In May 2021 I opened Australia’s first physical zero alcohol bottle shop, in Freshwater, Sydney. From the moment I got the keys to the premises my customers have been right behind me; people were so keen they were even popping in to say hi before the store officially opened.
Where did the idea for Sans Drinks come from?
When I first stopped drinking alcohol, just over two years ago, I went into a bottle shop to find alcohol-free wine, the person behind the counter looked at me like I was crazy. It was the same look that I got 10 years ago when asking for a natural deodorant, which is why I started Nourished Life. I knew straight away that there was a need for a store that specialises in high quality, grown up drinks that happen to be alcohol free. I started planning Sans Drinks the next day.
Why did you open a physical shop when you already had a thriving online store?
Is it true that there is a traditional bottle shop right across the road?
Yes! Some people have called it a bold move and others say that I’m cheeky, but the truth is that I wanted to make a statement. The shop isn’t a gimmick – I am here to disrupt the liquor industry. Having a physical shop shows that alcohol-free drinks are a serious offering and the line of customers out the door shows that the trend is here to stay.
What has the reaction been?
What’s next?
The success of the flagship shop has shown me that there is a market for alcohol-free bottle shops. One day I hope to have a store on every major high street. In the short term though, I plan to open more stores across Australia in the next three years.
