First things first, do you prefer Dry January or Sober October?
CV:
Oh, tough one. Neither. I do it all year round.
HL:
No, I don't really believe in this, I never did it. I just don't drink a lot the whole year. I don't think it's good to drink a lot, then not drink, then drink a lot. It's about finding a balance. You just mess up your body otherwise.
Tell us about your low- and no-alcohol options at the Cambridge Public House?
HL:
We’re really happy with them, we actually already have a lot of non-alcoholic options. We had this amazing drink, my favorite on the menu. It’s a milk punch style drink but with goat’s milk and goat cheese instead of regular milk.
How should bartenders talk about their no/low options? Is it a mocktail, non-alcoholic drink, or alcohol-free cocktail?
CV:
I understand that for some people ‘mocktail’ is easier because they understand straight away that it's nonalcoholic. But for me, it's a mock of a cocktail, and I think it's also something of the past.
We used to blend juices like orange juice and grenadine and call it a cocktail, whereas now we have amazing, sophisticated cocktails that are non-alcoholic. For me it's really important to use the right term for the experience of the guests.
HL:
I just say non-alcoholic cocktails. Well, I don't mind mocktails. I don’t get crazy about it, call them whatever you want to call them.
What about pricing strategy?
CV:
In terms of price point I think non-alcoholic cocktails should be priced the same, or a little below alcoholic cocktails, because otherwise you're saying the value in the glass is the alcohol.
In reality we drink to socialise, we drink for the experience, we drink to go out, to appreciate venues. We drink for flavour. And that has nothing to do with the ABV in the glass. It's actually the whole experience. And so for me, nonalcoholic, low-ABV, or full strength, it’s all the same.
HL:
I think consumers don't know that non-alcoholic spirits are just as expensive, or more, than boozy spirits. I don't think it would go well in people's minds if you charge the same, even though it's probably the same price to develop. And so you still have to offer quite a significant difference in the pricing.
It’s our shout, what non-alcoholic drink would you order?
HL:
Water! And I like fresh juice. My favorite thing is fresh blood orange juice. You put them in the fridge a few minutes first.
