the first alcohol-free bar in New Zealand, located in Auckland and named Tap Bar, went out of business five weeks after opening due to a lack of consumer interest, in which few patrons showed up.[2]

United Kingdom

Some cities in the United Kingdom have alcohol-free bars and public houses.[3][5] The popularity of alcohol-free bars has increased in the United Kingdom, and they are "often funded by anti-alcoholism charities."[3]

Fitzpatrick's Herbal Health in Rawtenstall is one of the first and original temperance bars surviving from the late 1800s, when it was established. The Fitzpatricks came to Lancashire from Ireland in the 1880s. A family of many herbalists, they built a family-run chain of shops throughout Lancashire. These shops dealt in their non-alcoholic drinks, sold herbal remedies, and cordial bottles. At their peak, the Fitzpatrick family owned 24 shops, all brewing drinks to the original recipes from Ireland. As new drinks came from America, the temperance bars slowly waned. Fitzpatrick's, supported by loyal customers, survived. The Rawtenstall branch of Fitzpatrick's was run from 1891 until 1980 by family members. It is now run by new owners, with the objective of returning Fitzpatrick's Cordials to the market. Following a brief closure in early 2016, Fitzpatrick's reopened for business on 25 March 2016.[10]

Fitzpatrick's is notable for its old copper hot water dispenser which was originally a fixture at the Astoria Ballroom in Rawtenstall.[11] It has also won an award as the country's "Best Sarsaparilla Brewer",[12] and an award for its dandelion and burdock,[13] a year later.

In 2013, a new temperance bar opened in Rotherham, the Whistle Stop Sweet Shop & Temperance Bar.[14][15]

An alcohol-free bar named "The Brink" opened in Liverpool in 2011.[16][17] The Brink is also a drug-free bar, and is run by the charity Action on Addiction with support from the Big Lottery Fund.[18][19]

An alcohol-free bar named Redemption is located at the base of the Trellick Tower in North Kensington, London, England.[16][17][20][21] It originated as a pop-up restaurant, and opened as a permanent establishment in July 2015.[22] Redemption also serves vegan food that is locally sourced, and its menu is based upon providing nutritional foods and beverages.[22] Its owners have stated that it is a "sober and cruelty-free bar."[22] Redemption also utilizes a zero waste policy.[22] The Netil House is another alcohol-free bar located in London.[3]

Sobar in Nottingham is an alcohol-free bar operated by a charity, Double Impact, which works with both alcohol and drug addiction. It received funding from the Big Lottery Fund and employs people who have been addicts.[16]

An alcohol-free bar named Universe exists in Coventry, England near Coventry University.[23]

United States

The Other Side is an alcohol-free bar located in Crystal Lake, Illinois, a Chicago suburb, that strives to provide a place that is "exactly like a bar" for recovering alcoholics.[3][24][25]

Getaway is an alcohol-free bar in Greenpoint, a neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York that opened in April 2019 [26] and serves alcohol-free mixed drinks, shrubs, sodas, and teas.[27]

Listen Bar is an alcohol-free bar in New York open one night every month.[28] All their bartenders are musicians, including special guests Savoir Adore and Sir Babygirl. They have risen to popularity following favorable reviews in Refinery29, VICE and features on the Today Show, Good Morning America and more.[29][30][31][32][33]

Awake is an alcohol-free bar in Denver, Colorado. It has been featured in Good Morning America,[34] Forbes,[35] AP,[36] Sunset,[37] and the Denver Post.[38]

Popular drinks served

Dandelion and burdock, a temperance drink served at many alcohol-free bars
A juice and smoothie drinks serving Jungle Juice Bar at the Galleria Esplanad shopping mall in Helsinki

Temperance bars serve a variety of non-alcoholic mixed drinks, including:

