How Your Pub Can Survive Dry January

Dry January might be good for the nation’s health but it could be fatal for pubs and restaurants.  After weeks of excess, the UK is knuckling down, trying to get fit and to save money.

However, spare a thought for some of its victims: the embattled owners of pubs and restaurants. Nobody has any money and everyone is trying to be healthy, which means this is likely to be their leanest month of the year.

January is the time of year that is traditionally slow for the pub industry. After maxing the credit cards over Christmas customers are tightening their belts and going out less. The rise of New Year’s Resolutions to lose weight or detox mean people are staying in; and alcohol free challenges like Dry January don’t help the pub industry.

So how can pubs and bars treat Dry January and Sober October as an opportunity rather a threat, and take advantage of the trend for drinking less alcohol?

How to survive Dry January

January is the month when many people decide to give up alcohol for Dry January. If you’re used to going out to the pub regularly, this can be a challenge. Here are a few tips to help you get through Dry January without going crazy. First, try to find other activities that you enjoy and that don’t involve alcohol. This could be anything from going for walks to trying new recipes.

Secondly, don’t be afraid to say no when friends or family members offer you a drink. It can be difficult to turn down alcohol, but it’s important to remember that you’re doing this for your own health. Finally, if you do slip up and have a drink, don’t beat yourself up about it. Just pick yourself up and start again the next day. Dry January may be challenging, but it’s definitely achievable with a bit of willpower.

The rise of Dry January

Dry January is not particularly new. It first appeared in 2012 as a campaign from Alcohol Concern and has been pretty successful. The organisers say it has helped millions of people save money, lose weight and improve their health. It taps into our natural competitive spirit. While we Brits love a drink, we also love a challenge, so we relish any opportunity to set ourselves a goal and try to achieve it.

This might be good news for the nation’s health but it can be devastating for pubs and restaurants. Both these sectors have suffered in the last few years and a lean spell in January can leave many struggling to make ends meet. With other obligations, such as taxation and payroll also weighing heavily at this time, they need to find a way to bridge the gap.

Here are a few ideas to help your pub survive Dry January.

January Sales

Everyone loves a sale. Let’s face it, we’ve all spent a month’s wages in a week, over-indulged on everything bad for you and are feeling extremely sorry for ourselves. Offers that revolve around saving money, healthy eating and less calorific drinks are your best bet. Everyone’s attempting dry January and dieting, so why not use this to your advantage? Why not look to get those healthy eating, gym fanatics back in your pubs over January? The pub doesn’t have to be drinking too much and parties, speak to your suppliers about what low-calorie alcohol and soft drinks they are rolling out. What offers can you put around them? Events?

January is the perfect time to start looking at introducing new menu’s, both food and drink are just a few ideas for pubs to make money. In the quiet months, you can plan, roll out and problem shoot your new offers with little comeback from unhappy customers. If your establishment is food led, surviving on being the best in the village then you need to always be at the top of your game, not that you need me to tell you that. The January period is great to trial new dishes, re-train staff and generally brighten up the place.

Incentivise Customers with a Free Pint

Public house are a staple of British culture, offering a welcoming atmosphere, good food and drink, and a chance to catch up with friends. However, public houses are struggling to compete with the ever-growing list of things to do and places to go. To incentivise customers, public houses could offer a free pint during the month of January.

January is often a slow month for public houses as people are trying to save money after Christmas and many are participating in “dry January.” Offering a free pint would be a great way to bring people back into public houses and could help to increase sales during what is typically a slow time of year.

Additionally, public houses could use the free pint promotion as an opportunity to upsell customers by offering speciality beers or foods. By offering a free pint, public houses could bring in new customers and increase sales during the typically slow month of January.

Hold a Non-Alcoholic drinks festival

A festival-style event, held over a few days or the whole month, is an ideal way to showcase different non-alcoholic beers and other alcohol-free drinks. And get a feel for which drinks your customers would like to buy all year round.

You could encourage customers to try multiple drinks with tokens they can buy in advance or highlight different drinks each day through discounts and promotions. Why not stock up with some exciting alcohol-free drinks and promote your pub as a Dry January venue. Create a menu of alcohol-free cocktails, host a tasting evening trying out different alcohol-free beers, or explore alternative drinks like Seedlip’s range of non-alcoholic spirits.

