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A quarter of UK wedding guests don’t drink alcohol on the big day
Sober weddings are on the rise, according to a new survey, which shows that 24% of UK guests prefer not to drink at weddings.
A survey conducted by The Gilchrist Collection, the UK’s largest group of wedding venues, indicates that weddings are becoming increasingly dry.
In contrast to the stereotypical image of boozy wedding receptions, the results show that 24% of UK wedding guests prefer to abstain from alcohol completely when celebrating the nuptials of family and friends.
Furthermore, almost half (47%) of those who had attended weddings in the last five years chose not to drink alcohol on at least one occasion when loved ones tied the knot.
Of all age groups, 18-34 year olds were the most likely (28%) not to drink alcohol at weddings.
The survey also showed that a large majority of wedding guests were frustrated at the lack of no-and low-alcohol options available during the celebrations. 81% of participants said they felt wedding organisers should offer more options to cater to guests who aren’t drinking.
More than half (52%) of non-drinking guests were peeved to discover there was only water on offer to quench their thirst.
“We’re seeing plenty of couples across our 12 venues both in the UK and in the US requesting more sophisticated no-and-low drinks for their big day,” said Samantha Gilchrist, co-founder and CEO of The Gilchrist Collection. “Young people in particular are choosing not to drink for all sorts of reasons.”
Gilchrist has teamed up with mixologist Merlin Griffiths, known for his appearances on Channel 4 show First Dates, to create a menu of sophisticated alcohol-free drinks available at its venues for wedding couples and their guests.
An earlier study by Hitched showed that 11% of UK couples who were planning to get married in 2022 were considering serving no alcohol whatsoever at their wedding.
Last year, db reported that a third of Brits would prefer to serve Prosecco at their wedding over Champagne, largely due to the more affordable price point of the Italian fizz.
In fact, when questioned further, only 32% of respondents to the same survey by Hitched.co.uk said they preferred the taste of Prosecco to Champagne.