Not all bars need alcohol for their guests to have a good time.

Absence of Proof has made it their mission to spread awareness of their non-alcoholic pop-up bars around New York City.

Elizabeth Gascoigne, the owner, found Absence of Proof earlier this year when she decided to stop drinking because of anxiety and the negative effects that come with alcohol. When she began her journey towards sobriety, she couldn’t find many nightlife activities in NYC that weren’t mainly involved in alcohol consumption. This gave her the idea to start up her own business for those who don’t drink, so this way they can still maintain an active social life. Whether someone is a non-drinker, or they just need a night off from drinking, this is the place for them to be.

The first event

Elizabeth had her first ever event, also known as a launch party, at Kobrick Coffee Co. on August 5, 2022, on 9th Avenue. It was a three-hour event that allowed each guest to have two beverage tickets, and then every drink after that the guests had to pay for. For anyone who went they had to either pay $30 in advance before the event, or they could of paid $35 at the door on the day of the event. Kobrick Coffee Co. also was selling food to the guests. The average cost of a drink ranged anywhere from $8-10, which I feel like is not too bad of a price for being in a city. In order to view upcoming pop-up events for more information on price and location, people can visit the link in the bio on the Absence of Proof’s Instagram account.

Featured Drinks

Elizabeth uses a variety of brands like Ritual, Surely, Pathfinder, Goldies, Flyers Cocktails, Mingle Mocktails, Avec, and more to create mocktails. Mocktail is a term for a zero-proof cocktail. She also serves non-alcoholic beer and wine. She features a non-alcoholic whiskey cocktail, a summer foamy cocktail that almost looks like a beer, and a delicious replica of a spicy margarita. She actually collaborated with Kobrick Coffee Co. on a non-alcoholic expresso martini, which she described as one of her favorites.

Kobrick Coffee Event: Part Two

Elizabeth was invited again to set up her bar on September 9, 2022, except this time things were done a little differently. Since it was such a successful night, it also meant there was a lot of people to attend to, so Elizabeth decided to split the second event into two parts. One event was held from 7-9 p.m., and the other event was held from 9-11 p.m. She also posted on her Instagram to let her followers know to wear their most fashionable outfit in honor of fashion week beginning.

The Impact of Non-Alcoholic Bars

The remarkable idea of a non-alcoholic bar opens up new ideas in the busy nightlife scene. Sometimes people wanna go out, but skip the drunk part, and have a good time still. It gives people a chance to still have fun without feeling that groggy hangover in the morning. I think younger adults get the most out of this experience in general because it’s something they can do for a night off of drinking.