“Dry January,” a term used to indicate a break from drinking, may be transcending past a popular month-long challenge. In recent years, studies have shown that younger people are drinking less and becoming more “sober curious,” a movement prompting people to be more mindful of their alcohol consumption.
According to a Gallup poll from August 2023, 62% of adults under 35 said they drink, down from 72% two decades ago. Local mocktail lounges and bars invite people to get out and be social without the temptation of alcohol, while still offering a sense of craftsmanship and flavor for customers.
Hosmer, in the Waypoint Hotel, is located along Third Street in east Bend. The bar has several craft mocktail options, which people can add alcohol to if they desire. While the bar sees a mix of locals and guests staying at the hotel, it likes to offer something for everyone, including zero-proof beers and spirits. According to Hosmer bartender Stephen, the most popular mocktails include classic recipes, like a spicy margarita and a smokey old-fashioned, with N/A spirits.
“I’ve been in the industry for over 20 years, and in the last couple years, after going out and being sober and trying to get back into going out, hanging out, I noticed a lot of, even the new bars, their ‘mocktail’ menu is kind of a cop-out. Typically, it’s like this little, tiny corner, and it’s like CBD sodas and lemonade or something that just doesn’t have any effort to it,” owner Mike Aldridge told the Source in June.
Another local option is The Dez, an alcohol-free cocktail lounge that operates on select nights out of the coffee bar Palate. Owner Corrine Coxey wanted to create a space to go out at night that wasn’t based around alcohol. The drinks at The Dez aren’t just juices and sodas, Coxey explained. They have adaptogens, herbs and ingredients that can benefit people in a positive way. Coxey describes it as a place for people to go out, listen to music and make meaningful connections.
“We had a woman last night that came in and she was pregnant, and she was just so excited that she could get a fun drink and go out with friends. It’s just offering something [to] that community that wasn’t previously there,” she told the Source Weekly.
Gigi’s is another great nonalcoholic bar for those looking to abstain from drinking. Gigi’s, operating out The Pantry, is open on Fridays and Saturday and invites folks to try nonalcoholic versions of classic cocktails and “seasonally inspired herbal elixirs.”
This article appears in Jan 28, 2025 – Jan 28, 2026 and Toast! 2025.
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