Skip to content
Close Menu
The Sober CuratorThe Sober Curator
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn TikTok
    The Sober CuratorThe Sober Curator
    • HOME
    • ABOUT
      • DEAR READERS
      • MEET THE SOBER CURATOR
      • CONTRIBUTOR DIRECTORY
      • BUSINESS DIRECTORY
      • CONTACT
      • CONTENT PILLARS
      • PRESS
      • SOBEES
      • START A PODCAST
      • WRITE A BOOK
    • BACKSTAGE
    • NA DRINKS
      • NA BEERS & CIDERS
      • NA SPIRITS
      • NA WINES
      • READY TO DRINK
      • NA EVENTS
    • HEALTH & WELLNESS
      • CODEPENDENCY
      • MENTAL HEALTH
      • OPINION
      • SPIRITUAL SUBSTANCE
      • WELLNESS
      • YOGA & PILATES
    • LIFESTYLE
      • #ADDTOCART
      • CONTENT CREATION
      • CURATED CRAFTS
      • FASHION
      • POETRY
      • SOBER SPOTLIGHT
      • UNBUZZED FEED
    • ENTERTAINMENT
      • #QUITLIT
      • EVENTS
      • GAME ROOM
      • MOVIES
      • MUSIC
      • PODCASTS
      • POP CULTURE
      • SOBER CURATOR PODCAST
      • SPORTS
      • TV SHOWS
    • TRAVEL
      • EVENTS
      • RETREATS
      • CRUISING GUIDE
      • WHAT A TRIP
      • SOBRIETY IN THE CITY
        • MINNEAPOLIS
        • NYC
        • SEATTLE
    • SPIRITUALITY
      • THE CARD DIVO
      • SPIRITUAL SUBSTANCE
      • STOICISM
      • THIRSTY FOR WONDER
      • YOGA + PILATES
    • RESOURCES
      • FAMILY RESOURCES
      • GLOSSARY
      • LGBTQ RESOURCES
      • NONPROFIT GUIDE
      • WE DO RECOVER
    The Sober CuratorThe Sober Curator
    Home - We Are Raising the Bar— And Yes, We Mean That Bar
    HAPPY EVERY HOUR

    We Are Raising the Bar— And Yes, We Mean That Bar

    Alysse BrysonBy Alysse BrysonDecember 2, 20256 Mins Read
    We are raising the bar December 2025 kit Shaken Not Stirred
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
    Photo Credit: @dan.esteban

    Listen, besties. Happy hour is officially getting a makeover. A glow-up. A reinvention. A renaissance, even. Because thanks to Raising the Bar, you can roll up to 5 PM with the same vibe, the same energy, the same clink… but with zero alcohol and all the flavor.

    Same time. Same vibe.
    The difference is zero.

    And honestly? Zero has never tasted better.

    Why Raising the Bar Is Basically the Fairy Godmother of Zero-Proof Life

    Raising the Bar started with one bold, modern-day heroine: Abbie, who quit drinking and quickly realized that the non-alcoholic beverage scene was giving “room temperature tap water in a solo cup” instead of “sophisticated adult with agency and taste buds.”

    So she (and partner Devin) solved it. Like the sober MacGyvers of mixology.

    Every month, subscribers receive a curated zero-proof cocktail kit with premium spirits, creative ingredients, thoughtful tools, and recipes that make you go, “Wait, I made this??”

    It’s elevated, it’s thoughtful, it’s fun, and it says:
    “Everyone deserves a good drink.”

    And as someone who knows a thing or two about sober joy? I raise my glass (my zero-proof glass, obviously).

    Sober Curator Fun Fact: Raising the Bar is AWARD-WINNING

    Yes, darling. AWARD. WINNING.

    This November, I got to hang out with Abbie herself at the 3rd Annual Sans Bar Academy Awards in Austin, TX — the Golden Globes of sober nightlife — where Raising the Bar won “Group on the Rise.”

    You heard it here first: this brand isn’t just trending. It’s ascending.

    ✨ Zero-proof royalty energy only. ✨

    Abbie We are raising the bar

    If you missed the recap, here you go.

    And while we’re awarding things…

    • Cut Above NA Gin, featured in the December kit, won Best NA Spirit at the Sans Bar Awards.
    • All The Bitter Cherry Coffee snagged Best New Product (and yes, it makes the PERFECT stocking stuffer).
    • And if you haven’t seen the lightning bolt stir sticks — a Raising the Bar x Zero Proof Nation collab — prepare your cart and your heart.

    Become a Subscriber (Your Future Self Says Thank You)

    Want to never miss a sip again?
    Become a member and get a monthly zero-proof experience delivered straight to your door.

    Want to be the best gift-giver in your entire friend group?
    Gift a subscription. (Your recipient will think of you every cocktail hour for months.)

    Options include 1, 3, 6, or 12 months — because commitment looks different for everyone.

