Would you eat at a restaurant that didn't serve alcohol?

[Yearn]

If a restaurant served only soft drinks and alcohol-free beers/wines/cocktails would you eat there on an evening? Even on a Friday/Saturday night. No BYOB either.

YABU - Yes, I would eat there even on a weekend night.
YANBU - No, I wouldn't eat there on an evening.

Oh, and I voted YABU, but I don’t actually think you’re unreasonable if you don’t want to go out to eat unless alcohol is served.

No I wouldn't.
I don't like soft drinks at all and enjoy a glass of wine with food.

I always thought that most restaurants were only profitable because of their mark up on wine. While obviously there are some restaurants that are alcohol-free, I imagine there is only a limited number that can make it work financially because there's not enough people who would happily go out for a meal without any alcohol being served to go round.

Why do you ask, OP? Is this market research?

It wouldn't be my first choice no, as most non alc' drinks of the type you list are relatively sweet and have absolutely no affinity with food. But then tbh we have a huge choice of restaurants locally so not likely to be an issue.
If I were somewhere where it was the only option probably yes. But at risk of sounding like a raging alcoholic the glass of wine I order whilst I'm looking at the menu always feels like a treat, don't know why.... a nicer glass? Better than the wine I drink at home?

Yes wouldn't bother me. I hardly drink.

@Missey85

YABU most don't go to restaurants to get smashed? If you do you might want to think about why? The Pubs for that

It's possible to have one or two glasses of wine with a meal, or one beer. Not many people would get smashed on that, nor is that why most diners enjoy wine or beer with a meal. There's a happy medium between being teetotal and binge drinking.

I don't drink alcohol and I prefer eating in places that don't serve it tbh.

Before writing off the restaurant, maybe give it a try? It could be somewhere that does fantastic food. Worst case scenario, if the food/atmosphere isn't good, just don't go there again?

Id hope that if they were alcohol free they would have a selection of drinks not just cheap fizzy stuff.

A fresh orange juice with nice lemonade I'd be fine, or even nice chilled water.

I wouldn't. I generally only eat out at lunchtimes - a few times a year with best friend or DH.

We deliberately go somewhere with lovely food and delicious wine.

I don't like drinking in the evening or going out to eat in the evening either.

The only exception would be a cafe if I was going for brunch or something.

Why the question OP? Have you been invited to one and are wondering whether to go? Plan on inviting friends to one and worried about it? Thinking of opening an alcohol free restaurant or if there's a gap in the market?

We went out for lunch yesterday, nobody drank alcohol, I had a coffee, DH had a virgin cocktail, DS had orange juice, DMIL had a diet coke. Then we all drank water with the meal.

I think lunch is a bit different- a restaurant doesn't rely on lunchtime alcohol sales like evening, when it would be about 30% total sales at an 80% margin. I guess I just think the OP is making things financially difficult from the off because "alcohol free" is a USP for very few people (I've never been to a restaurant where excessive drinking by other people has spoiled my evening) and depending on the clientele and their preferences you could end up with very poor non-alcoholic drinks sales.

Yes I go to restaurants to eat. Pubs and clubs to drink.

It wouldn't bother me. I often end up driving so wouldn't be drinking anyway. Our local taxi services have gone downhill because most of the drivers have gone to Uber, but we don't get Uber round here as we are too far out of town.

I went to a lovely restaurant last year, absolutely delicious Middle Eastern food. They don’t do alcohol, but it was no biggie, you could have all the tea refills you wanted. People were queuing for a table. Usually I like wine with a weekend meal, but it’s not the end of the world if I can’t, sometimes I take a wee break from drink anyway.

It would depend on all sorts of things, from the time of day to whether the meal was the main event of the evening or just a quick bite before doing something else. Also what the other options were- if there were two equally good restaurants and one serves alcohol I’d probably go there, because it’s nice to have the choice. But I wouldn’t boycott a restaurant for not serving alcohol, if that’s what you mean.

I wouldn't even notice as I don't drink.

Yes but neither of us really drink so it wouldn't be a consideration really.

I wouldn't unless bring your own. I don't get tp to go out often and this is part of my experience

We don't drink much and wouldn't be bothered at all, but I think others would be bothered - wine is considered part of the experience by many and I don't think that this equals an issue with alcohol as plenty of cultures expect wine with food, but don't necessarily get drunk.

Yes I would, I don't need alcohol to enjoy myself

DH and I don't drink so it wouldn't bother us but I think a lot of people wouldn't want to eat there as for many wine is part of the meal

If the food was really good, I would go then possibly pop to a pub/bar for a drink after I'd eaten or pour myself a g and t when I got home.

I have been to a restaurant that doesn’t do alcohol but wasn’t intentional. We went to an Indian and nowhere on their website did it say they didn’t serve alcohol and any other Indian I have been to that doesn’t serve alcohol have a BYOB option. My husband was not happy. We just had a main and then left. I think if they don’t serve booze they need to make it clear that they don’t. Especially for Friday and Saturday evening dining. I am not a big drinker but I do like half a pint with a nice curry when out.

I don't drink at all so no issue. That's a real don't drink . Not i don't drink only when out for a meal. Only to celebrate, only a glass of even when the kids are in bed. bla bla bla