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Blake, Wm. A Surinam Planter in his Morning Dress. 1796.

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Alcohol-free beverages are rising in popularity across the U.S. as younger adults increasingly reject getting wasted.

Sober bars and non-alcoholic bottle shops are on the rise across the country, offering a variety of beer, wine, and spirits. “Dry January” and similar initiatives have gained traction, indicating a wider acceptance of “intermittent sobriety.”

Despite popularity, non-alcoholic beverages face challenges such as high price points due to the small scale of production and elaborate manufacturing processes. 

A 46-year-old woman who turned to non-alcoholic spirits: “I think there are a lot of people that are in my position, that are my age, where it’s like, alcohol just doesn’t feel good anymore.”

The owner of a non-alcoholic bottle store: “My mind wants that experience and wants that ritual. But my body is like, ‘I don’t really need the alcohol for that.’”