Just outside the city of Boston, Tommy McCarthy’s Irish bar pours Guinness more than anywhere else in the United States, but this St. Patrick’s Day has come, and Baren’s longtime owners have also made up for many non-alcoholic options.
“It’s a long way since we first opened,” McCarthy said.
Perhaps there are no other holidays linked to the city than St. Patrick’s Day in Boston. According to historians, the city was the first to cast the celebration of the patron saint of Ireland on March 17, 1737 as a way to support the waves of Irish immigrant cities.
Tommy McCarthy and his wife, Barren Pub owner Louise Costello will perform an Irish song on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at Bartender Michelle Flynn, Summerville, MA (AP Photo/Robert F. Bucati). (AP Photo/Robert F. Bucati) Tommy McCarthy, owner of Valenpub, will pour Non-Alcoholic Guinness 0 into Summerville, Massachusetts on Wednesday, March 12th, 2025. Bukati)
But while holidays have led to heavy drinking for centuries, the small but growing crowd has found ways to participate in St. Patrick’s Day parades, festivals and banquets. They do so by focusing only on non-alcoholic beer, mocktails and plain spaces, even in the heart of Boston.
It’s not just about alcohol, it’s a holiday
“St. Patrick’s Day is a massive drinking holiday. Jackie Taylor, who has been calm for 12 years, said:
But she said, “I’ve found many ways to celebrate my holiday, both in town and at home.
Non-alcoholic drinks are popular on St. Patrick’s Day weekend, at Baren’s four-day Irish music show, which can last 10 hours each. McCarthy says he’s a Guinness drinker, but he sticks to non-alcoholic brewing when playing the fiddle.
“I’ll refill it with real creamy alcohol heads,” he said. “You’re getting a little alcohol, but you get a real cream. But you’re also getting a real Guinness flavour without alcohol. It kind of hits it all.”
Michelle Flynn, manager of Brendan Behan Irish Pub in Jamasia Plain, Boston, said most bars now serve non-alcoholic beers.
“Neighborhood, society, everything changed, 1,000%, especially young people,” she said.
Young people don’t drink anymore
It’s not just bar owners who have noticed an uptick in demand for non-alcoholic options. Young adults drink less than decades ago, according to a Gallup vote in 2023 that adults under the age of 35 were at least less likely to use alcohol than they did in the early 2000s.
Gallup also decreased the proportion of young adults who drink regularly or sometimes “more than they should think” during the same period.
Michael Skelfo, chef and owner of four cocktail bars in the Boston area, said his business has been offering mocktails since opening Cambridge-based Alden & Harlow 11 years ago. However, demand has increased significantly after the pandemic.
“It’s like the expected and scary part of the menu now,” he said.
Reclaim St. Patrick’s Day for Irish Heritage
William Spencer Reilly has been casting “Sole St. Patrick’s Day” in New York City for almost 15 years. This may begin after a parade with Irish bands, dancers and food and soon expand their mission to Boston.
The founder and chairman of the Sober event has always looked to Boston “for all obvious reasons.”
According to Reilly, it is to refocus the typical Booze advance festival to celebrate Irish heritage and honor St. Patrick, born in the late fourth century, who was enslaved in Ireland and later returned to promote the spread of Christianity. It is also an opportunity to break the harmful stereotypes of Irish people.
When he first proposed the idea of a calm event on such a heavy day, he met with distrust and doubt about the public interest. He is currently in discussions with local leaders in Boston and believes he will ultimately have enough interest and support to diverge next year.
People seem to be more interested in being healthy in general, Scelfo said. That includes how they choose to spend their vacation.
“The dangers and pitfalls of alcohol are well documented when not being used responsibly,” he said. “We have an intellectual younger generation that focuses on health and wellness, and I think that’s great.”
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