Perth's first non-alcoholic bar opens in western suburbs
A Wembley cafe's trial to double up as Perth's first non-alcoholic bar is part of a bigger trend of young partiers moving away from the traditional booze and bar scene, its owners say.
Pique coffee shop owners Jase and Claire Millar have turned their coffee house into Perth's first non-alcoholic bar for after-work drinks over two Fridays.
'It's true that more people, especially young people, have stopped drinking alcohol or are talking about drinking less alcohol,' Mrs Millar said.
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'A lot more places have an expanding alcohol-free menu, but there's nowhere in Perth exclusively alcohol-free.
'But if you don't want to go to a bar, or you have a problem with alcohol but you still want to catch up with some friends, then where do you go?
'So we thought we could join those ideas together and create the feeling of a bar, but just without the alcohol.' Pique Coffee co-owners Jase and Claire Millar. Credit: Ian Munro / The West Australian
The trial started last Friday, with not-for-profit group Mens Talk in on the act to create a space for conversations about men's mental health in a bar-like setting.
'We kind of wanted to replicate those after-work Friday drinks,' Mrs Millar said.
'And having people talking around at a bar is a good concept for conversation starters, given it's kind of a familiar space for many.'
The evening event is completely alcohol-free, offering patrons a range of alcohol-free drinks and mocktails, including some inspired by coffee.
'You almost kind of get that same feeling that you are having a drink, but you're not,' Mrs Millar said.
'We have a have a drink called a coffee Cola, which feels like you're drinking a beer with it off the tap, but it's a coffee.
'Other drinks include Scarborough Sunset, Summer Holidaze and Cold Fashioned.'
Mr and Mrs Millars' new bar idea reflects a growing trend that is seeing younger people across the world drinking less alcohol than previous generations at the same age.
In Australia, more than a quarter of nightclubs have closed in recent years, while the rise of the health and wellness industry has skyrocketed.
Evidence of this cultural shift has popped up across Perth, including a sober silent disco at Cottesloe Beach earlier this year and other early morning 'hosvitality' such as Melt Sessions, a sauna and cold plunge double act starting in Subiaco in June. Pique Coffee co-owners Jase and Claire Millar at the cafe in Wembley. Credit: Ian Munro / The West Australian
About 750 people attended the sunrise beach doof to put on headphones and dance the morning away without any alcohol in sight.
While Australia's drinking culture is still something seen as a normal part of social life, Mrs Millar said she hopes the trial can plant the seed for those who are starting to search for more sober experiences.
'It's definitely the seed of an idea. And it's still a very fresh concept for Perth,' she said.
'But we'll see how we go, and we're excited for the journey ahead.'
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