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Creating a unique beverage program is important for all country clubs. Undoubtedly, country club members would want to try new beverages in different situations. For example, they would highly appreciate large wine lists full of quality options when they are having dinner and unique poolside cocktails when they are relaxing in the sun.
Although your primary focus should be following adult beverage trends, you should also keep an eye on what’s hot in the non-alcoholic drinks world. Lately, these drinks are becoming very popular, and every country club manager should include enough of them in all menu types they create.
In this article, we want to talk more about the wellness trends and see why non-alcoholic drinks are an important part of any beverage program. Let’s jump right into it!
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Non-Alcoholic Drinks: What Are They?
Non-alcoholic beverages, or alcohol-free beverages, are versions of cocktails but without the use of alcohol. It’s common for these beverages to be a recreation of great cocktails but instead of alcohol, they are made with different juices and fizzy drinks. By definition, these drinks also include non-alcoholic beer and drinks like kefir. Many people use the term as synonymous with mocktails, too.
Key Takeaway: Non-alcoholic beverages are on the rise because of their great taste and lack of unpleasant effects on people. They would be a great addition to any country club’s menu!
Why Are Non-Alcoholic Beverages So Trendy Lately?
There has been a drastic shift in the behaviors of young people. An increasing number follow wellness trends and choose not to drink alcohol or to seriously decrease the amounts they consume.
Some sources say alcohol-free beverages have been on the rise because of some unhealthy relationships with alcohol. These relationships were mainly built during the last two-three years when most of us where staying at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. People nowadays want to change their lives, become healthier, and choose better food and drinks for themselves.
A research study has shown that non-alcoholic drinks currently hold a 3.5% share of the alcohol industry and they predict that by 2024, there will be a 30% increase. This is something that all businesses in the hospitality industry need to be aware of as this means that the number of customers looking for nice alternatives to alcohol will increase.
Non-Alcoholic Drinks at Country Clubs
By now, you probably see what you need to do as a business owner in case you haven’t done it yet. You need to work on improving your beverage program by adding a wide variety of alcohol-free drinks! Although private label wine and signature cocktails are great, you should not neglect the importance of the alcohol-free options. Your country club menu can only benefit from more drinks that don’t include different types of alcohol.
Most people visiting a country club go there for golfing, swimming, and tennis. It’s true that not everyone is into sports and may come for relaxation and socialization. But just imagine what a great opportunity you have to maximize profits by stocking coolers near the golf courses with alcohol-free beverages. Or the minibars, the pool bar, and of course - the restaurant.
Even Michelin Star restaurants are now incorporating more non-alcoholic beverages in their menus. The chefs in these unique restaurants know the importance of a good food and beverage pairing, and managers understand the need to boost customer satisfaction by offering what people want.
From the perspective of a business owner or manager, this is great news and opportunity. Beverage storage for alcoholic-free drinks is not that complicated to organize as the requirements are different from those for storing wine. Temperature-control storage can and should be used for them, too, but the guidelines to follow are not as specific.
So if you are wondering what kinds of alcohol-free beverages to include in your menu, here’s some helpful information for you!
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Mocktails
One of the easiest ways to add alcohol-free drinks to your bar and restaurant menu is by going for mocktails. The great thing about them is that you can make non-alcoholic version of popular cocktails that people often order.
You can go a more unique route and choose to work with a mixologist to create special mocktails. The rule of thumb is to stick to the concept of your country club or the bar/restaurant. You can also do some testing and add various options to your menu. After a certain period of time, you can reevaluate and see which options were enjoyed the most by your guests.
Non-Alcoholic Spirits
There’s other types of non-alcoholic drinks on the rise. Non-alcoholic spirits are becoming popular lately among people looking for alternatives. This liquor doesn’t have the objective to mimic rum, vodka, whiskey, or another popular type of alcohol. On the contrary, it focuses on creating alternatives for consumers.
These types of non-alcoholic liquors are made of botanicals. They typically include leaves, roots, flowers and/or spices. They have a nice aroma and are truly enjoyable for the taste buds. The greatest benefit is that everyone can drink them and have a fun night out or time around the pool, and even play sports without getting dizzy.
Other Alcohol-Free Options
Of course, let’s not forget about adding a variety of non-alcoholic beverages to your menu like unique teas, specialty coffee, CBD beverages, and soft drinks. All of these types of drinks will improve the customer experience of everyone staying at your country club.
Frequently Asked Questions about Non-Alcoholic Drinks in Country Clubs
Alcohol-free beverages are hot right now and for many good reasons! They’ve been a preferred choice for young people who are looking to change their lifestyle and live more healthily.
If you run a country club or another business in the hospitality industry, you probably need a bit more information. Let’s look into some commonly asked questions and their answers!
Is There Any Alcohol in Non-Alcoholic Beer?
Yes, there is about 0.5% alcohol in non-alcoholic beer. Although the name suggests that there’s, in fact, 0% of alcohol in this type of beer, that’s not true. For this reason, non-alcoholic beer is not recommended to people who can’t and shouldn’t have alcohol.
As an alternative, customers can have other non-alcoholic drinks like mocktails, non-alcoholic spirits, and soft drinks. You can suggest even great food pairings with their drinks or vice versa. A good tea pairing, for example, is not to be underestimated.
Are People Drinking Less Alcohol Than Before?
Studies have shown a decrease in the number of people drinking alcohol in the last few years. Back in 2009, the average number of drinks per week per American was 4.8. In 2021, this number dropped to 3.6 drinks on a weekly basis per person in the US.
In 2019, 60% of Americans said they drink alcohol, which is a decrease from the 65% alcohol drinkers from previous years.
Are Non-Alcoholic Drinks Better for People’s Health?
Non-alcoholic beverages can be enjoyed as a healthier alternative to alcohol. One of the great benefits of non-alcoholic drinks is that they can’t cause a hangover, can’t dehydrate a person, or affect their sleep.
They are one of the wellness trends that are worth exploring, both as a customer or a business owner.