A recovering alcoholic plans to open up a nightclub with a difference – the first booze free venue in the north-east.
Alister MacKinnon wants to help young people “change the culture” of binge drinking and give them a place to go to enjoy themselves.
The former oil worker says he has received the support of politicians throughout the north-east, as well as messages of encouragement from Sir Alex Ferguson and the Queen.
And as his plans for an alcohol-free nightclub take shape, he is confident the venture will prove a success.
“I wouldn’t plough my own money into something that would be a failure,” he said.
He hopes to turn The Albyn nightspot, which closed down in April, into the new venue,
The ‘dry” culture’ has become hugely popular in Stockholm, Sweden, where 900 clubbers are often packed into the Sodra Theatre on Friday nights — a club night serving non-alcoholic drinks which launched in 2014.
Meanwhile, the trend continues to sweep across the United States with dry clubs available in many major US cities.
And now dry bars are beginning to spring up across the UK as a growing number of youngsters turn teetotal.
Mr MacKinnon turned his own life around after developing cirrhosis of the liver and booking into a rehabilitation clinic following years of alcohol abuse.
His health deteriorated after spending many years trying to balance his offshore working shifts with his addiction and he ended his drinking days being £80,000 in debt.
Now 31 years sober, his mission now is to help other alcoholics as well as preventing young people from developing alcohol problems.
He said: “I lost everything. I don’t have many years of my life left, but I want to help change the culture around drinking, I want that to be my legacy.”
Mr MacKinnon’s drive comes as it was announced that city centre pubs could stay open until 3am under new proposals.
He said: “I’d like to see young people grow up from a school age where alcohol is not a way of life.
“Young people do like to go to clubs without booze – often they can’t afford it and they just want to meet other boys and girls.
“Putting the price of alcohol up isn’t going to work – it’s one of the biggest killers in the world.
“And having pubs stay open till 3am – is that a step in the right direction?
“I think Aberdeen could survive without oil, but I’m not sure it could survive without alcohol.”
