Doors close at beer-free pub

Michelle Pareima opened Vibe in August last year

An alcohol-free pub, where teenagers were allowed to prop up the bar, has been forced to call time after running into financial problems.

Vibe opened at the former Marquis of Granby pub on Carmarthen's King Street last year with the aim of giving under-18s a place to socialise.

But mother-of-five Michelle Pareima who was behind the venture says insurance costs and business rates have left the coffers empty.

The pub will return to serving alcohol on Thursday under normal licensing laws but Mrs Pareima said a percentage of the profits would go towards an alternative venue for teenagers.

When we opened we had lots of pats on the back but there were no grants or financial help Michelle Pareima

"I feel very bad about it but I've not got any money left and I've run out of options," she said.

"Hopefully by reopening as a traditional pub I can use a percentage of the profits to find another building for Vibe.

"When we opened we had lots of pats on the back but there were no grants or financial help.

"The kids here have just been fantastic but now we have closed the teenagers have had to go back on the streets.

"That is why I'm absolutely determined to find another building for them."

Prism, the mid and west Wales alcohol and drug advisory service, said it was sorry to see Vibe close.

Menna Boyns, who runs the specialist service for under-18s, said the organisation welcomed any venue that gave youngsters a place to socialise in an alcohol-free environment.

"The problem is anywhere that is alcohol-free basically becomes a youth club and many young people want to be in an adult environment," she explained.

"Those that are not old enough to drink or don't look old enough will instead drink in parks or wherever their friends tend to congregate."

The service saw more than 150 youngsters under 18 in the old Dyfed county area last financial year with the majority of them abusing alcohol rather than drugs.

The youngest referral was just 11 years old.