    Photo Credit: @dan.esteban

    Why Raising the Bar Gifts Hit Harder Than a Holiday Hangover (Without the Hangover)

    When you gift Raising the Bar, you’re giving:

    ⭐ An Elevated Experience

    Premium spirits, mixers, garnishes, tools, and three mix-worthy recipes. This is not some “throw it in a basket and hope for the best” situation. This is curated joy.

    ⭐ Celebration-Worthy Moments

    For the sober, the sober-curious, the pregnant, the host-with-the-most, or the ritual-lover.

    ⭐ Stress-Free Curation

    You buy once. They receive monthly magic. You look like a legend.

    ⭐ A Personal, Thoughtful Surprise

    Each box feels intentional — like you took the time to choose something wonderfully unique.

    A gift that arrives over and over? That’s love, baby.

    Photo Credit: @dan.esteban

    HELLO DECEMBER! The “Shaken & Stirred” Zero-Proof Cocktail Kit Has Entered the Chat

    This month’s box drops around December 10, and let me tell you…
    This kit has big holiday mood energy.

    Two iconic cocktail profiles — a shaken martini and a sparkling botanical spritz — plus a smoky, desert-inspired Spiced Piñarita ready-to-drink moment.

    Your holiday hosting? Leveled up.

    What You’ll Be Mixing:

    • Shaken (Dirty Martini Style): Cool, crisp, briny, and shaken icy cold with the perfect olive finish.
    • Stirred (Bubbly Thyme Spritz): Effervescent AF with apple, thyme, and alcohol-removed sparkling wine.
    • Spiced Piñarita: Smoky pineapple-prickly-pear perfection with a dash of cayenne heat.

    What’s Inside the Box:

    • Freixenet Alcohol-Removed Bubbly (x2)
    • Cut Above NA Gin (hello, Sans Bar Award winner!)
    • PARCH Spiced Piñarita RTD (x2)
    • Lemon Thyme Woodster Bitters
    • Sweetheaven Apple Thyme Cardamom Tonic
    • SaySo Dirty Martini Sticks (x4)
    • POSHI Green Olives
    • Raising The Bar Gold Cocktail Picks
    • Tasting Notes Brochure + playlist + garnish inspo

    It’s giving “shaken, stirred, AND slayed.”

    Photo Credit: We Are Raising the Bar Facebook page

    BONUS ROUND: For My Wicked Fans… This Mocktail Box is Spellbinding

    Raising the Bar released a “Wickedly Good Mocktail Box” and I don’t mean to alarm anyone, but…
    WHICH WITCH ARE YOU?

    Are you Elphaba (bold, practical, delightfully defiant)?
    Or Glinda (bubbly, optimistic, sparkly chaos in human form)? More importantly, do you travel by bubble?

    This box lets you choose your magical destiny with TWO spirit options:

    Option 1: Kin Euphorics Matchatini

    Creamy matcha, vanilla, maple, functional ingredients, a little caffeine buzz… perfect for the glam witch burning the candle on both ends. Sober Curator Fun Fact: Sans Bar Academy Leader of the Year Award when to Jen Batchelor, Founder of Kin Euphorics.

    Option 2: Tilden Lacewing

    Cucumber, basil, lychee — elegant, herbaceous, caffeine-free, and award-winning. Ideal for the minimalist witch with impeccable taste.

    Plus More Magical Mixers:

    • Siponey Roots (ginger, turmeric, lime, and wildflower honey)
    • Devil’s Foot x RTB Cosmopolitan RTD (collab magic!)
    • Dappled Floral Tonic
    • Royal Rose Syrup (Rose!)
    • Rose petals
    • Mini broomsticks (I repeat: MINI. BROOMSTICKS.)
    • Witchy napkins
    • A playlist that is equal parts Wicked, Oz, and Garland

    It’s theatrical. It’s whimsical. It’s spellbinding.
    It might even make you the most popular witch at the party.
    Too much? Maybe.
    But isn’t that the fun?

    Oh, and Another Flex…

    Raising the Bar has been featured in:

    BuzzFeed
    Oprah Daily
    Vanity Fair
    Good Morning America
    GQ
    Today
    Thrillist
    Business Insider
    Brit + Co
    AND The Sober Curator (obviously) A few times, actually! 2022, 2023, and 2025.

    We see the glow. We celebrate it.

    Photo Credit: @dan.esteban

    FINAL POUR

    From zero-proof martinis to Wicked-inspired mocktails to Sans Bar–approved stocking stuffers, Raising the Bar is leading the joyful, inclusive, elevated movement we’ve all been waiting for.

    They’re not just raising the bar —
    they’re redefining it.

    Ready to shake, stir, sip, and slay?
    Because this holiday season, sober is sparkling brighter than ever. #ADDTOCART friends!


