How Raleigh Is Rethinking Drinking Culture

The sober-curious movement is growing—but in Raleigh, all-or-nothing just doesn’t sell.

By now you’ve seen the headlines—or are a part of the shift: Americans (and Raleighites) are drinking less, with only 54% reporting they consume alcohol per Gallup’s latest poll. But while sober-curious spaces and activities, mocktails, and alternative bevs are on the rise locally, Raleigh’s drinking habits aren’t so black-and-white. In fact, all-or-nothing hasn’t worked here.

And Meg Paradise and Charlie Blue Arm’s decision to open Songbird—a concept offering both spirited and nonspirited sips—makes that clear.

Perhaps it was before its time, but the duo’s Umbrella Dry Bar DTR brick-and-mortar—which closed in 2024 after four months in the space—did scratch an itch. Opening in line with Dry January, it provided a space for sober drinkers and those who were sober curious to socially imbibe in quality ’tails, wine and beer sans alcohol. Nevertheless, it was “niche of niche of niche,” reflects Paradise. “Our original intention was to have it be very inclusive by having NA cocktails, but it ended up actually being exclusive.”

Translation: Umbrella didn’t just close—it clarified the market. Curiosity was there, but appetite consistency wasn’t. While there are a host of strictly NA bars around the country that have seen success, “I’m not sure Raleigh is 100% ready for it,” muses Paradise. 

Money, naturally, plays a part in it as well. When opening Killjoy in 2020, owner/operator Josh Gagne says with the cost of goods, labor and rent, he didn’t think an NA-only space would be successful. “The profit margin for bars and restaurants is already so minimal,” he stresses. “The problem with NA spirits is they’re still $35 a bottle. The markup is the same as a cocktail, but there’s no way I can charge $13, $14 for a NA drink—that’s a little crazy.”

Raleigh isn’t alone in the experiment—or the outcome. Other cities have seen the rise and fall of spirit-free establishments as well: Dry Spokes in Omaha, Nebraska, closed up shop in March; Racine, Wisconsin’s Inmoxicated shuttered July 2024; and SLC’s first sober bar Curiosity lasted just over a year before closing in July 2023.

That said, some are still going strong. Binge Bar in DC has been serving up award-winning craft mocktails since early 2023, and its success can be attributed not only to its elevated bevs, but constant changes and an innovative approach that keeps the community engaged, says founder/owner Vergie “Gigi” Arandid. Not to mention it hosts sober comedy, drag bingo, speed dating and other mingling events that set the tone for the bar’s mission statement of “come as you are.”

“My personal development as a sober woman and entrepreneur can certainly attest to the business’ many success stories and also failures,” she adds. “The DC Metropolitan area is now home to so many sober creatives, social NA hubs and growing communities that drive the movement forward—both physically and virtually.”

Locally, Raleigh didn’t go dry—it recalibrated. A sole NA bar might not have been successful with locals, but the industry has embraced the normalcy of providing NA bevs alongside everything else.

“People appreciate having the option at a standard bar rather than having a sole NA bar,” maintains Gagne. “It’s disappointing if a place doesn’t have NA offerings. Things are changing for the better overall, and more of the community itself has accepted that and found a need to continue to offer those types of drinks.”

The sentiment also rings true for Blue Arm and Paradise. The pair stresses that Songbird is not Umbrella 2.0—but it is shaped by what Umbrella revealed. With transparent NA, low-ABV and full-strength options, they’re giving patrons the power of choice—and building a model that can actually scale. 

“If you’re doing NA you have to go above and beyond,” emphasizes Blue Arm, who notes Songbird’s spirit-free options will be just as good—if not better—as their alcoholic counterparts. “We’re hoping to bring that high-end bar standard to Raleigh without breaking the bank.” 

Ultimately, Raleigh’s evolving drinking culture isn’t about choosing between alcohol and abstinence—it’s about what actually works. The city may not be going dry anytime soon, but it is smarter about how it drinks, settling into a middle ground where inclusivity and flexibility—not restriction—drives the experience.