With more people shifting to an alcohol-free lifestyle, WindsorEats’ alcohol-free cocktails have been a hit with Windsorites looking to enjoy a dry night out.
According to NielsenIQ, sales of non-alcoholic beverages spiked 33%, to $331US million in the United States in the fall of 2021.
WindsorEats has always been a hospitality and tourism leader, having won numerous provincial and national awards for our work, and we decided to take on offering spirit substitutes for those looking for an alcohol-free night out on the town when we opened our location.
![Hot Honey Margarita from WindsorEats in Windsor, Ontario](https://www.windsoreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/291676761_588024956248887_6720537327882722276_n.jpg)
“This was just another way to continue the innovative work we do and provide guests that extra special touch they’ve come to expect from us,” explains Adriano Ciotoli, co-owner of WindsorEats. “Having cocktails or beer is such a social activity that those who don’t drink are often left feeling awkward sipping on water or a drink that is high in sugar.”
It’s not just those who don’t drink alcohol that are imbibing in the faux cocktails and beer.
Patrons who have already had a couple cocktails, but are enjoying themselves and want to extend their visit, are shifting over to the non-alcohol versions to prolong their evening without overdrinking.
“We wanted to provide the same creativity and thoughtfulness in our non-alcohol options to ensure all our guests felt comfortable and at their best when visiting us for food, drinks, or entertainment.”
In addition to non-alcohol beer, WindsorEats has a slate of spirit substitutes for gin, whisky, and tequila, allowing guests to enjoy a margarita that is almost identical to the popular alcohol version. WindsorEats has already served hundreds of alcohol-free cocktails since we opened in April 2022.
If you think this is a passing fad, think again. Popular alcohol-free brands, like Seedlip, are starting to be purchased by the large players in the spirit industry, like Diageo PLC, indicating a belief the demand is here to stay.
Much of the boom has taken place online, with a whopping 315% increase in non and low-alcoholic beverage sales over the past year compared with a 26% rise in online sales of alcoholic options during that period, according to Nielsen.
Other alcohol-free cocktails being offered at WindsorEats include Negronis, Manhattans, and more.