Alcohol-free club night opens in Sweden

A club at which guests are breathalysed on the door and where no alcoholic beverages are sold has launched in Stockholm.

Mårten Andersson

Believed to be the first of its kind in the world “Sober”, the brand child of Swedish entrepreneur Mårten Andersson, will launch this weekend at the Sodra Theatre in Stockholm – a club night at which alcohol is banned.

Upon arrival clubbers with be breath-tested and turned away if they register a blood-alcohol reading with staff trained to spot, and boot out, anyone using drugs.

What’s more, the event is almost sold out.

Mr Andersson, a popular Scandinavian television host and comedian, has said he came up with the idea having quit drinking and wanted to create an adult space for people who chose not to drink.

Launching in Sweden, Anderson believes the concept would work in other locations.

He said: “I strongly believe the world has only seen the start of this movement.

”We’re just trapped inside this dangerous bubble of alcohol and can’t see clearly until we step out of it.”

One country he believes could benefit is Australia, where he said he has seen “a lot of really drunk Aussies” adding that perhaps it was “time to be known for something else”, speaking to the Herald Sun.

However Melbourne nightclub director Matt Giles hit back saying that it wouldn’t work.

He said: “If you restrict the way people enter a building — by removing the allowance of alcohol you either need to have a world famous DJ roster or know a good Colombian.

“Without alcohol what have you left? A disjointed dance hall full of people discussing serious life issues and forgetting why they are there — to have fun, let loose and forget the week they just had. Melbourne would never put up with such a concept. We love our party too much.’’