Pub food Promotions

Public houses, more commonly known as pubs, are a beloved British institution. They provide a place for people to gather, relax, and enjoy a few drinks and some good food. In recent years, however, pubs have been struggling to compete with the ever-growing popularity of bars and restaurants. To combat this decline, many pubs have started offering special promotions on food.

For example, during the month of January, many pubs offer discounts on meals to encourage people to participate in “dry January” and forego alcohol for the month. This can be a great way to save money on pub food and try something new. So if you’re looking for a bargain on pub grub, keep an eye out for special promotions throughout the year.

Become a Dry January Venue

Dry January is an annual campaign that encourages people to abstain from alcohol for the month of January. The campaign is endorsed by health organizations around the world, and it provides a great opportunity for businesses to show their support for healthier lifestyles.

There are many benefits to becoming a dry January venue. For starters, it shows that you care about your customers’ health and well-being. It alsosend a strong message that you’re committed to responsible drinking. And last but not least, it can be a great marketing opportunity – after all, who doesn’t love a good detox?

If you’re thinking about becoming a dry January venue, there are a few things you need to do. First, you need to make sure that your staff are on board with the campaign. They should be aware of the importance of responsible drinking, and they should be willing to help customers stay on track. Second, you need to promote the campaign to your customers. Let them know that you’re committed to helping them stay healthy and sober in the new year. Finally, make sure that you have plenty of non-alcoholic options available. Whether it’s mocktails or virgin cocktails, juices or soda water, make sure your customers can still enjoy themselves without alcohol.

So what are you waiting for? Show your support for dry January today!

Host a Resolution Busted Party

What’s the best way to celebrate Dry January? By hosting a Resolution Busted party, of course! Here’s how it works: invite your friends over and have them bring their favorite bottle of wine or six-pack of beer. Then, bust out all the unhealthy snacks you can find. Chips, dip, cookies, cake, you name it! The point is to indulge in all the things you’re supposed to be giving up for the month.

And what’s a party without a little competition? Set up a scoring system and award prizes for whoever can eat the most junk food or drink the most alcohol. Just make sure to have plenty of water on hand to prevent anyone from going too overboard. With a Resolution Busted party, you can help your friends stick to their goals… by helping them break them!

Promote your pub as a Community Space

A pub is more than just a place to get a pint. It’s a community space, where people can come together to socialize, relax, and have a good time. If you want to promote your pub as a community space, there are a few things you can do.

• First, make sure your pub is welcoming and comfortable for everyone. Create a warm and inviting atmosphere, with plenty of seating and space for people to move around.
• Second, offer a variety of activities and events that will appeal to the local community. quiz nights, live music, pool tournaments – anything that will get people in the door.
• Third, get involved with local charities and causes. This will help to build goodwill among your neighbors and show that you care about more than just making money. By following these tips, you can turn your pub into the community hub it was always meant to be. Cheers!

Healthy Menus

Anyone who has ever tried to eat healthy knows that it can be a challenge, especially when dining out. All too often, the healthier options on menus are bland and unappetizing, while the pub food is greasy and unhealthy. However, there are some simple changes that restaurants can make to their menus to help encourage healthier eating.

For starters, they can offer more salads and vegetables as side dishes. They can also include leaner meats such as grilled chicken or fish, and make sure to offer whole-grain breads and pastas. In addition, restaurants can provide nutritional information for each menu item, so that diners can make informed choices about what they eat. By making these small changes, restaurants can help diners eat healthier without sacrificing taste or variety.

Advocate Moderation

In recent years, there has been a growing movement in favor of moderation. More and more people are choosing to abstain from alcohol for extended periods of time, or to limit their intake to a certain number of drinks per week. This trend is often referred to as “dry January,” and it has gained significant traction in recent years.

There are a number of reasons why people advocate for moderation. For one, it can have positive effects on overall health. Alcohol consumption has been linked to a variety of health problems, including liver damage and cancer. Additionally, moderate alcohol intake has been shown to improve cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of stroke.

Finally, limiting alcohol consumption can also help to improve sleep quality and increase energy levels. Ultimately, there are a number of good reasons to advocate for moderation, and dry January is just one way to do so.

Read more: Legal issues for public houses

End of dry January party

To coincide with the end of Dry January and customers receiving their first pay day of 2023, why not host an End of Dry January party. Since many people who complete Dry January plan to cut down on alcohol throughout the rest of the year too, make sure you promote your low and non-alcohol drinks so they know they’re catered whenever they want a night out.