Booze-free bar hits back at trolls who mocked drinks as 'w**ky' and 'hipster'

The owner of a booze-free bar in Manchester, has responded to trolls who described their beverages as 'w**ky hipster drinks'. Karl Considine said negative reactions to his establishment, 'Love From', were common, but insisted that "alcohol free doesn't equal to boring".

A comment left on the bar's TikTok account read: "If your bar is still going in 12 months do a call out post and I'll eat humble pie washed down with one of your w***y hipster drinks". In response, Love From said: "We absolutely love what we are doing at Love From but it doesn't come without its challenges."

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The bar, which is on Aytoun Street, near the Gay Village, added: "We regularly get comments like this, sometimes daily. Even though we exist for purpose, the internet still likes to be mean to us and sometimes it takes its toll."

They also expressed surprise at the strong reactions, stating: "Who would have thought an alcohol-free bar can create such a reaction that someone feels the need to be like this. BUT - We aren't going anyway."

Karl noted that more people than ever were choosing non-alcoholic options for various reasons. He explained: "It's not just for the sober community, it's for a broader community as well."

He added: "People that are completely sober from alcohol, people who just fancy a night off, or someone quitting for a month while they run a marathon."

He also highlighted the misconceptions about sobriety, saying: "If you say I'm sober, many people will say 'is it not boring? Do you still go on nights out? '".

"People are very curious and Love From was created to challenge those perceptions and provide an alternative experience." Karl, 39, who works with Alcohol Change UK and the Greater Manchester Night-time Economy, said he has received negative comments since opening the bar.

He explained: "I was the guy who liked to go out and party with friends most nights. It got to the point where in the final few years before I quit, it was isolating and damaging to my mental and physical health."

"I was told at 36 that if I kept drinking the way I was I was going to die."

"Since getting sober, my life has completely transformed I couldn't be healthier or happier and I'm doing what I love." I didn't have a revelation, I just decided I wanted to open an alcohol bar to provide another place for people to go."

He added: "I think sometimes when you do something that challenges the norm in society, presenting an alternative can evoke an element of fear. People are made to think about their own relationship with alcohol which triggers a response that doesn't feel nice."

"Although I do respond sometimes, I choose to ignore most comments as I know when I was drinking I wasn't an angel. I have to come at it from a place of compassion and our customers are very loyal."

"If you're going to an alcohol-free bar for the first time - you're in for a treat."

"Without fail, when customers come to a night out with us people rave about our drinks and it might be the best cocktail you've ever had."

"It's about having a really good time and you might not notice you haven't even had a drink."