In a world that insists on picking sides on every subject just for the pleasure of opposition,

I propose a toast:

This dawning shift in drink preference from exclusively alcohol to alternatives is not an “Us vs. Them” situation. There are no sides in the extension of defining an adult drink.

To the people who ask, “What’s the point?”:  That someone has alcohol in their cocktail, or an alternative, is not nearly as important as the act of sitting side by side at a table or a bar and talking to each other about their day, their hopes and dreams, disappointments, even the weather. We all have those things in common and don’t talk about them in public enough.  And to anyone who does not understand the point of choosing an adult drink without alcohol over one with alcohol…The point is being a part of the same experience of gathering with other people over “drinks” and not having any physical, emotional, or social consequences. Choosing a non-alc. drink is not the headline.  That we actually live in a time where satisfying non-alc. drinks exist to have that shared experience is.

To establishments: Ordering an NA beer or Mocktail are not fighting words. And to the bars and restaurants that haven’t found a reason to include these on their menus…money is the answer you are looking for.  Money is being left in the pockets of people who order water instead of a soft drink because they don’t drink alcohol. If you are in the hospitality business, embracing this untapped clientele is not a loser move. However, picking only alcohol over expanding your drink service to welcome all your guests is shortsighted. Your customers’ desire to have a drink without alcohol is insignificant compared to their thirst for inclusion.

In response to the immortal words of Rodney King, “Can’t we all get along?”, we can if we just get over ourselves and see how unthreatening non-alc. inclusion is.  Having gotten that off my chest, I lift my glass and say…

Here’s to “Us and Them”.