An alcohol-free Irish pub refreshes parts that others cannot reach

FOR YEARSIWSR themed pubs have bolstered Ireland’s soft power around the world. But their reach is limited to those who like a drink. And in many places youngsters are quaffing less than their parents did. Influencers promote “sober curious” lifestyles on social media, noting that cutting back on alcohol can bring benefits such as better sleep, not just a happier liver. By 2024 sales of “low- and no-alcohol” tipples will increase by almost one-third in ten big countries, according to the , a British company that analyses the international drinks market.These trends are mother’s milk to the owners of The Virgin Mary, a pub in Dublin that serves no booze of any kind. Vaughan Yates, who opened it in 2019, says his bar appeals to all sorts of people but that women are especially keen. He says that even pub-crawlers sometimes stop by for respite. Now the team behind it is seeking to set up duplicates abroad. If an alcohol-free bar can work in Dublin, it can work anywhere, says Sarah Connolly, a co-owner.