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Eby, Margaret (19 July 2019). "The rise of the sober bar". BBC. Retrieved 21 August 2019. Alcohol-free bars aren't a new concept. In the late 19th Century, a number of alcohol-free bars known as temperance bars were established in the UK on the heels of the temperance movement, which advocated abstinence. Fitzpatrick's Temperance Bar, founded in 1890 in Rawtenstall, north of Manchester, is still slinging root beer and glasses of dandelion and burdock today. But what's different about today's wave of alcohol-free bars is that they aren't necessarily rooted in the idea of total abstinence. At Getaway, for example, the audience isn't just non-drinkers but anyone who wants a fun bar environment without the threat of a hangover the next day. "Nothing about our space says you should be sober, or you shouldn't go around the corner to another bar and do a tequila shot after hanging out here," Thonis said. "It's not exclusively for the non-drinker."
  2. ^ a b c d "New Zealand's First Alcohol-Free Bar Had to Close Because No One Came". Vice. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Alcohol-Free Bars Are The New Regular Bars". The Huffington Post. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  4. ^ Lluch, E.; Lluch, A. (2011). Plan the Perfect Wedding on a Small Budget. Wedding Solutions Publishing, Incorporated. p. 158. ISBN 978-1-936061-26-6. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  5. ^ a b Ritson, B. (1995). Community and Municipal Action on Alcohol. European alcohol action plan. Vol. 63. World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe. p. 74. ISBN 978-92-890-1327-7. PMID 8546807. Retrieved 29 May 2016. ((cite book)): |journal= ignored (help)
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Hardy, Rebecca (11 February 2016). "Alcohol-free: why temperance drinks are making a comeback". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  7. ^ Lowe, J. (2008). Digging for Dirt: The Life and Death of ODB. Faber & Faber. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-4299-9609-9. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  8. ^ "Bar from a bygone age has healthy interest in its past". The Bolton Evening News. 17 January 2003. Archived from the original on 18 October 2008.
  9. ^ Guides, I. (2015). Insight Guides: Explore Melbourne. Insight Explore Guides. APA. p. 162. ISBN 978-1-78005-888-7. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  10. ^ Stephanie Brawn (24 March 2016). "IN PICTURES: Joy in East Lancashire as the UK's only remaining temperance bar re-opens (From Lancashire Telegraph)". Lancashiretelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  11. ^ Freethy, p. 83.
  12. ^ Waitrose.com - Mr Fitzpatricks Temperance Bar and Cordials Archived April 27, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Mr Fitzpatricks UKs Last Temperance Bar providing non alcoholic soft drinks and cordials". Mrfitzpatricks.com. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  14. ^ "A cordial welcome as Temperance makes comeback". Yorkshire Post. Archived from the original on 18 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  15. ^ Graham, James (7 November 2017). "The High Street struggling to survive". BBC News. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  16. ^ a b c Harris, John (21 March 2014). "Dry bars – is England sobering up?". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  17. ^ a b Beazley, M. (2014). GQ Drinks. Octopus Books. p. 374. ISBN 978-1-78472-016-2. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  18. ^ Pycroft, A. (2015). Key Concepts in Substance Misuse. SAGE Key Concepts series. SAGE Publications. p. 118. ISBN 978-1-4739-1734-7. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  19. ^ "Welcome to The Brink". The Brink. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  20. ^ Hancock, Lucy (5 August 2015). "London's New 'Alcohol-Free Cocktail Bar' Is Not a Bar". Vice. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  21. ^ Goorwich, Siam (22 July 2015). "There's an alcohol free bar opening in London (and no, it's not just a cafe. Apparently)". Metro. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  22. ^ a b c d Kirkova, Deni (28 December 2015). "First vegan and alcohol-free bar opens in London". Metro. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  23. ^ Rich, J. (2005). The Push Guide to Which University. Nelson Thornes Limited. p. 168. ISBN 978-0-7487-9489-8. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  24. ^ Dixler, Hillary (16 April 2013). "A Sober, Alcohol-Free Bar Is Opening Outside Chicago". Eater.com. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  25. ^ Sotonoff, Jamie (14 April 2013). "Making a bar to stay clean and sober". Eater.com. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  26. ^ "Greenpoint's First Alcohol-Free Bar "Getaway" Opens". Greenpointers. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  27. ^ "A Sober Person Walks Into a Nonalcoholic Bar …". Grub Street. 18 April 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  28. ^ "Listen Bar homepage". Listen Bar. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  29. ^ Munro, Cait. "With Young People Drinking Less, Are Booze-Free Bars The Future Of Going Out?". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  30. ^ Hobbs, Allegra; Dries, Kate; Bhattacharya, Rupa (29 January 2019). "Can a Bar Feel Like a Bar Without Booze?". Vice. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  31. ^ Janzen, Emma (17 January 2019). "Listen Bar Brings Booze-Free Nightlife To NYC". Imbibe Magazine. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  32. ^ America, Good Morning. "What to know about rising Sober Curious movement". Good Morning America. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  33. ^ "Bars without alcohol? Inside the growing 'sober curious' trend". TODAY.com. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  34. ^ America, Good Morning, New trend of non-alcoholic beverages across the US, retrieved 11 January 2022
  35. ^ Kelly, Leslie. "The Best-Selling Cocktail At Denver's AWAKE Has A Surprising Twist". Forbes. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  36. ^ "New wave of bars creates buzz without the booze". AP NEWS. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  37. ^ "Sober Bars and Shops Are Gaining Momentum in the West". Sunset Magazine. 28 December 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  38. ^ "Denver's first sober bar starts pouring mocktails in Jefferson Park". The Denver Post. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.

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