To arrange an alcohol free wake?

Of course it’s fine, my husbands funeral was very early and I provided a breakfast buffet for the wake including tea, coffee and orange juice. I’m sure lots went to the pub afterwards but I didn’t think it was right to serve alcohol at 10 in the morning,
If people have a problem with it, it’s on them, not you,

Absolutely fine - it would be stranger to deliberately set out to serve it at a funeral tea in a Methodist hall.

Like others have said, can head off any potential confusion by inviting people to join you for tea rather than a wake. Tea, coffee, water,squash.

It’s tanglier when it’s somewhere with a bar you don’t want open, but when there isn’t one it’s simple.

I don't think anyone will be put out at all - or at least they shouldn't be, it's not a party for their benefit! I don't think you need to make an announcement about it either. Our local Methodist church hall won't have alcohol on the premises so it might be that that makes the decision for you anyway.

I think that's a lovely thing to do, to show respect for your father's beliefs. I sometimes book our local Methodist Church Hall for events and it is always stated as a condition of booking that no alcohol is allowed on the premises. If you think some people might challenge you over the decision to have an alcohol free event perhaps you could tell everyone that it is not allowed on the premises. I always add this to event information and I have never had anyone question it or try to bring their own (and mine are evening events, not a day-time funeral)

I am sorry for your loss. The arrangement sounds fine to me. I wish your event goes well. I agree with the fact most people will be driving. I send a big hug to you and your family. i am not a drinker myself.

I'm so sorry, Mere. Your approach sounds very much what your father would have asked for. I hope it all goes off OK.

Absolutely fine. The issue is other people's if they can't attend a wake without needing booze.

Might be an idea to hold it somewhere where alcohol isn't even an option, or as others have suggested put it in the invite.

Sorry for your loss.

I think it is absolutely fine.

For my mother's wake we arranged a buffet in a function room at a hotel. There was coffee and tea provided in the room and people could order drinks if they wanted them and we paid. At the end we found we only had to pay for about 4 drinks and there were around 50 people there.

I think it’s a nice gesture towards your father’s values and people who loved him would appreciate it.

I’ve been to several wakes in church halls that have been alcohol free. They’ve all been lovely. Normally tea (and sometimes coffee) are the standard beverages.

Absolutely fine, my granny specified before her death she didn’t want alcohol at the wake just food and tea/coffee and this was honoured of course. And this is in Ireland too. Just drop people a note and no one will say a thing.

I wouldn't have thought there would be anything odd at all about not serving alcohol after a funeral? After my father's memorial service we just initially planned to just have tea and cake. We made a very last minute decision to get some prosecco in (literally on the way to the hall) as my sisters and I decided we needed it!!! But I don't think anybody would have batted an eyelid either way.

Guess it's a cultural thing?

Yep. Nothing wrong with it but people might want a beer after a funeral. Just warn them in advance for catering if you're doing any.

Perfectly OK, but don't take it personally if a large proportion of the mourners decamp early to go down the pub.

Most funerals I've been to have been like 2pm on a Tuesday so nobody really drinks anyway.

I'm Scottish and from a family that doesn't really need a second invitation for a whisky and few beers at a family gathering, but can't say I've ever seen it at a funeral.

Of course it's fine, especially if it's "self catering" rather than in a pub. Calling it a funeral tea is a nice idea. Please have soft drinks other than just tea, coffee and water.

Sorry for your loss.

I'm Irish.
Any wakes I've been to have had teas and coffees.
Most people are driving anyway.

my dad was an alcoholic and we just had tea / coffee and soft drinks plus finger food available at the church hall after his funeral. Even in Ireland, this was no issue - you wouldn’t be expecting to have booze in the church hall at any event and nobody said a thing (that I am aware of). We waked him the night before and again only offered teas etc at the house as tbh the idea of celebrating his life with the thing that killed him sat oddly with me and my siblings.

Definitely, we have done food and tea in the church hall for family members who a pub wasn't very them. I actually really prefer those funerals. Close family can then go home and have a drink later or go to the pub if they want but less expectations.

We had my mum's wake 3months ago & that was dry, tea, coffee & juice, everyone knew what was happening & respected it.

I am Irish, At my Aunts wake we had no alcohol. Her wake was held in her house and it was just easier not to serve alcohol. People were offered tea, coffee, soft drinks and sandwiches and cakes. A few people brought bottles of alcohol with them but did not seem in the slightest bit bothered that no alcohol was being served.

I was recently at a family funeral and the only person drinking was FIL. It was MILs funeral, he had it in his head that every one would be wanting a drink. But it was midday, lots of people were driving, and every one was perfectly happy with the funeral ‘tea’, with just tea and coffee provided. This was in Scotland, drinking and driving severely frowned on these days.

Most funeral teas I've been to were non alcoholic events and in a church or Methodist hall. As PP said, call it a funeral tea and not a wake. If anyone wants a pint, they can go to the pub later on.

I think it's absolutely fine op and especially given the venue I'd be expecting it to be tea and sandwiches rather than anything boozy.

I don’t see why not respect his wishes. If the wake is in a Methodist church hall you can’t have alcohol anyway. Call it his party or celebration of his life. You don’t need alcohol at a funeral.

We didn’t provide alcohol at my gran’s wake. Tea and coffee and food, and if anyone wanted booze they could buy it from the bar.