Sans Drinks: Northern beaches booze-free bottle shop business goes into voluntary administration

Entrepreneur Irene Falcone said she was a “disrupter” in the liquor industry when she opened a booze-free bottle shop on the northern beaches. Her business is now in “administration”.

Sans Drinks Founder, Irene Falcone pictured at Australia's first non-alcoholic bottle shop at Freshwater in February last year. Picture: David Swift

The company that opened Australia’s first bricks and mortar non-alcohol bottle shop on the northern beaches more than two years ago, has entered voluntary administration.

Owner of the groundbreaking Sans Drinks — which sells non-alcoholic wines, spirits and pre-mixed cocktails — did not renew the lease to its store at Warringah Mall last month.

Entrepreneur Irene Falcone, had already shut her first outlet on Lawrence St, Freshwater, which opened in a blaze of publicity in May 2021, several months ago.

Ms Falcone first launched Sans Drinks as an online business in June 2020 — during the Covid lockdown — after what she described as “being frustrated with the low quality, sugar loaded non-alcoholic alternatives that were available in supermarkets and bottle shops”.

Irene Falcone, right, of Sans Drinks outside her first non-alcoholic bottle shop at Freshwater in 2021. On the left is Brook Mahoney of the Better Brand Co who helped with the shop fit-out. Picture: Julie Cross

She has now told 7 News online that the company was still “trading as normal” and would now exclusively trade online, even though ASIC documents show the business was in external administration.

The Non Alcoholic Drinks Co Pty Ltd, known as Sans Drinks, had administrators appointed on July 17, a report from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) shows.

Irene Falcone described herself as a “disrupter’ in the liquor sales industry. Picture: David Swift

Ms Falcone said the business was “simply restructuring”, according to 7 News.

“Foot traffic just isn’t there to sustain bricks and mortar (stores) in this economic climate,” she reportedly said.

She said the company planned to offer it customers a “more refined” range of drinking options. It has a large warehouse on Old Pittwater Rd at Brookvale. The Warringah Mall store opened in late 2022.

In May 2021, Ms Falcone told the Manly Daily that she deliberately chose a space opposite an alcoholic bottle shop (Vintage Cellars) to open her first premises at Freshwater.

“I’m a disrupter in the beverage industry,” she said.

Sans Drinks sells its own brands online. Picture: David Swift

“I specifically chose a location that was as close as possible to one of Australia’s biggest alcoholic bottle shops.

“I wanted to do that for two reasons; I’m here to give people choice and secondly it sends a message that I am deadly serious and that I want to disrupt the liquor industry.”

ASIC records show insolvency firm Jirsch Sutherland has been appointed as administrator for Sans Drinks.

Jirsch Sutherland partner Andrew Spring told Nine Newspapers the business was still open, with administrators working through the business’ issues.

Irene Falcone’s business is still trading online.

“It’s still early days in the investigation and the Jirsch Sutherland team is undertaking a review to understand the business, do a financial assessment, and work closely with the director to find a solution,” Mr Spring said.

“Jirsch Sutherland continues to trade the business and the website is still operating and available.”

Ms Falcone also founded beauty products company Nourished Life in 2012. She sold it in 2017 for $20 million.

The first creditors meeting for Sans Drinks will be held on Thursday, July 27.