Wimbledon experts explore mocktail ideas for booze-free Gen Z
But now specialists at the Championships have been attempting to create a mocktail in the style of Pimm's – with previous attempts using balsamic vinegar – to cater for Generation Z attendees.
Charlie Cook, business director for food and drink at Wimbledon, said: 'We [look] at market trends, within our business we employ a food and drink futurist to look at where those trends are going.
'The younger generations are looking for lower or non-alcoholic offerings.'
When asked if his team had attempted to create a sober alternative to the iconic cocktail, he revealed: 'We've tried a version using balsamic, which has a quite similar flavour profile, but we haven't really cracked that one yet. It would be a good one, though.'
A spokesman later stressed staff were not attempting to create a booze-free Pimm's – but a drink inspired by the popular beverage.
However, Stella 0.0, an alcohol-free beer, has been sold at the Championships on draught for the first time, before it is launched across the rest of the UK.
Last year, a study by charity Drinkaware found that 21 per cent of 18-to-24-year-olds do not drink at all, up from 14 per cent in 2017.
On Thursday, shortly before lunchtime on Henman Hill, a winding queue had already formed at the Pimm's bar, where glasses of 'Pimm's No.1 summer cup' were priced at £12.25 each.
Pausing briefly from pulling taps, a bar worker told The Telegraph: 'I'd say around one in 50 people ask if there's a non-alcoholic version of Pimm's... I definitely think it would be something we could sell.'
Tennis fan Lucy Church had travelled to the Championships from Glasgow with friend Lisa Rowe. Both are 28 and part of Gen Z.
Ms Rowe said two of her friends had already given up drinking, while Ms Church said she believed a non-alcoholic Pimm's-style cocktail would be popular.
'So many more people aren't drinking these days,' she said. 'Especially if you get here early, you might not want to be drinking all day.'
Meanwhile, Grace Thomas, from Essex, said she would certainly opt for a non-alcoholic version of the drink.
The 28-year-old, who came with her friend Georgia McCarthy, 33, said: 'We both work in events and it's quite a hectic job, so it's quite nice to be able to control the amount of alcohol you're having and not go crazy.'
Jenny Sherwood, 62, said: 'I'd definitely prefer a non-alcoholic Pimm's. It's going to take me two hours to get home on the train, I don't need to be falling asleep.'
However, not everyone was keen.
While Angela Graves, 51, said the idea was 'really good', her son Sam Busby, 28, disagreed.
He said: 'I wouldn't be interested. If I'm going to pay for a drink then I want to have a proper drink – otherwise I would just have an orange juice or a lemonade.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Aviation staff need disability training, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson says
Airline and airport staff should be better trained to support disabled passengers, a Government-commissioned review led by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has found. The Paralympian and crossbench peer said the 19 recommendations put forward by her taskforce should be 'turned into action' which puts accessibility 'at the heart of aviation'. The Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group called for disability awareness training to be rolled out across all aviation roles, including airline crew, assistance providers, ground services, security and hospitality staff. It highlighted a need for passengers to access information easily about their travel, including how they can request and book assistance, where they can find in-airport support services, and detailed guidance on how their mobility aids will be transported. The taskforce also called for passengers to be able to find transparent information on complaints procedures. The group will now work to help ensure its proposals are adopted by airlines, airports and regulator the Civil Aviation Authority. Lady Grey-Thompson said: 'This report is the next critical step in making air travel more inclusive for disabled people. 'I'm grateful for the commitment the industry has shown to making change and breaking down barriers in aviation for everyone, bringing freedom to travel, whether for leisure or work, and to connect with friends and family. 'We know there's more work to be done, and I look forward to seeing these recommendations turned into action which truly puts accessibility at the heart of aviation.' Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: 'Everyone should be able to travel with dignity and be respected at every stage of their journeys, including disabled passengers. 'That's why we established this group in November last year, and I welcome this report's findings which will clear the runway for greater accessibility in aviation.' Tim Alderslade, chief executive of trade body Airlines UK, said carriers are 'committed to removing barriers so that flying is accessible to all', and will support the 'implementation of these recommendations'. Karen Dee, boss of industry group AirportsUK, said the report will 'build on the work already being done by airports, and the wider sector, to ensure air travel is accessible to all'. In June, BBC journalist and wheelchair user Frank Gardner was forced to wait 95 minutes for a medical lift so he could leave an aircraft that had arrived at Heathrow's Terminal 5. The airport apologised and said the delay was caused by its assistance provider responding to a medical emergency, which reduced the number of vehicles available.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Wimbledon men's final between Sinner and Alcaraz on ESPN draws most viewers since 2019
