Non-alcoholic bar opens in Dublin

Ireland | It seems like a contradiction in terms: an Irish pub with no booze. And yet, Dublin’s The Virgin Mary recently opened and has attracted a lot of interest.

Located on Capel Street, The Virgin Mary’s drinks menu is packed with choice, from alcohol-free beers and wines to a variety of sober cocktails like the ‘Pink Preacher’.

Founded by Vaughan Yates, who has worked in the hospitality industry before, The Virgin Mary aims to be a regular pub. It operates traditional pub hours and is open to over 18s only.

“Going to the pub is about having good conversation, putting your phone down and engaging in the art of socialising, with good music,” he was quoted as saying. The pub does not serve coffee or tea because Mr Yates does not want people to think it is a café, where they can come in and sit in front of their computers for hours on end.

Mr Yates may be on to something. His venue reflects a trend towards healthier lifestyles. In Ireland, alcohol consumption has fallen to 10.9 litres in 2016 from 14.2 litres per person in 2005.

The Irish capital boasts over 750 pubs, many of them of the traditional Irish variety, serving stouts and a selection of whiskeys from Ireland’s 18 distilleries.