Nashville bars, breweries embrace "Dry January"
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A growing number of Nashvillians are starting the new year sober, and breweries, taprooms and cocktail joints are responding by expanding their non-alcoholic options.
Why it matters: "Dry January" has become increasingly popular as more people experiment with going alcohol-free.
Driving the news: This month, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for the country to adopt warning labels on alcoholic beverages similar to the ones mandatory for cigarettes.
- According to the new advisory, alcohol use is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., right after tobacco and obesity.
State of play: Businesses are taking note. Many of Nashville's most popular spots have developed new alcohol-free products and are cheerfully encouraging customers to come by whether they're going alcohol-free for a month or sober full-time.
What they're saying: "[E]ven if you're not raising a glass right now, you can still show up, support, and enjoy the atmosphere," Southern Grist wrote on Instagram.
- "After all, it's about more than just the beer — it's about the people and the passion behind every pint."
Zoom in: Southern Grist, which launched its non-alcoholic Oasis "hop water" in 2024, is offering specialty flavors on tap, mocktails and non-alcoholic wine.
- Nelson's Green Brier Distillery boasted a menu of mocktails that would fit in at any high-end cocktail bar.
- The Fox Bar, one of East Nashville's swankiest spots, has a permanent slate of mocktails, too.
- Otto's Bar in West Nashville encourages guests to "come chill with us" over non-alcoholic "gin" and tonics.
That's just a very brief sampling. Non-alcoholic options are on menus at nearly every bar in town.
- If you want to experiment with your own concoctions, Killjoy, a Nashville-based shop dedicated to non-alcoholic spirits, recently expanded into a new location in East Nashville.
The bottom line: Non-alcoholic offerings are no longer just a trend.
- "The culture is shifting," Killjoy owner Stephanie Styll said in a TV news story. "Especially amongst young people."