Since health and wellness are already important facets of the California lifestyle, it comes as no surprise that the sober-curious trend has taken off so quickly throughout the state. Below are just a few examples of the new offerings opening throughout California.
Non-Alcoholic Bottle Shops Popping up Across Los Angeles
Los Angeles has seen several non-alcoholic bottle shops open recently, with Soft Spirits opening in Silver Lake in October 2021, and Venice’s The New Bar opening in July of this year. New York-based nonalcoholic bottle shop Boisson has opened new locations in Studio City, Brentwood and San Francisco’s Hayes Valley neighbourhood this year, with a fourth location expected to open Beverly Hills soon.
San Francisco’s Alcohol-free Bar, Bottle Shop and Speakeasy
Ocean Beach Cafe recently opened in the Outer Richmond neighbourhood of San Francisco, serving up non-alcoholic craft cocktails, booze-free craft beer, hangover-free wine and more. After taking a year off from drinking alcohol, owner Joshua James was inspired to build a community art cafe to house the largest NA beverage selection in the country, conduct regular beach cleanups and show people what a hip lounge feels like when you remove the frequency of alcohol from it. Joshua James also opened a NA speakeasy in the city called Temperance Bar, which is open by reservation. Guests can find the location of Temperance Bar by visiting Ocean Beach Cafe.
Faux Real Bottle Shop Opened in Los Gatos in February 2022
The City of Los Gatos in Santa Clara County just welcomed Faux Real Bottle Shop in February of this year, reminding customers that “zero-proof doesn’t mean zero fun.” The bottle shop carries dozens of zero-proof spirits like gin, tequila and rum, non-alcoholic wine and beer, aperitifs and more.
Fresno to Welcome First Official Sober Bar in 2023
Bone Dry Sober Bar will be Fresno’s first official sober bar when it opens in 2023 at The Sun Stereo Warehouse. Following a personal epiphany in December 2019, co-founder Ian Landis and his fiancé came up with the idea for opening a sober bar, and began hosting mocktail pop-ups. When it opens, Bone Dry Sober Bar will provide a sober environment where all non-drinking adults can have a place to hangout, enjoy life and socialize, without the influence of alcohol.
The Teetotalist Expected to Debut in Sacramento in 2023
Sacramento is expected to welcome a zero-proof bar concept called The Teetotalist in 2023, where people can gather, socialize, and enjoy a night out in a setting that feels like a bar, but with an alternate beverage menu. The founders of The Teetotalist are currently participating in Downtown Sacramento Foundation’s 2022-2023 Calling All Dreamers retail business incubator.
There are many other ways to experience the sober-curious trend firsthand in addition to these brick-and-mortar offerings. For instance, Napa Valley vintner Jake Krausz and his wife Adrienne Stillman Krausz just launched The Dry Goods Beverage Company – an online retail shop for nonalcoholic beverages; companies like Zero Proofed in Los Angeles are hosting non-alcoholic pop-up events; and restaurants are coming up with inventive mocktail menus, like the Nienti Spriti menu at FERRO Restaurant in Idyllwild.
California Offerings with All of the Buzz, None of the Booze
While California may be known for its iconic wine regions and abundance of craft breweries, it is the zero-proof trend that is currently sweeping the Golden State. According to research from NielsenIQ, moderation is a driving force behind the uptick in non-alcoholic sales and offerings, as consumers look for ways to make healthier lifestyle choices.
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