On the safe side

Ben McFarland reports on a one-man mission to bring alcohol-free drinks to the UK.

Dale Hemming-Tyler is a man on a mission. From his headquarters in Cirencester the retired lieutenant colonel has embarked on a solitary crusade to improve the lives of those who don't drink booze. Dale has decided to accept such a mission on neither religious or righteous grounds but rather for medical and, more pertinently, entrepreneurial reasons.

It all began three years ago, when Dale's doctor broke the sorry news that he would need to stop drinking because of high blood pressure.

The prospect of sipping orange juice and lemonade for the rest of his life was a daunting one - especially for an ex-rugby player and lover of the good life.

"What I found most difficult to face was the thought of going without a decent red wine to go with my favourite meal of bread and cheese," he said. "It was easy to stop drinking but what I couldn't find in the UK was any decent alcohol-free wine or what we call drinking alternatives."

Despite the proliferation of adult soft drinks and the handful of non-alcohol and low-alcohol lagers such as Kaliber and Bitburger Drive, Dale was distinctly underwhelmed by what this country had to offer in the way of good tasting non-alcoholic wines and spirits.

"The UK is the safe drinker's arid desert and as a nation, we shamefully lag way behind other countries in this area. The options are very poor. There was a lack of variety and confidence in quality," he said. "You have to hunt high and low for something decent."

Having lived throughout Europe during his army days, Dale decided to extend his search to the continent where, much to his relief, the outlook for those who don't drink alcohol is a lot less bleak.

However, no-one on this side of the Channel was interested in bringing them over here. "I contacted a lot of drinks companies," said Dale. "But no-one thought there was any need for it and I was told repeatedly that I was wasting my time."

With no company willing to act as an importer, Dale opted to go it alone and the LoNo Drinks Company began trading in April last year.

The aim of LoNo is to provide an import and distribution agency for low-alcohol and non-alcoholic wines, spirits and aperitifs. More than a dozen wines, including a rosé and a sparkling "champagne-style" German wine, have been sourced from Europe and the USA.

What's more, safe-drinking alternatives to single malt whisky, a rum and a pastis have also been added to the new portfolio along with a German pilsner, Veltins Alkoholfrei, and a cider, Stowford Press LA. "In gathering a selection of wines, beers and spirits from around the globe we're the only company in the world doing what we're trying to do," Dale said.

Dale refers to his target audience as safe drinkers rather than the more officious-sounding "abstainer". "This is not an anti-alcohol campaign," said Dale. "There's nothing wrong with going out and having a good time but why can't people who can't drink join in?

"When you say abstainer one immediately thinks of someone who doesn't drink for religious reasons or because they've had alcohol problems. The safe drinker can cover everyone and ranges from people on medication to drivers, expectant mums and even those who have overdone it the night before." In parts of Scandinavia it is illegal not to have at least one non-alcoholic wine on a wine list and while Dale stops short of advocating a similar stance over here, he believes de-alcoholised wine has a valuable role to play, particularly for licensees.

"There seems to be a social stigma attached to not drinking, which leaves non-drinkers feeling left out of the party," said Dale.

"Why, for example, should the expectant mum be given a glass of orange juice at a party while everyone else celebrates with a glass of bubbly? A good selection of alternatives to alcoholic drinks will help safe-drinkers, people who are avoiding or cutting down on alcohol, to enjoy themselves.

"Nursing a fruit juice all night long is not much fun and people get tired of it. As a safe drinker I don't want to drink a ginger beer with a duck confit - I want to drink a merlot."

The LoNo Wine Range​ Carl Jung, Germany & France​

• Premium White:​ refreshingly crisp, light Rhine wine, with a tangy finish.
• Premium Red:​ combination of grenache and carignian grapes from the Roussillon region in France. Well-balanced with good tannin and fruit.
• Premium Rosé:​ Grenache, syrah grapes from the Roussillon region in France. Dry but juicy.
• Riesling:​ riesling grapes from the Rhine region, Germany.
• Merlot:​ robust balance of tannin and fruit with a good and honest nose.
• Brut:​ mix of true rhine and moselle. Crisp, refreshing, and lively.

Ariel, California​

• Blanc NV:​ premium blend of chardonnay and white riesling, Ariel Blanc has a touch of sweetness combined with the aromas of lilacs and jasmine.
• Rouge NV:​ blend of merlot, zinfandel and cabernet sauvignon grapes. Aromas of cranberry, strawberry and plum.
• Chardonnay:​ a typical Californian "oakey-smokey" chardonnay. A distinctive combination of tropical fruit, apple and butterscotch characteristics, which is combined with a toasty French oak bouquet.
• Cabernet Sauvignon:​ oak aged offering a combination of blackberries, black pepper and chocolate.
• Merlot:​ This merlot has aromas of cherry, raspberry and, faintly, cassis, with an oak bouquet from the barrel aging. A solid red, with plenty of tannin.
• Brut Cuveé:​ retains all the natural and delicately floral fruit aromas of the chardonnay grapes from which it is made. Coupled with a subtle oak bouquet to give a bright wine with a clear finish.

Zero%, France​

• Blanc:​ the driest white wine LoNo has. It is typically "village" in style, and its very rustic nature throws the flavours straight off the hayrick.
• Rouge:​ the same rustic style as the blanc and again the driest of the reds. A touch light in nature, but retains solid tannins and a positive finish.