Five Stags Restaurant and Bar is set to become Central Otago’s first alcohol-free establishment.

Group CEO Glen Christiansen said with the declining sales of alcoholic beer, wine and spirits, and the huge growth in non-alcoholic beverages, it was only a matter of time before the Five Stags Bar and Restaurant made the change. 

“We are very excited to be the first bar in Central Otago to head in this direction, however we won’t be the last.”

He said increased compliance and operational costs also went into making the decision to pull out of the alcoholic drinks market, but it wasn’t an easy one.

Glen said after talking with others in the hospitality industry around Central Otago, it was expected that some other bars would likely follow suit.

Glen Christiansen looks forward to Five Stags Restaurant and Bar becoming alcohol-free. PHOTO: Supplied

The change will officially happen today, April 1, but he was already noticing a calmer atmosphere in the bar, with people starting to get onboard with it.

“We’ve started to get more bookings in the community, such as a local knitting group and book club wanting to use our more peaceful space. It’s going to completely change the dynamics and how we run our establishment.”