We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Beth Harbinson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Beth below.
Beth, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?
My parents encouraged me to pursue what interested me. There was no directing me in terms of educational pursuits or career interests. This allowed my mind to be open to trying new things without the constraint of messages like “climb the ladder” or “Can you make a living doing that?” My entrepreneurial dreams were encouraged. This was, in part, the luxury of being raised in a home where we had what we needed . But this did not mean we wasted. Another lesson from my mom was not to waste anything. To this day, I frequently look in the refrigerator at what will be wasted if I don’t eat it. This has resulted in some less than stellar meals but not wasting food or other resources has become increasingly important in this disposable world.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
Where can people with the disease of alcoholism go to have fun without the potential relapse trigger of alcohol, especially for those in the first 18 critical months of recovery?
Why aren’t there equitable options for non-drinkers at bars, restaurants, stadiums, concert venues or at fundraising events?
What is our culture teaching our young people about the “need” for alcohol with the “wine mom” culture or by stigmatizing non-drinking?
I am the founder of Sobar® and have worked in non-profit management, fundraising, and development for 25 years. I conceived of Sobar® at a local concert venue at their VIP Bar. When I went to get a drink, my choices were soda, an energy drink, or water.
I was totally bummed out. I had paid the same amount of money for this VIP access and thought “Why can’t I get something cool to drink that is alcohol-free?” With over 20% of the adult population choosing not to drink alcohol for a variety of reasons, Sobar believes there should be healthy and interesting alcohol-free choices everywhere we go.
I am committed to efforts focused on reducing the stigma associated with alcoholism, addiction and mental illness and providing greater access to treatment resources. In 2017, my project Sobar® – a play on the words sober and bar – received funding from the Horizon Foundation and the United Way of Central Maryland as one of 3 winners in a shark tank-like competition.
Sobar strives to advance health equity by raising awareness and increasing access to equitable non-alcoholic beverages. By making healthy, innovative choices available for the non-drinker or the person in recovery from alcoholism, we are promoting better choices and raising awareness of the fact that choice everywhere – from private gatherings in homes to stadiums – is important.
I am in recovery from alcoholism. The current staff of “Sobaristas” – our word for bartenders – are in recovery as well. Our Board of Directors also has members in recovery.
It is estimated that 20% of the population does not drink alcohol for many reasons. This population is growing and includes pregnant mothers, designated drivers, people taking medications for their mental health or other issues where drinking alcohol is contra indicated, and people in recovery from alcoholism and most people in recovery from addiction. We hope to begin to shift the conversation from “why don’t you drink?” to “why do you drink?”
The CDC’s website says “All alcoholic drinks, including red and white wine, beer, and liquor, are linked with cancer. The more you drink, the higher your cancer risk.” Yet as a society, events and venues offer alcohol as the star attraction with N/A choices being mostly a second thought. Sodas, seltzers, or bar mixers – mostly those loaded with high fructose corn syrup and artificial flavorings – are the only offerings for the non-drinking patron or guest.
Our non-profit works in our community to establish models we hope can be replicated nation-wide. They include:
● Hosting alcohol-free events
● Providing employment for people in recovery who may have a record
● Listing local venues who serve innovative non-alcoholic beverages
● Encouraging special event hosts, stadiums, corporations, bars, and restaurants to advertise and equitably include innovative non-alcoholic options, and
● Opening a non-alcoholic bar
Description: Sobar is a nonprofit organization working to eliminate the stigma of not drinking alcohol by hosting alcohol-free events, offering healthy, innovative non-alcoholic beverages, and partnering with communities and organizations to provide and curate “Sobars”.
Mission: To provide and promote innovative beverage options to those who cannot and choose not to drink alcohol.
Vision: To eliminate the stigma of not drinking alcohol and encourage inclusion of innovative, healthy non-alcoholic beverages everywhere alcohol is served.
Values: health, wellness, choice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Taglines:
● Hosting Events | Curating Products | Partnering with the Community
● Raising the “bar” on non-alcoholic beverages
● Kick a%* party, no booze
Our Audience:
● People who choose not to drink alcohol
● People in recovery from alcoholism and addiction
● People with health conditions and on medication who cannot drink alcohol
● People in addiction treatment, experiencing early sobriety, and living in sober homes
● Designated drivers and those who want to moderate their alcohol intake
How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.
During COVID when in-person events were not happening AND alcohol delivery was available to our homes, we thought that we had to develop a product for the non-drinker. We created Sobar in a Box and shipped and delivered drink kits. This was a time and labor-intensive project that yielded little revenue but did serve our mission and clients at the time.
In the last 3 years, the growth of the adult non-alcoholic beverage market has blown up and there are now many products that meet our needs, that are exciting, healthy, and perfect for our market. But as a tiny non-profit however, we quickly realized that we did not want to get into the resale business.
We have since partnered with one of the leading NA wholesalers – Better Rhodes – who has created the Sobar Collection which includes zero alcohol selections that our clients can purchase directly from our website. The company generously donates a portion of the proceeds to Sobar. The biggest advantage to us is that we have collaborated with a company with like-minded values who does what it does best giving us time to pursue initiatives consistent with our mission and vision. We did not set out to be a manuifacturer or reseller.
How’d you meet your business partner?
I do not have a cofounder or partner, but I will tell a story about the importance of connections. I know many want-to-be entrepreneurs whose ideas are not forwarded or taken to completion because they are so guarded about who they talk to. I believe there really are no totally new ideas out there and talking to people who can provide you with their thoughts, ideas, shoot holes in your ideas, or help you make connections are invaluable.
I hired a photographer to come and take pictures of my family when everyone was in town for an occasion. In getting to know her, she mentioned that she and her husband were investors in an NA product called Mocktails and asked me if I wanted an intro to one of the principals. Of course I did and through this connection, we began to see the importance of partnering with and using high quality third-party products instead of making all of our drinks from scratch. This was a major pivot for us that might not have happened without the conversation.
I am a person who loves to connect people to others who may be helpful to them in their work, passion pursuit, life or growth as I have been so fortunate to benefit from the connections people have made on our behalf.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://drinksobar.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sobar_usa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bshsobar
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-harbinson-57b40415/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/bsh_sobar