ON-PREMISE SUSTAINABILITY
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THREE ON-PREMISE TRENDS
BY MELISSA DOWLING
The movement toward sustainability behind the bar is heating up . From ditching plastic straws and stirrers to creating low-waste cocktails and sourcing earth-friendlier ingredients and brands , bar and restaurant operators across the U . S . are taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint . Here ’ s a look at some of the on-premise sustainability efforts with regard to beverage .
STRAW PLAN While the strawless trend started to take shape in 2017 , the announcement from spirits giant Pernod Ricard USA earlier this year of a global initiative to ban non-biodegradable plastic straws and stirrers in its business gave the movement a real boost . A number of bars eliminated plastic straws altogether , while some now provide them only upon request . Several have switched to paper straws or reusable options made from metal or bamboo .
Azuñia , an organic and sustainably farmed tequila brand , in September joined forces with Fox Restaurant Concepts for its “ No Plastic Straws 365 ” campaign . Fox ’ s beverage director Mat
Snapp created a signature Azuñia cocktail called the Rhubarbe Paloma — served with a reusable , recyclable metal straw — for The Henry . The Phoenix and Los Angeles locations of The Henry were giving away 2,000 of the metal straws to customers who ordered this featured cocktail through December ( or until supplies last ).
Consumers not in the LA or Phoenix areas could still participate by taking Azuñia ’ s No Plastic Straws 365 challenge online . The first 500 people to sign the pledge received a bent metal straw made from durable , food-grade smooth stainless steel .
ECO-FRIENDLY / NO WASTE COCKTAILS Some industry watchers predicted that low- or no-waste cocktails would be trending in 2018 , and they were right . Trash Tiki , an anti-waste , punk pop-up launched in late 2016 by London bartenders Kelsey Ramage and Iain Griffiths , no doubt played a role .
What started as an online platform to share recipes soon turned into 10-month Trash Tiki world tour of more than 40
8 Beverage Information Group • Sustainability Guide 2018 www . BevInfoGroup . com