Publicans can revive trade by catering for people who don’t drink alcohol

THE advertising campaign by publicans designed to encourage patrons back to pub life is an indication of how worried they are about falling trade.

Given the problems facing the trade and the greatly increased awareness of the consequences of drink driving, it is surprising so few of them have realised the potential of providing an adequate service for the non-drinker.

A look of astonishment, and sometimes even disdain, is not unusual when a customer asks for a non-alcoholic drink. Invariably, there is only one brand on offer and that’s usually hidden under the counter.