“Before the pandemic, you’d just kind of go into rowdy bars and have some drinks, and you were there to have a good time.”ġ2 of the Best Non-Alcoholic Spirits for Building a Sober Bar “Americans are known, in general, for over-imbibing,” says Taft. Javelle Taft, head bartender at Death & Co., a cocktail bar in New York City, has observed this evolution firsthand. Non-alcoholic drinks shop Boisson in Manhattan / Photo by Walter Wall

This year, across the globe, 58% of those who drink alcohol are increasingly opting for non- and low-alcoholic cocktails, according to the Bacardi Cocktail Trends Report for 2022. However, as the pandemic progresses, a counter-phenomenon has cropped up. According to a study by the National Library of Medicine, an organization within the National Institutes of Health, many people who were impacted by the pandemic began to drink significantly more alcohol than prior to the outbreak. She posted a video on Instagram to show how she was holding up at home during quarantine: by making the perfect large batch of Cosmos, served all at once to herself in a gigantic martini glass. It was foolish, reckless, dangerous and I'm just very fortunate I have still got my little boy.'ĭerbyshire Constabulary does not have custody photographs of the Bower brothers.In April 2020, during the early stages of the pandemic, Ina Garten captured the moment. I understand it could have been a lot, lot worse. Representing himself at the sentencing hearing, he said: 'I am grateful I did not kill my family or anyone else. Webster, 33, of West Street, Chesterfield - who has five previous convictions to his name, including drink-driving - was jailed for 16 months, with an extended sentence of eight months, and was disqualified from driving for three years. Michael Bower, also a father-of-one, 28, a man of previous good character, of Hyndley Road, Bolsover, was jailed for a year, with a six month extended licence and was also disqualified from driving for two years. It was a highly-dangerous, incredibly stupid, piece of driving which both the Bowers recognise that is was luck rather than anything else that did not end up with anyone being killed.'Īll three defendants previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.įather-of-one Robert Bower, 33, of Corner Pin Close, Staveley was jailed for 14 months, with a seven months extended licence and was disqualified from driving for two years. 'They can't provide any rational explanation for their behaviour. Joe Harvey, who represented both Bower brothers said: 'It is difficult not to wince when one looks at that crash footage. They got out of the Toyota, got into one of the other two cars and left.'ĭash cam footage from the lorry showed the Toyota smash into it at high speed. 'His partner and three-year-old child were in the car. The HGV was driving around a roundabout when the defendant Webster crashed into the side of him. 'At one stage Michael Bower overtook Robert Bower and went on to the wrong side of the central reservation. She said: 'They appear to be racing, with Webster at the front at a recorded speed of 88mph with both Bowers behind him at up to 77mph. Katrina Wilson, prosecuting, said the three defendants had been drinking for around six hours in a pub on August 8, 2020, before getting into their respective vehicles and leaving.ĬCTV played in court showed two of them collide at low speed as they negotiate to leave the car park of the Red Lion in Brimington before all three cars headed out on to Brimington Road North, in Chesterfield. I can't think of a worse piece of dangerous driving.' How they managed to survive is a miracle. The Toyota (being driven by Webster) spins 180 degrees and in that vehicle was a three-year-old child with his mother. When you look at the CCTV footage of the collision you can't fail to wince. 'You left that public house and you were racing, you were all in powerful vehicles. Sentencing the trio at Derby Crown Court, Judge Robert Egbuna said: 'CCTV from the public house shows that significant amounts of alcohol had been consumed. Read more top stories from across the Derbyshire area Unharmed, Webster jumped into one of the brothers' cars with his partner and child and fled, reports Derbyshire Live. Webster, in front of the group, hit 88mph before crashing into a lorry when he failed to negotiate a roundabout. Robert Bower, Michael Bower and Declan Webster had drunk 'multiple pints' during a six-hour pub session before getting behind the wheel of their cars. The moment a wreckless drink-driver crashed into an HGV at speed with his partner and three-year-old son in the car has been captured on video.

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