{"id":6454,"date":"2025-11-11T11:30:41","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T11:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/?p=6454"},"modified":"2025-11-11T15:53:45","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T15:53:45","slug":"scotlands-first-alcohol-free-bar-opens-its-doors-in-aberdeen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/news\/2025\/11\/11\/scotlands-first-alcohol-free-bar-opens-its-doors-in-aberdeen\/","title":{"rendered":"Scotland’s first alcohol-free bar opens its doors in Aberdeen"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scotland\u2019s first ever \u2018sober\u2019 bar has opened in Aberdeen, providing the city centre with a unique alcohol-free experience.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SOBR prides itself by focusing on company over alcohol, with its website suggesting that they provide the benefits of traditional drinking \u2013 such as connections, fun and community \u2013 but without the typical disadvantages that come with alcohol consumption.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sober activities and experiences have witnessed a surge in popularity over the last few years, with more people choosing sobriety than ever before, including Gen Z.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, alcohol is still often hailed as an important part of the student experience, despite efforts to move student focus from alcohol when joining university. The Aberdeen University Student\u2019s Association, for example, has attempted to pivot attention away from alcohol for new students by hosting a range of alcohol-free events for freshers during \u2018Welcome Week\u2019, transitioning away from the traditional \u2018fresher\u2019s\u2019 ethos of heavy drinking and partying.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Gaudie<\/span><\/i>\u00a0spoke to Kate, SOBR\u2019s director and owner, about how this new Aberdeen business can be appreciated by students when drinking is such a traditional aspect of student life:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDrinking is embedded in British culture. It\u2019s what we\u2019ve done for a millennium; it\u2019s how we socialise. Younger generations now understand the importance of their health far more than my generation, and previous, making them less likely to binge drink and go out on \u2018traditional\u2019 students’ nights – and kudos to them!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Kate explained that even sober students still \u201cvery much need a social outlet\u201d. She continued:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cAnd that\u2019s where SOBR comes in. We combine both our love for going out, connecting and having a great time with a great drink, while staying healthy and boosting your mental health through being social.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SOBR offers a space where you can still have all the fun, energy, and social buzz of a night out, just without the hangover or pressure to drink.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We spoke to Amy, a second-year social sciences student, who has doubts about the new \u2018bar\u2019.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI like the concept, but I just don\u2019t see the difference in just going to a regular bar and having a non-alcoholic option, like juice or an alcohol-free beer.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Gaudie<\/span><\/i>\u00a0asked Kate about this issue directly:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe difference is in the experience. At SOBR, everything is designed around the idea that alcohol-free doesn\u2019t mean compromise. Unlike most bars where non-alcoholic options are an afterthought, our entire menu is built to celebrate flavour, craftsmanship and quality.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond the drinks, it\u2019s about the atmosphere. It\u2019s a venue where being alcohol-free isn\u2019t unusual; it\u2019s the norm, and that creates a completely different kind of energy.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, Kate shared about SOBR\u2019s ethos:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt SOBR, our ethos is simple: you don\u2019t need alcohol to have a great time. We\u2019re here to redefine what socialising looks like by creating a space where connection, creativity, and conversation thrive, all without the downsides of drinking.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Whether you\u2019re sober, sober-curious, or just want a night where you remember every conversation, SOBR gives students a fresh alternative.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Gaudie<\/span><\/i>\u00a0spoke to our own Editor-in-Chief, Nour Elshenawy, about her experience at SOBR:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy boyfriend and I went for our anniversary – the staff were incredible. They gave us free bubbles; we each ordered a drink which we both thought were high quality and tasted fab!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We also got the macaroons; they were great, and I loved that they always source local. I personally loved the idea, a nice night out with drinks laughter and love without the hangover the next day AND I remembered everything the next morning.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SOBR can be found on 39 Thistle Street, Aberdeen.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Scotland\u2019s first ever \u2018sober\u2019 bar has opened in Aberdeen, providing the city centre with a unique alcohol-free experience.\u00a0\u00a0 SOBR prides itself by focusing on company over alcohol, with its website suggesting that they provide the benefits of traditional drinking \u2013 such as connections, fun and community \u2013 but without the typical disadvantages that come with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":6455,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","iawp_total_views":29,"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[737,481,1558,1184,1557,1484],"wf_post_folders":[181],"class_list":{"0":"post-6454","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"tag-aberdeen-city","9":"tag-alcohol","10":"tag-local-business","11":"tag-news","12":"tag-sobr","13":"tag-society"},"acf":[],"author_meta":{"display_name":"Amelia Boag","author_link":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/author\/ameliamcg07\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sobr-169x300.jpg","coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["News<\/a>"],"unlinked":["News<\/span>"]},"tags":{"linked":["aberdeen city<\/a>","alcohol<\/a>","local. business<\/a>","news<\/a>","sobr<\/a>","society<\/a>"],"unlinked":["aberdeen city<\/span>","alcohol<\/span>","local. business<\/span>","news<\/span>","sobr<\/span>","society<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":"0","relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 9 months ago","modified":"Updated 9 months ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on 11 November 2025","modified":"Updated on 11 November 2025"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on 11 November 2025 11:30","modified":"Updated on 11 November 2025 15:53"},"featured_img_caption":"Photograph: Nour Elshenawy","series_order":"","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6454","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6454"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6454\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6456,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6454\/revisions\/6456"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6455"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6454"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6454"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6454"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=6454"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}