What’s your New Year resolution for a January drinks menu?

The New Year brings a multitude of changes in people’s habits, from resolutions of being healthy and stopping drinking to the simple fact that people just don’t have the funds to go out in the first few months of the year.

So how do we prepare ourselves for this shift? Looking at options that are potentially healthier and non-alcoholic is always a good starting point, in an attempt to entice those new gym enthusiasts to stop by and enjoy a post-workout drink.

You could try introducing smoothies and juices, either by putting two or three varieties on the menu or changing the options weekly for more variety. These can be made to order if you’ve a blender or juicer, and can be sold at a price point to create solid margins.

Mocktails are certainly more imaginative now and most popular cocktails can be made into a non-alcoholic version, which is great for non-drinkers in a group of people drinking.

Kombucha, a fermented, probiotic-rich tea, is also seen as a very healthy alternative. It’s light and fizzy and available in various flavours, such as ginger-lemon, berry and hibiscus. It can be bought in a bottled format and served garnished with fresh fruit.

Another option is to work on your hot drinks range. There are some amazing teas on the market, and when the weather is miserable outside it’s nice to offer something a little more warming. Coffee isn’t a dirty word in pubs and bars, so harness potential income and try offering a wider selection to customers, including milk alternatives as well as syrups. If you have a coffee machine contract, use the quieter months to take another look at organising training with reps to ensure you stand out from the crowd.

While business may be quieter, it’s also a good idea to maximise your stock and find a way to use up what’s been sitting around on your shelves for a little too long. Try getting creative and make up some new drinks for your very own cocktail range and promote them to your customers. This could be something as simple as stamp card to offer a free drink after a certain number of purchases, or you could sell these drinks at a discount price.

The quiet months of the year can also be a great time to push your presence on social media channels, making time to photograph and video your drinks options and promotions. Let everyone know what you’re doing and what’s new.

Kelly McCarthy is the owner of Ye Old Sun Inn in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire

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