Latest news with #alcoholfree
BBC News
22-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Lincoln Beer Festival downsizes amid shift in drinking habits
A city's beer festival has moved to a smaller venue blaming falling attendances and a major shift in drinking Lincoln Beer Festival has relocated to Southside, a former church on Colegrave Street, for its 43rd year and will run from Thursday until Mark Richards said the change reflected the shift in drinking behaviours, with people going out earlier and fewer younger people socialising since the pandemic."The younger generations in their 20s aren't really going out late at night so there is a lack of footfall in pubs and venues throughout the country in that," he said. The three-day event, offering beers, real ales and alcohol-free options, was previously held at The Drill on Free School Richards said it was "a great shame to leave" but said the festival had to "adjust" to changes in society."We've had to make the decision [to change venues] because our footfall reduced as a result of that," he said. Michael Thurlby, who owns three pubs in Stamford, had also noticed a change in people's drinking habits. "We've had to adapt the hours and the style of our businesses to offer what people want today and not what they wanted 20 years ago," he pub landlord added people were opting for a healthier living by going out earlier with family and drinking more alcohol-free believed attitudes shifted as a result of the 2007 smoking ban and the coronavirus pandemic. The BBC spoke to members of the public about their drinking habits. Bowen Jones, 19, was sat in a pub with a pint of apple juice. He said: "I've never drank, I just don't like the taste of alcohol."Mr Jones said he went out the night before until 04:00 BST, did not drink alcohol, then drove home. "People don't go to the pub so much like my parents used to do," he Jones' friend, Oliver De'ath, 18, said he only drinks on special occasions."I don't really see the enjoyment in it. Sometimes we go out for food instead, I go to the gym. I think it is more socially acceptable [not to drink]," Mr De'ath said. By starting at noon and offering alcohol-free options, organisers hoped to reflect changing drinking event, sponsored by Lincoln CAMRA, will run until 23:00 BST on Thursday and Friday and until 21:00 BST on Saturday. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Ben Stokes the man is threatening to overtake Stokes the cricketer: This is what he must do to become England's feared match-winner again
The news that Ben Stokes has not touched alcohol since January 2 was both reassuring and a sign of the times. England's Test captain – 34 in June – is determined not to hasten his retirement by punishing his body off the field as well as on it, and not every all-rounder in the past has shared that resolve. Then again, Stokes the man is in danger of ousting Stokes the cricketer, both on the page and in the imagination.
Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Times
Ben Stokes: My drinking was unhealthy and affected my injury recovery
Ben Stokes has revealed that he gave up alcohol at the start of this year to aid his recovery from hamstring surgery and admitted that he used to drink until he couldn't remember what he did. Stokes will return to playing for the first time this calendar year when England face Zimbabwe in a four-day Test at Trent Bridge starting on Thursday. The England Test captain had two hamstring surgeries last year, the second of which came in December after England's 2-1 Test series win in New Zealand. Before a defining year for Bazball, with five Tests against India on home soil before the Ashes down under, Stokes has not touched a drop of alcohol since January 2. 'After my first major injury I remember
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Strong launch for brewery's alcohol-free version of popular ale
An independent Yorkshire brewery has launched an alcohol-free version of its popular ale. T&R Theakston has released Nowt Peculier, a non-alcoholic version of Old Peculier, and has already sold more than 15,000 bottles in the first two months. The beer has been praised for its likeness to its alcoholic counterpart and offers traditional ale enthusiasts a deeply satisfying alcohol-free alternative. Nowt Peculier will now also be stocked in 170 Sainsbury's stores nationwide, with the family brewery in continued talks with a number of retailers to extend the beer's off-trade footprint even further. The brewery is also building distribution in the on-trade through Heineken, Star Pubs, LWC, and other wholesalers as operators adapt their range to meet demand for 0.0 per cent ale options. Theakston says, thanks to advanced filtration technology, it has preserved everything that's made Old Peculier the 'iconic pint' it is today - minus the alcohol. Richard Bradbury, managing director of Theakston's Brewery, said: "Nowt Peculier is one of our first ventures into alcohol-free beer in the brewery's near 200-year history and maintaining our reputation for high quality beers was absolutely paramount for us in the creation of Nowt Peculier. "We are thrilled by the warm reception the beer has received so far and look forward to extending Nowt Peculier's reach even further across the on and off trade this year. "The low and no alcohol beer category continues to grow in the UK, and thanks to our use of the highest quality ingredients, the expertise of our brewers and remarkable new technology, we are pleased to bring something new to the category and staying true to our commitment to brew legendary beers."
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
Footy star turned-finance broker reveals the surprising ways taking a year off from drinking alcohol has completely changed his life
A Brisbane Lions great has opened up on how taking 12 months off drinking alcohol has given him a new lease of life, improved his health and helped him build better relationships. Thomas Rockliff, who captained the Lions between 2015 and 2016, says he is now 'a better father', is 'more consistent' and was no longer anxious about small issues in life after laying off the grog for a year. The 35-year-old has been candid about his health journey in the years following his retirement from professional footy in 2021. Rockliff enjoyed a distinguished 13-year career in the AFL, playing with the Lions for eight years before signing with Port Adelaide in 2018, where the former midfielder would return 13 goals across 54 appearances before hanging up his boots due to injury. His retirement came somewhat prematurely, with Rockliff, then 31, stating that blood clots had developed in his calf and lungs following a surgical procedure on his knee, which ultimately led to his decision to call time on his career. Since then, the 2014 All-Australian has pursued a career as a commercial financial broker, founding his own firm, Rockliff Finance. But away from the office he has also been on an inspiring health journey. 'Today marks 12 months of being alcohol free for me. I thought I would share some of my experiences,' Rockliff said. 'After the initial first three weeks of: 'I need a beer, it's Friday. I mowed the lawns, better crack a beer. Footy's on, time for a beer. Cooking a BBQ, I need a beer. Playing golf, better crack one. Having a steak, need a red. Mexican night, better have a Corona. 'It was easy. The first 3-weeks were tough, but once I broke those habits, I got so many benefits. 'I am a better father. I am more mentally sharp. I am more consistent. I don't sweat the small stuff. I sleep better. No anxiety the morning after. I work harder. I am fitter. I am overall a better person. I am happier. I am content.' It also comes after the former footy star had, back in June 2024, taken to Instagram to showcase his insane six-month body transformation. He published two screenshots of himself in January and in June 2024, stating that he weighed 103.2kg in January, while in a later picture, he cut a much more toned figure, having dropped to 18.9kg in weight. The ex-footy star added that he was an advocate of taking away from booze but stressed that happiness was paramount. Rockliff took to social media to tell fans he was a 'big advocate' of giving up the grog but urged others to just do 'whatever makes you happy and gives you a purpose' Since his retirement in 2021, Rockliff has gone on to found a financial services firm where he works as a commercial broker 'I have improved my life 10-fold, and I see no upside to drinking. I am yet to have someone give me an upside to drinking. 'Anyway, if you are thinking of having a break, I am a big advocate for no grog, give it a go and see if your life gets better. 'Conversely, if you want to go have a beer and enjoy yourself, get after it. Do whatever makes you happy and gives you a purpose. 'You only have to answer to the man in the mirror.'
