There is still demand for non-alcohol drinks, the co-owner of Dublin's only alcohol-free bar has said.
Vaughan Yates was speaking as The Virgin Mary bar, which opened back in May 2019 on Capel Street, shut its doors.
They are closing the physical bar, but will be taking the concept on the road.
— thevirginmarybar (@thevirginmaryb2) March 26, 2023
Mr Yates told Josh Crosbie for The Hard Shoulder there is still demand there.
"Business actually wasn't too bad," he said.
"It was just it hadn't picked up to the same levels that it was pre-pandemic, pre-Brexit - pre everything that cracked off increases in prices, etc.
"We think there still is a demand for people drinking non-alcohol drinks.
"We think that we're still at the beginning of this growth in this category.
"I do think if people can't come to us, then we need to come to the people - that's the approach we're going to take".
A general view of distillates in The Virgin Mary bar in Dublin in May 2019. Picture by: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo May 2019Mr Yates said products have to get out there to more consumers.
"I think as the non-alcohol category grows, it's going to eat into the alcohol category," he said.
"I think you've got to get more liquid on lips - you've got to get more events and trade shows, getting into offices where there's no alcohol consumed.
"Giving people the opportunity to try these new products that are coming out.
"When you look at the beers, they do taste pretty good when compared to the alcohol versions.
"You can see better sparkling wines coming out".
'Prices will come down'
On complaints about high prices for non-alcoholic drinks, Mr Yates said this should drop as it becomes more popular.
"Alcohol products are taxed at [a] high rate," he said.
"When it comes down to non-alcohol products, you've got to remember that the people that are producing these products are generally producing them at a much smaller scale.
"So costs in terms of getting that brewed, made, out is more in proportion per pint than it is for the alcohol version.
"I think as we move forward, and it becomes more acceptable and volumes go up, I do think prices will come down," he added.
