Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
NEWBURYPOT, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio)— Some local liquor businesses said they’re not out of the woods yet as dry January officially comes to an end Saturday.
That’s because, “historically, February is the slowest month,” Todd Baltich from Leary’s Fine Wines and Spirits told WBZ NewsRadio.
Abby Hannan of The Port Tavern agreed with that sentiment, but recently the dip in sales has not been as bad as before.
“Talking to other restaurants as well, it seems to be a consensus that it’s not as dramatic as a shift this year,” Hannan said.
That’s thanks to the growing demand for drinks without the buzz, or non-alcoholic beverages.
Read more: Non-Alcoholic Bottle Shop Celebrates Grand Opening In Cambridge
“People are more comfortable coming out and getting mocktails or non-alcoholic beers and things like that,” Hannah continued. “So, they can still come out and socialize but maybe not be drinking alcohol.”
Industry market researcher, NielsonIQ, reported that the non-alcoholic beverage industry had a 31% growth rate last year and predicts that sales is set to double in the next five years. Increasingly more retailers, like Baltich, have diversified into this market to include some of these options on shelves.
“We have a very large non-alcoholic section, so that makes up for some of the loss for alcoholic products during January,” Baltich said.
WBZ NewsRadio's Kendall Buhl reports.