Is Dry January affecting businesses?

Bournemouth’s oldest pub faces a large debate over the threat Dry January has on businesses.

Many locals around the area have claimed the seasonal activity of drinking no alcohol through January month is having a detrimental affect on pubs and bars in Bournemouth.

Some have taken this task with strong shoulders bringing it through the whole year, while others are claiming it may not be as beneficial as people claim.

The Director and Operator of the Cricketers Arms Pub, Austyn Greenfield said: “We have seen a real increase in the quality of non-alcoholic beverages we have on offer.

“This has led to more people taking on Dry January.”

Where many see the benefits of Dry January, Charles ‘Chad’ Bad has different views.

Chad, a regular at the pub said: “I don’t really see the point of coming to the pub and ordering a non-alcoholic drink, you come to the pub to enjoy the brew on tap.

“It has such a hit on pubs and breweries, it stops pubs from making large amounts of money through January and February.”

Chad claims that instead, people should do Try January.

Chad said there is the need for further focus on monitoring how much alcohol is consumed, but believes in the growth of his local pub.

He added: “I would never consider doing it (Dry January), you go to the pub to socialise and have a drink, you can just do that at home.”

This was steadily contradicted from the manager and barmaid of the Cricketers Arms Pub, Patricia Mckenna.

She believes that the journey to a pub is not simply hung on whether you are drinking or not.

“When your socialising, it doesn’t matter what you drink,” she said.

She said that the development of non-alcoholic drinks have become almost the exact same taste as its alcoholic counter part.

“Its great, there is such a wide variety that it give people that choice. You’re getting your top brands like Guinness and Thatchers,” she said.

This case study is only a small example of the bigger picture.