Opening 'pub with no beer'

Sister Philomena Horner, from St Mary’s Junior High School, opened a new ‘pub’ in the centre of town where young people could meet up.

But the pub was different from all the others trading in the town - it was completely alcohol free.

Sister Philomena said the idea for a pub with no beer was prompted by her youth work experiences when she became aware of the high level of alcohol abuse among local teenagers.

“I went out into the streets to talk to these young people who were meeting in parks and on waste ground to share bottles of cheap wine, cider and cans of beer.

“They told me they were bored and had nothing else to do and nowhere else to go.”