{"id":11641,"date":"2022-02-24T10:05:51","date_gmt":"2022-02-24T15:05:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wasserstrom.com\/blog\/?p=11641"},"modified":"2022-03-18T09:30:25","modified_gmt":"2022-03-18T13:30:25","slug":"what-are-sober-bars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wasserstrom.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/24\/what-are-sober-bars\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s the Buzz Around Sober Bars?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

All over the United States, sober bars are starting to pop up and the term is finding its way into day-to-day conversation. Bar and restaurant owners with a keen eye are asking themselves, \u201cAre sober bars here to stay? And how can I profit from this new foodservice movement?\u201d In this article, we\u2019ll be answering those questions, but first, let\u2019s start with the basics: what are sober bars?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you\u2019ve probably guessed, sober bars are just as they sound — bars that only serve non-alcoholic drinks. Similarly, the term \u201csober curious\u201d<\/a> means that someone is experimenting with sobriety and curious about living a life without alcohol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Do Sober Bars Exist?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The few sober bars that existed previously, dating back to the 19th<\/sup> century, were primarily for recovering alcoholics. The sober bars that are popping up today are still a safe space for people dealing with addiction. However, these bars aim for inclusivity for anyone who doesn\u2019t want to drink for any reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another key point about modern sober bars is the drinks are creative, elaborate, and intricate. While the mocktails of yesteryear tend to be a simple mixture of two ingredients, for example, ginger ale and a maraschino cherry or a VSS without the V<\/a>, the drinks in today\u2019s sober bars are anything but.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rise of non-alcoholic drinks and sober bars are, in essence, something people have asked for and corporations have responded to. Many beverage companies caught a whiff of the no- and low-alcohol movement that grew in the 2010s and innovated accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Two
Two friends enjoying a refreshing non-alcoholic sangria beverage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Corporate Motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As businesses took note of changing attitudes among consumers in the alcoholic beverage space, many old brands and new rose to the occasion. For instance, beverage brand ArKay<\/a> has been perfecting their zero-proof spirits recipes since the early 2010s for people who wish to appreciate alcohol without the alcohol. Spirits include tequila, gin, whiskey, and bourbon including all the flavor and fire of the originals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Companies also took note that consumers are increasingly seeking out better-for-you beverage experiences with lower sugar, added vitamins, and no hangovers. In this case, non-alcoholic drink brands evolved by adding botanical infusions, super foods, shrubs (drinking vinegars) and medicinal herbs to their non-alcoholic creations, as do the bartenders in sober bars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Exquisite
The product packaging geared towards the sober community is reason enough to branch out.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Are Mocktails and Sober Drinks Profitable? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The level of detail that goes into many of the mocktails sober bars create could give any mixologist a run for their money in technique, flavor complexity, and presentation. The experience speaks to the price as well. Bars in NYC, for example, are still able to charge $10-$15 for non-alcoholic beverages due to their experiential and health-focused nature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given these points, customers can enjoy seasonal mocktails with all the bells and whistles, elixirs, botanicals, herbs, shrubs, non-alcoholic craft beers and even high-end wine completely devoid of alcohol. One excellent example is Portland pop-up Suckerpunch’s<\/a> Island Time<\/a> beverage: Montinore Estate Verjus, Som turmeric drinking vinegar, Sanbitter, yuzu, lime, galangal, and shiso.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7 Trending Craft Beers (and the Glassware They Need!) \u00bb<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Personal Motivation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite gaining momentum prior to 2020, the changing discourse over the first year of the pandemic sparked an even stronger hyper focus on health than if time had proceeded normally. People started to think more critically about how the food and drinks they consumer affects their bodies, about their immune system health, and about the kind of life they want to have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Normalizing sober bars also normalizes wellness: instead of being labeled a party pooper, abstaining from alcohol for any reason is normalized as a positive choice as people begin to take preventative health seriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To that end, between 2021 and 2022, Nielson data tracked a non-alcoholic beverage increase of 33%<\/a>, bringing sales to $331,000,000. In the same fashion, predictive analysts report that sales of nonalcoholic beverages in 2022 will continue to grow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the whole, the changing attitudes on health as a result of the pandemic is just one reason people are flocking to sober bars and embracing the #SoberCurious movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Suckerpunch,
Non-alcoholic beverages by Suckerpunch<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why Sober Bars Make Sense<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Alcohol isn\u2019t tolerated well for everyone. Aside from addiction and pandemic-related immune system concerns, there are many other reasons people may not want to drink:<\/p>\n\n\n\n