Bar Talk

Bar talk: how do you encourage drivers not to drink alcohol?

By Nikkie Sutton

- Last updated on GMT

Mixed: operators have different ways of offering drivers alternatives to drinking alcohol
Mixed: operators have different ways of offering drivers alternatives to drinking alcohol
This week's bar talk hones in on what operators offer to their customers who are driving rather than drinking alcohol.

The Ebrington Arms in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire give customers something different in the way on non-alcoholic drinks.

Licensee Claire Alexander said: "We offer a selection of hand-crafted soft drinks​ and we make an amazing Virgin Mary.

"Also, ginger beer and lime is something we do that is not run of the mill and helps people choose something different."

Soft drink offer

Kevin Abbott from the the Anchor in Wingham, Kent also believes a pub's soft drink offer is the key.

He said: "We have a selection of non-alcoholic drinks including the specialist cloudy lemonades and flavoured spring water and we have posters telling customers not to drink and drive in the toilets at eye-level so people can see them."

Cheryl Hickman from the Bull Inn, Bury St Edmonds in Suffolk said she takes a different approach and tries to provide an alternative way of getting home rather than driving.

Offer a lift home

She added: "If a local looks like they are going to drive after drinking​, we will offer them a lift home and always try to get taxis.

"We approach people if we think they are going to drive, and offer a good range of soft drinks."

In Hertfordshire, the Jolly Sailors in St Albans takes a similar approach and licensee Paul Egerton said: "People are conscious of drink-driving​ and we have a few regulars who drive for a living so are careful about their intake.

"If we see people who are drunk and are going to drive, we take their keys from them."

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