Agenda item

The co-founder of Club Soda to be heard.

The Committee received a presentation by Club Soda providing an evaluation and next steps for the initiative since the City of London Corporation provided funding to develop the Club Soda Guide in 2018.

·         The mission for Club Soda is to create a world where nobody has to feel out of place if they are not drinking.

·         Th number of City venues signed up have more than doubled with 235 since the pilot.

·         City Corporation venues have a higher mean score (3.48) than the national average (3.32), and a higher percentage of venues which score the maximum of 5 (42% as compared to 35% nationally).

·         Members were shown postcards, leaflets and guides which were distributed at venues, trade talks and workplaces advocating mindful drinking. The Chairman found these useful and requested that some be made available at the Safety Thirst Awards ceremony.

·         An initiative, Rebel AF, was trialled at Bournemouth University advocating mindful drinking and it was hoped this would be brought to other UK universities.

·         Next steps with the City Corporation included continuing to work with the City on how to use the Guide as part of the night time economy, the possibility of designating the City of London Corporation as the UKs first mindful drinking place, and additional research and campaign ideas that have come from the Guide work in the City including work with caterers, workplaces and universities to encourage and promote more mindful drinking.

·         Members were advised that the seventh Club Soda Mindful Drinking Festival would take place on 18-19 January 2020 at the Old Truman Brewery.

·         Club Soda would be publishing the book How to be a Mindful Drinker in time for Christmas.

·         A Member noted that the location maps on the guide were not working on safari.

·         The Chairman confirmed that the City Corporation was interested in becoming the first mindful Local Authority and asked what the criteria would be. Members were advised that the criteria and pilot for Local Authorities was in development and the Corporation would be invited to pilot the initiative first.

·         The Director of Markets and Consumer Protection noted that the work of Club Soda complemented work being carried out by Committees across the Corporation and recommended linking in with the Health & Wellbeing Committee.   

·         It was noted that prices for non-alcoholic drinks ranged across premises. Members were advised that there was a lime and soda watch and the most expensive drink recorded was £5.60. The Director of Markets and Consumer Protection felt that some Trading Standards work was required to ensure value for money.

RECEIVED.