Hayden Geraghty, the general manager of the trendy alcohol-free bar Sobr in Aberdeen, Scotland, was caught driving well over the legal alcohol limit. The incident has raised eyebrows given the nature of the establishment he manages.
Geraghty was discovered slumped behind the wheel of his Volkswagen Golf after crashing into a structure near the Holburn Bar. Police breathalysed him at Kittybrewster Station, recording an astonishing 99 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. This level is more than four times Scotland’s legal limit of 22 microgrammes.
He admitted to the offence, explaining that he had been out drinking with friends after work. Following the incident, Geraghty received a 12-month driving ban and a £520 fine.
Sobr, which opened in October 2025 as Scotland’s first alcohol-free bar, has decided to stand by Geraghty despite the scandal. The owners have expressed their commitment to supporting him through his recovery and confirmed that he will remain as general manager.
Kate Kenyon, owner of Sobr, commented, “The matter of Hayden’s court case is very personal to him and he understands the amount of hurt and damage he has caused, both to himself and those closest to him. Since the incident, Hayden has been upfront, open and honest with us about what he has been going through, which we have greatly appreciated, and we have offered support when needed, from both a personal and professional standpoint. His situation further shows why somewhere like Sobr is so important.”
While some may view this as a public relations move, it is clear that Sobr is not ready to lose their general manager over this incident.
With a challenging year ahead, many hope that Geraghty will take the necessary steps to improve his situation. After all, no one is perfect — not even managers of alcohol-free bars.
Originally published by UKNIP.
