• by Teresa Buyikian , January 3, 2024

January has somehow become not only the month of new gym memberships and broken New Year’s resolutions, but a guilt-filled time of forgoing previous holiday season “sins” like eating meat and drinking alcohol. For those observing Dry January, Uno Pizzeria & Grill has a new nonalcoholic drink menu, courtesy of Ritual Zero Proof cocktails.

Beginning Jan. 6, customers of the national Chicago-based chain will have multiple booze-free Ritual Zero Proof cocktails to choose from, including a margarita, hurricane, old-fashioned and peach mule.

The alcohol-free cocktail category is growing as an increasing number of customers are adopting more mindful drinking habits. According to a recent December 2023 Drinks Market Analysis data release from IWSR, found here, the “no-alcohol share of the overall alcohol market is expected to grow to nearly 4% by 2027, with almost a fifth of all 2023 no-alcohol consumers new entrants to alcohol free” spirits. The no-alcohol segment “grew at a volume CAGR of +8% between 2019 and 2023” alone.

"We are always looking for tasteful ways to meet consumer demand for better-for-you alternatives that don't detract from the dining experience," said Uno Pizzeria & Grill Director of Marketing, Chris Dellamarggio, in a release. "When we identified the opportunity to expand our beverage menu for the mindful drinker … (as) we couldn't ask for a better partner than Ritual Zero Proof to help us offer an expanded line of zero-proof cocktails.”

Ritual Zero Proof drinks are made from natural botanicals to mimic the flavor and burn of spirits, but without the alcohol or calories. The brand offers booze-free versions of gin, whiskey, tequila, rum and aperitifs.