How has your personal journey influenced your approach to creating inclusive spaces and prioritising non-alcoholic options in the bar industry?
Davide: I’ve been sober for three years, but that hasn’t stopped me from working in a bar or going to other bars. I now feel welcome and not like an outcast or forced to drink to be social. I discovered personally that it does not have to be an alcoholic beverage that you choose. It's all about the act. It's all about the tradition.
Eljesa: My personal journey began when we as a team at the Zetter decided to do the three peaks for hospitality action and I made an intention to stop drinking alcohol. I think it was an interesting journey initially as I felt quite, as it was something I had to hide a little bit. Then I had a discourse with myself and I was like, 'Hold on, what am I hiding from? Who am I hiding from? Why is it not something that's completely okay to say?' And I think that changed the trajectory on that journey for me and, I think that was kind of the starting of a huge journey at the Zetter of non-alc and prioritising non-alc as an option.
Does Everleaf help you innovate your own takes on non-alcoholic cocktail making?
Davide: Everleaf gives us incredible tools to create. It allows us to mix flavours and use techniques with the same creative process as alcoholic drinks.
We introduced a non-alcoholic margarita using Everleaf Forest because we wanted everyone to enjoy a margarita here. The saffron, vanilla, and refreshing orange notes perfectly complement our Latin-inspired menu.
Eljesa: The beauty of Everleaf, I think, as well as working with them over, I can't remember how many years now, one, they've got a fantastic team, but also they listen. They listen to what the industry needs. They listen to the changes that we're making in the industry and what that looks like.
How do you feel about the growing demand for great-tasting non-alcoholic options?
Davide: It’s exciting to see how people now make individual choices. Some drinkers are controlling their alcohol intake by alternating boozy drinks with non-alcoholic ones, without compromising on taste.
Eljesa: People want to go out, people want to enjoy themselves, but people don't want to get drunk. People are not drinking, statistics are showing, people are not drinking like they used to. So we need to be creating the same experiences that people were previously having just from a different perspective.