Page 9 | Would you eat at a restaurant that didn't serve alcohol?

Yearn · 2021-11-22T02:40:58+00:00

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.

notanothertakeaway · 22/11/2021 09:17

I like wine with a meal

If the food was really excellent, I'd be ok with alcohol free. But it would have to be really good food

Agree with a PP. Although posters here are supportive, I don't think it works as a business concept. Many restaurants make good £ from selling alcohol

ErrolTheDragon · 22/11/2021 09:19

I'd go to one - I like a drink with a meal but its not a deal breaker. Some types of food (many oriental ones) don't really benefit from alcohol imo.

TractorAndHeadphones · 22/11/2021 09:20

There's no answer it depends on the type of food.
Asian cuisine or casual dining (like fried chicken) wouldn't work with alcohol.
French or other European cuisine that goes with alcohol yes.
I'm led by the cuisine rather than the alcohol.

In general though we tend to go out drinking after so not having alcohol with the meal isn't a big deal

Kuachui · 22/11/2021 09:23

personally i dont see why people need to drink alcohol so yes i would i dont drink becaise i dont find it tastes that good sp why would i bother to?

itsallfuntilsomeonelosesaneye · 22/11/2021 09:24

As long as the food is good, a lack of alcohol doesn't bother me. I'd rather have lovely food and no booze than mediocre food with.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 22/11/2021 09:26

I’d go to one. It would be fine for me with most kinds of food, although if it was a steal restaurant or something it would be a shame!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 22/11/2021 09:29

I voted the wrong way at first because I got it the wrong way around.

There are a few places I’d go to - usually chains - that do serve alcohol but I don’t think of as “alcohol places” so I wouldn’t think to order it. Usually Asian food.

cushioncovers · 22/11/2021 09:30

Definitely, as I don't really drink alcohol anyway.

GrandTheftWalrus · 22/11/2021 09:30

Yes as I don't like drinking alcohol while eating a meal so always get a soft drink anyway.

FatBettyintheCoop · 22/11/2021 09:31

Yes, very happily. I never drink alcohol with food as it spoils the taste of the food for me.

Inastatus · 22/11/2021 09:31

No I wouldn’t eat there in the evening. Part of the pleasure of going out for a meal is choosing nice wine to accompany it. I don’t drink coke/lemonade etc, I hate alcohol free beers or wine and wouldn’t want fruit juice or mocktails with an evening meal so if there was no wine I’d be on water - not my idea of a naice evening out.

BarkminsterBlue · 22/11/2021 09:33

Lol who the hell would do market research using an aibu vote?

You must be new.

notanothertakeaway · 22/11/2021 09:36

@DeepaBeesKit

The thing is, a restaurant which offers alcohol as well as soft drinks can appeal to most - it won't bother most non drinkers to be in a restaurant where some people are having a drink.

A restaurant which does not serve any alcohol is going to have a reduced market because in many groups, for a nice meal, there will be at least one or two people who want to drink.

This

A bit like - would you eat in a restaurant that served vegan food only? Well, I might, but the food would have to be very good, to tempt a whole group of people. Usually, better to choose a restaurant that caters to all tastes

HarrietsChariot · 22/11/2021 09:37

I wouldn't choose a restaurant for an evening meal that didn't at least allow you to bring your own alcohol. What's the point of an evening out if you can't drink? All it will do is lead to people smuggling alcohol in like a teenager at an underage club night.

I'd seriously question the logic of the person running the establishment. What are their reasons for not allowing drink? They've either got personal objections to alcohol, in which case the hospitality trade isn't for them, or they've got some very questionable business sense. Everyone knows alcohol is highly profitable and leads to people spending more. And if they object to alcohol on (say) religious grounds, what right do they have to demand others follow their beliefs? Even in "dry" countries in the middle east there is a tolerance of non-Muslims drinking alcohol, for example, because they know other people enjoy it and it makes good sense to allow it.

PigletJohn · 22/11/2021 09:39

@Smorgasborb

However someone will be along shortly to say if you can't get through a meal without alcohol then you are clearly an alcoholic.

more accurately, people who are alcoholics are especially likely to find it a problem.

but will probably have bottles of vodka in their bag.

SW1amp · 22/11/2021 09:41

If I was invited there by other people eg for a birthday, I would go along

If I was looking for somewhere to go for a meal with DH or with friends, I would almost certainly rule it out

scarpa · 22/11/2021 09:41

I would. If the food was good enough that I wanted to eat there specificially, I wouldn't be so desperate to drink with it that no alcohol would put me off.

Gonnagetgoing · 22/11/2021 09:45

For a one off on either a weekday or weekend night then yes.

However if it were somewhere I’d either go on a regular basis etc then unless someone had a specific problem with alcohol (and then generally in my opinion it’s their problem) then no I wouldn’t go there and wouldn’t like it. If they gave the option of BYOB that would be ok.

Exhausteddog · 22/11/2021 09:45

A bit like - would you eat in a restaurant that served vegan food only? Well, I might, but the food would have to be very good, to tempt a whole group of people. Usually, better to choose a restaurant that caters to all tastes

I'm not vegan but I'm pretty sure they get a very limited choice (maybe one or 2 items) on most menus that claim to cater for all tastes

Grabmygran · 22/11/2021 09:45

No I wouldn’t unless driving or pregnant… and even then I wouldn’t choose to enforce sobriety onto my dining companions

gannett · 22/11/2021 09:46

@HarrietsChariot

I wouldn't choose a restaurant for an evening meal that didn't at least allow you to bring your own alcohol. What's the point of an evening out if you can't drink? All it will do is lead to people smuggling alcohol in like a teenager at an underage club night.

I'd seriously question the logic of the person running the establishment. What are their reasons for not allowing drink? They've either got personal objections to alcohol, in which case the hospitality trade isn't for them, or they've got some very questionable business sense. Everyone knows alcohol is highly profitable and leads to people spending more. And if they object to alcohol on (say) religious grounds, what right do they have to demand others follow their beliefs? Even in "dry" countries in the middle east there is a tolerance of non-Muslims drinking alcohol, for example, because they know other people enjoy it and it makes good sense to allow it.

Ridiculous post. There are high-quality community restaurants that have been operating happily for decades despite not serving/allowing alcohol and no one bloody tries to smuggle it in.

Almostmenopausal · 22/11/2021 09:47

Genuinely aghast at all the alcoholics & wine-o's on here I can't remember the last time I drank alcohol with a meal

Almostmenopausal · 22/11/2021 09:48

@Smorgasborb

However someone will be along shortly to say if you can't get through a meal without alcohol then you are clearly an alcoholic.

You just did it yourself!

Gonnagetgoing · 22/11/2021 09:48

Really? I think it depends on the stage in your recovery as an alcoholic personally.

I’ve dated a recovering alcoholics who was happy to go into a pub with me, have orange juice and me have an alcoholic drink.

My dad (alcoholic most of his life, bar 15 years) used to serve I think low alcohol wine which he said was “ok”.

sageandbasil · 22/11/2021 09:48

No I wouldn't