Jannik Sinner 's victory over Carlos Alcaraz was the most-viewed Wimbledon men's final since Novak Djokovic edged Roger Federer in a five-set thriller in 2019. ESPN said Sunday's match averaged 2.9 million viewers, a 31% increase over last year's final and its best performance since about 3.8 million watched Djokovic win a fifth-set tiebreaker in a match between two of tennis' greatest champions. The network also said Tuesday that ratings were up for the both the men's and women's semifinals. The women's semis, which included American Amanda Anisimova upsetting No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, averaged 897,000 viewers, the most since 2015, when Serena Williams was part of the final four. The men's average of 1.31 million was the highest since 2019. ___ AP tennis:
Western Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Western Telegraph
Look at increasing Scottish Government borrowing limits, MPs tell UK Government
Currently, the Government is limited to borrowing £600 million for day-to-day spending and £450 million for capital projects. But in a report from the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster on the fiscal arrangements north of the border, MPs pushed for the limits to be increased. The report said: 'At present, the Scottish Government's limited borrowing powers constrain its ability to manage fiscal shocks, as it is only able to borrow for resource purposes to cover forecast errors. We encourage the UK Government to consider reforming the Scottish Government's capital borrowing powers Scottish Affairs Committee report 'Capital borrowing limits are currently linked to, and grow in line with, inflation, which may not necessarily be the highest metric of growth.' It added: 'We agree with the Secretary of State that borrowing limits should be linked to the measure which offers the Scottish Government the highest level of flexibility but, crucially, we note that which metric delivers this remains undetermined. 'The UK Government should therefore publish a transparent analysis of what borrowing limits would look like based on the different metrics advised in the evidence for this inquiry. 'At the next fiscal framework review, we encourage the UK Government to consider reforming the Scottish Government's capital borrowing powers, by automatically coupling borrowing to the metric which offers the highest limit.' The report comes at the end of an inquiry by the committee which sought to gauge the effectiveness of the Barnett Formula – the measure which dictates the level of funding the UK Government sends to Scotland every year. The MPs found the measure was 'fit for purpose', although it is 'imperfect'. Scotland's Finance Secretary reiterated her Government's support for 'full fiscal autonomy' in a written submission to the committee (Jane Barlow/PA) The committee also rejected calls for the formula to shift and provide funding to Scotland based on need. Scotland, the report said, already receives more funding per head than any other country in the UK and a change in the framework could see funding cut. In written evidence to the committee, Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison reiterated the Scottish Government's support for full fiscal autonomy – an arrangement which would see powers over tax and spending devolved. But the committee dismissed such a move as not being a 'realistic prospect'. 'Fundamental questions remain about how full fiscal autonomy would work in practice, and whether it would be operable within the constraints of the UK's current devolution settlement,' the report said. 'Practicality aside, we do not believe that a compelling case has been made that such a change would automatically result in Scotland receiving a higher level of funding.' Ms Robison declined an invitation to appear before the committee, leading the MPs to say 'do not see how we can consider this a serious proposition, and we remain to be convinced that this proposal is desirable in principle, let alone workable in practice'. Responding to the report, Ms Robison said: 'This report rightly recognises that Scotland's finances remain largely dictated by the UK Government's spending decisions, irrespective of the impact on Scottish public services. 'That has meant Scotland has been left with a shortfall of £400 million to pay for the Chancellor's national insurance increase, and saw Scotland short-changed by more than a billion pounds over the next three years at the recent spending review. 'The decisions we have taken to ask higher earners to pay a little bit more – while most income tax payers pay less than in the rest of the UK – mean that we can support vital public services and provide free tuition, prescriptions and the Scottish child payment to help tackle child poverty.' Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: 'The spending review provided the Scottish Government with an extra £9.1 billion, giving them a record settlement. 'People will expect that to deliver better outcomes for Scots – lower NHS waiting lists and better attainment in our schools. 'Spending per head in Scotland is around 20% higher than the rest of the UK thanks to the Barnett formula. This report confirms that it appears to be the position of the Scottish Government to scrap that formula that delivers higher funding – they should explain why they want less money for public services in Scotland. 'Their plans for full fiscal autonomy would mean a £12 billion cut in public spending for Scotland.'
