Beer event downsizes amid shift in drinking habits

A city's beer festival has moved to a smaller venue blaming falling attendances and a major shift in drinking habits.

The Lincoln Beer Festival has relocated to Southside, a former church on Colegrave Street, for its 43rd year and will run from Thursday until Saturday.

Organiser Mark Richards said the change reflected the shift in drinking behaviours, with people going out earlier and fewer younger people socialising since the pandemic.

"The younger generations in their 20s aren't really going out late at night so there is a lack of footfall in pubs and venues throughout the country in that," he said.

The three-day event, offering beers, real ales and alcohol-free options, was previously held at The Drill on Free School Lane.

Mr Richards said it was "a great shame to leave" but said the festival had to "adjust" to changes in society.

"We've had to make the decision [to change venues] because our footfall reduced as a result of that," he said.

Michael Thurlby, who owns three pubs in Stamford, had also noticed a change in people's drinking habits.

"We've had to adapt the hours and the style of our businesses to offer what people want today and not what they wanted 20 years ago," he said.

The pub landlord added people were opting for a healthier living by going out earlier with family and drinking more alcohol-free beer.

He believed attitudes shifted as a result of the 2007 smoking ban and the coronavirus pandemic.

The BBC spoke to of the public about their drinking habits. Bowen Jones, 19, was sat in a pub with a pint of apple juice.

He said: "I've never drank, I just don't like the taste of alcohol."

Mr Jones said he went out the night before until 04:00 BST, did not drink alcohol, then drove home.

"People don't go to the pub so much like my parents used to do," he added.

Mr Jones' friend, Oliver De'ath, 18, said he only drinks on special occasions.

"I don't really see the enjoyment in it. Sometimes we go out for food instead, I go to the gym. I think it is more socially acceptable [not to drink]," Mr De'ath said.

By starting at noon and offering alcohol-free options, organisers hoped to reflect changing drinking habits.

The event, sponsored by Lincoln CAMRA, will run until 23:00 BST on Thursday and Friday and until 21:00 BST on Saturday.

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