Virgin Atlantic launches low- and no-alcohol in-flight drinks menu for Dry January

Airline Virgin Atlantic has launched its first in-flight menu dedicated to low and non-alcoholic drinks.

Mark Wark, Founding Rogue and Ben Branson, Founder, Seedlip (Photo: Virgin)

Virgin, which has collaborated with non-alcoholic spirits brand Seedlip and Australian vermouth producer Regal Rogue on the new menu, launched its new offering mark Dry January, and will end its promotion at the end of the month.

The drinks list will be available across the airline’s economy, premium and upper class cabins.

The in-flight menu includes two non-alcoholic cocktails (Red Sky at Night and Shepherd’s delight), and two lower alcohol serves (The Bold Mule and The Bold Spritz), in an effort to capitalise on both Dry January and the ongoing trend of healthification within the alcohol industry.

This is not the first time the airline has worked with the sober spirit maker. Seedlip-based drinks were introduced to Virgin’s clubhouses in August 2017.

“With the global trend of no and low alcohol cocktails, Seedlip and Regal Rogue are the perfect partners to bring this option to our customers,” said food and beverage manager Mark Murphy.

An estimated 4.2 million people in the UK have said they will take part in Dry January this year, an increase of more than 1 million people since 2018.

A spokesperson for Public Health England, which backs the campaign, said Dry January is based on “sound behavioural principles”, and helps people to “re-set their drinking patterns for weeks or even months after completing the challenge.”