I tried a couple of the Seedlip bottles. I was exited to just mix it with some soda water or other general “mixer” but the suggested ingredients in the menu of mocktails was something only a bartender/mixologist would have. It was gross with lemon infused soda water…or at least not something I would drink without the fun part of alcohol lol

Yeah I don’t drink booze any more but I bought some of those fake booze things. For one, they’re gross (lol)…but they’re also expensive. And all the added ingredients can add up. So it makes sense that margins are lower, and places like these would have a hard time making ends meet.

Those all serve alcohol and their main component is food or music, not an accompaniment to socializing (when was the last time you went to a restaurant to socialize with people you didn’t already know?). The concept is a place to gather that doesn’t have the vice of alcohol but still has an element to inspire social interaction. Without the addition of alcohol for entertainment and to loosen inhibitions, bars are generally boring. Something with rotating themes might work well. Open mic nights (poems, comedy, acoustic guitar), food truck Fridays, taco Tuesdays, etc, would add an element besides non-alcoholic beverages. Hell, people might even love a booze free sports “bar”.

Possibly, and adding that what makes bars profitable is the incredible markup of alcoholic beverages. A single served drink costs as much as ½ a bottle in many cases. And even normal bars close all the time, especially in this financial environment. Not to mention, I assume they’re serving “mocktails”, of which people will buy (maaaybe two) vs people drinking regular cocktails will have multiple drinks. There needs to be another form of service (i.e., food) or entertainment (i.e., live music) to keep something like this afloat.