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Do we all need different types of alcohol to have fun? Customers nowadays don’t agree entirely with this! Alcohol-free drinks are now as important as all the great cocktails we know and love.
From classic mocktails to vegan non-alcoholic drinks and gluten-free non-alcoholic drinks, there’s a lot you can serve. There’s a lot to talk about and get into the details of why serving alcohol-free drinks would be truly beneficial to your restaurant business.
Today’s travelers and restaurant customers are not what they used to be. Now more than ever, people want a memorable experience. They don’t want to have a drink because of thirst or just for socializing. They want to feel great while doing it, which of course, poses some challenges and opportunities.
If you are a business owner who wants to tap into the world of alcohol-free drinks and enrich your restaurant’s seasonal menu (or the permanent one), this article will be helpful.
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Alcohol-Free Drinks: Why People Order Them
If you run a business in the hospitality industry, it’s crucial to be flexible. You need to notice the adult beverage trends and implement ones that fit the concept of our place. A number of these trends will eventually fade away but some are here to stay.
We believe that the consumption of alcohol-free drinks in restaurants, bars, country clubs, and hotels will only grow, and here’s why!
Key Takeaway: Alcohol-free drinks are an important part of the beverage menu and restaurants can greatly benefit from offering a wide variety. Getting new customers and retaining existing ones are just a few of the things worth mentioning.
1. Health and Wellness
In the past several years, people, in general, have become a lot more health-conscious. They are opting a lot for healthier choices when it comes to food and drinks. This is where alcohol-free drinks come into play.
People want to be socializing with their friends and enjoy brunch (check: what is brunch) or a nice fine dining experience. Not all of them, however, want to experience the effects of alcohol and they choose to have alcohol-free drinks instead.
Non-alcoholic drinks commonly have a lower calorie count, less sugar, and are free from ingredients that may trigger unwanted reactions.
2. Personal Preference
It’s not all about health and diet. Some people don’t like the taste of alcohol but still want to pair their nice meal with a tasty drink. These people would love to see mocktails, special soft drinks, iced teas, matcha drinks, etc., on any type of menu.
Non-alcoholic drinks can make a person enjoy their time at your restaurant even more. Also, a drink that’s paired well with the meal with increase overall customer satisfaction and may even bring Michelin Star inspectors to your restaurant. And this is how you earn a Michelin Star!
3. Designated Drivers
Not everyone wants to take an Uber home when they are our with friends. Many people prefer to drive their own vehicle and the comfort of leaving as soon as they want to. For them, the designated drivers, it’s important to have alcohol-free drinks they can choose from.
You can go as far as offering non-alcoholic beer and wine or create a range of unique mocktails, infused waters, specialty coffee drinks, and more. These options will allow the people who are driving after to enjoy their type spent at your restaurant without feeling left out from the rest.
4. Religious and Cultural Reasons
There’s a group of non-drinkers who are avoiding alcohol because of their religious beliefs, as well as their culture. Some religions prohibit the consumption of alcohol and people who are part of it will not order your signature cocktail.
Restaurants that offer a variety of alcohol-free drinks are the ones that can earn and keep such customers. Alcohol is not needed to improve their experience as long as your dishes are great and you offer enough great pairings.
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What a Restaurant Business Can Gain from Serving Alcohol-Free Drinks
Providing a great customer experience should be a priority for any restaurant. A lot goes into creating a great experience for people but what you need to remember is that it’s not all about the glassware, the interior, and the food. Drinks play a huge role in creating a complete, memorable, and of course, delicious experience.
Now, let’s see what your restaurant business can gain from adding a larger range of alcohol-free drinks to the menu.
Catering to a Wider Range of Customers
As we already talked about in previous paragraphs, there are health-conscious people, religious people, designated drivers, and people who just don’t like the taste of alcohol. These groups of people are big, so it makes business sense to cater to their needs.
When you think about these clients and add offers that will make them feel like they have options, they will feel welcome in your restaurant. They can invite their friends and recommend your place as one suitable for non-drinkers.
Increasing Profits and Revenue
Alcohol-free drinks can be a profitable addition to your restaurant’s menu. Many non-alcoholic options have a high profit margin (check: restaurant profit margin). These drinks include matcha beverages, special coffee drinks, mocktails, artisanal sodas, unique teas, etc.
By offering a range of unique and tasty non-alcoholic drinks, you can tap into a new revenue stream and even increase overall sales.
Improving Food and Drinks Pairing Options
We’ve talked about craft beer and food and best wine pairings, but these are not the only great options available. Alcohol-free drinks can be paired expertly with food as well. From tea pairing to mocktails and infused waters, there are a lot of refreshing options you can serve to your clients.
When you do your research and create your beverage menu based on the food options you have, you will improve customers' experience together with the profit. Great pairings will win the heart of many, which will do amazing things for your business. Even without spending a ton of money on restaurant marketing!
Good Planning and Organization Are the Keys to Success
Wine lists are not the only reason to invest in beverage inventory software. Doing a good inventory organization will help your business tremendously and software is crucial for that, especially when you offer a wide variety.
Saving your time counting, showing you what your customers ordered the most, and helping you order what’s needed are just a few of the great features BinWise Pro has. Book a demo now to find out more!
Frequently Asked Questions about Alcohol-Free Drinks
There’s a lot more we can talk about when it comes to alcohol-free drinks. To be as helpful as possible, we decided to give answers to some of the frequently asked questions.
Can I Create My Own Mocktails?
Although there are some true classics, you can always create unique mocktails for your restaurant. It could take some trial and error to get the perfect drink, but you can come up with something people won’t find elsewhere. You can also work with a mixologist if you want the input of a true expert.
Do People Like Fruit-Infused Water?
During the hot summer months, people often like to drink fruit-infused water and they will order it if you have it on your restaurant menu. Offer a few different combinations of fruits or make them custom, according to customer preferences.
Should I Offer Non-Alcoholic Beer?
Studies are showing that more people are choosing to drink alcohol-free beer, so you should offer it in your restaurant. More than half of the people enjoying non-alcoholic beer are parents, but even some of the regular beer drinkers are looking for alcohol-free alternatives for health reasons.