Licensed premises refuse to host alcohol-free event
Plans for a dry disco have been knocked backed by nearly every nightclub in Glasgow despite the idea being backed by the Scottish Recovery Consortium.
The event is now taking place at music venue Ivory Blacks on Oswald Street after organisers said no one else would host it.
Alcohol addiction groups and public health officials in Glasgow have backed what is being called “mindful clubbing.”
But organiser Ronnie Whittaker slammed the city’s licenced venues for not offering to help alleviate the problem for which they are partly responsible.
“I think it’s really short-sighted,” he said.
“We are not anti-drink, we just enjoy ourselves without it.
“We’ve been doing events on a smaller scale for two years under the banner of conscious dance but this is the first proper night.
“We get everybody at our events. We have had students, young people, people who are into health and fitness.
“People who are in recovery (from alcohol addiction) don’t really get that many opportunities, socially.
“We have had a lot of support from the Scottish Recovery Consortium.”
Kuladharini, chief executive of the Scottish Recovery Consortium, said: “We absolutely welcome any event that encourages people to get together and be social and experience this without having to drink alcohol.
“There are people who don’t have a problem with alcohol and enjoy a drink when they are out. For some, it would be a great experiment.
“There is the whole Dry January movement. It means the whole community can have a night out.
“It’s part of a movement that is gathering pace in Glasgow, in the north west recovery community with events such as comedy nights. Children can go, if there is no alcohol being sold.”
Donald Macleod, chairman of Glasgow Licensing Forum, and owner of the Garage and Cathouse clubs, said: “There are business decisions to be made.
“We are in the business of selling alcohol, promoting bands and providing entertainment and the three components have to work together.
“If someone comes to us with a business model that makes sense, we would help the promoters to succeed.”
