City's first sober bar to open amid 'alcohol decline'

A project to normalise sober spaces has been launched as a city's first alcohol-free bar is set to open.

Under the plans, Arc in Bristol will open until 23:00 every night, with live music, alcohol-free beers, kombuchas and CBD sodas.

Manager Javier Tanke said the venue would also work with the Bristol Drugs Project and Bristol Sober Spaces in a joint mission to normalise sober spaces and alcohol-free nights out.

Lydia Plant from Bristol Drugs Project said: "We know from demographic stats that people in their 20s are drinking way less than they used to."

"There's a huge market for sober nights. It's also cheaper.

"People want to have a night out where they're focusing on music and friends rather than managing their drug and alcohol use.

She explained that for people who are sober or in recovery it is also important to have places like the Arc Bar "where you're not going to be offered drugs and alcohol".

According to recent studies from Alcohol Change UK and Drink Aware, an increasing number of people are either going teetotal or drinking less alcohol, especially with young adult age groups.

The data shows, 16 to 25-year-olds were the most likely to be teetotal, with 26% not drinking, compared to the least likely generation (55 to 74-year-olds), 15% of whom did not drink.

Mr Tanke said he wanted to offer the "club culture, but in a safe, positive and inclusive way".

"We all know how fun it is to go out, but we all know the dark side of it," he said.

"We hope we can help [people in recovery]."

"Here we think it's key to have a door policy that allows people to come here with no triggers.

"There's no tipsy people and if people want to leave and have a drink they're not allowed back in," he added.

Councillor Stephen Williams from Bristol City Council said having a sober bar in Bristol was a "fantastic idea".

"I hope this is going to be a good option for people who want to go out... and not get drunk," he said.

Part of the new venue's licence included conditions that it must carry out a noise assessment, to see how loud music might affect their neighbours.

Noise limiters were also already planned and the venue is set top open later this year.

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