    Happy Every Hour at The Sober Curator NA Beverage Reviews

    Welcome to HAPPY EVERY HOUR, your go-to hub for all things NA (non-alcoholic). We review alcohol-free beers, ciders, wines, spirits, RTDs (ready-to-drink), and share NA cocktail recipes that taste just as good—if not better—than the boozy originals. Whether you’re sober, sober-curious, or just taking a break, this is where great taste meets zero proof.

    TRIGGER WARNING: People in early sobriety may want to proceed with caution. Always read labels. Please hydrate responsibly … #becausedrunkneverlooksgood.

    🛍️ Submit a Product for Review NA beverages, sober-friendly tools, alcohol-free brands, and products built for the way our audience actually lives. Submit your product →


    Sans Bar Academy Awards

    SOBRIETY IN THE CITY – AUSTIN: The 3rd Annual Sans Bar Academy Awards Weekend — A Glitter-Dipped, Zero-Proof Celebration in Austin, TX


    SOBER POP CULTURE at The Sober Curator is where mainstream trends meet the vibrant world of sobriety. We serve up a mix of movie, podcast, fashion, and book recommendations alongside alcohol-free cocktails, celebrity features, and pop culture buzz—all with a sober twist.

    We’re here to shatter the “sobriety is boring” myth with a mash-up of 80s neon, 90s hip-hop edge, early 2000s bling, and today’s hottest trends. From celebrity shoutouts to red-carpet style inspo, this is where sober is as chic as it is fun. To the celebs using their platform for good—our Sober Pop Trucker hats are off to you!

    Resources Are Available

    If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.

    Love what you read? #sharesobriety

    • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
    • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
    • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
    • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
    • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
    • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit

    Related

    all the bitter cut above na gin raising the bar subscriptions sans bar sans bar academy awards shake & stirred sober gift guide sober gift ideas we are raising the bar zero proof cocktail kits zeroproof nation
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
    Alysse Bryson
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • X (Twitter)
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn

    Alysse Bryson is the founder and publisher of The Sober Curator, redefining modern sobriety as aspirational, entertaining, and culturally significant. Sober since 2006, she’s a former media executive turned cultural voice proving the comeback is always better than the origin story.

    Related Posts

    Stop Searching for the Perfect Alcohol-Free Replacement

    Stop Searching for the Perfect Alcohol-Free Replacement

    August 8, 2026
    Bero Spiderman

    Our Friendly Neighborhood Non-Alcoholic Beer

    August 5, 2026
    Blooms Play-Doh Flower Set Sober Gift Idea

    I Can Buy Myself Flowers: The New Play-Doh for Adults Is the Sober Anniversary Gift We Didn’t Know We Needed

    August 1, 2026
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    #ADDTOCART and Save 10% by using code: SOBERCURATOR10
    Aura House
    Sober Not Boring Sober Experience
    TSC X Podcast Impact Studio Collab
    We are Raising the Bar
    The Curated Sponsor Spotlight SAVE 10% SOBERCURATOR10 Paid Partner: Aura House
    https://youtu.be/eSqzULW2onQ
    SOBERSCRIBE AND GET ON THE LIST!
    Sober Travel Sober Not Boring
    7 events found.
    • Week of August 10
    • Previous week
    • Next week
    All Day
    National Overdose Awareness Month
    August 1 - August 31

    National Overdose Awareness Month

    Sober Cruising – Sail from Barcelona
    August 2 - August 10

    Sober Cruising – Sail from Barcelona

    See website
    Sober Travel: Bali
    August 7 - August 17

    Sober Travel: Bali

    $2789
    12:00 pm
    Claude Anonymous | Weekly Monday AI Meeting for Sober Humans Who Are Sick of Feeling Behind
    August 10 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PDT

    Claude Anonymous | Weekly Monday AI Meeting for Sober Humans Who Are Sick of Feeling Behind

    Virtual
    Virtual Event
    + 1 More
    All Day
    National Overdose Awareness Month
    August 1 - August 31

    National Overdose Awareness Month

    Sober Travel: Bali
    August 7 - August 17

    Sober Travel: Bali

    $2789
    All Day
    National Overdose Awareness Month
    August 1 - August 31

    National Overdose Awareness Month

    Sober Travel: Bali
    August 7 - August 17

    Sober Travel: Bali

    $2789
    The Bozeman Sober Retreat with Recovery Elevator | Bozeman, Montana
    August 12 - August 16

    The Bozeman Sober Retreat with Recovery Elevator | Bozeman, Montana

    All Day
    National Overdose Awareness Month
    August 1 - August 31

    National Overdose Awareness Month

    Sober Travel: Bali
    August 7 - August 17

    Sober Travel: Bali

    $2789
    The Bozeman Sober Retreat with Recovery Elevator | Bozeman, Montana
    August 12 - August 16

    The Bozeman Sober Retreat with Recovery Elevator | Bozeman, Montana

    All Day
    National Overdose Awareness Month
    August 1 - August 31

    National Overdose Awareness Month

    Sober Travel: Bali
    August 7 - August 17

    Sober Travel: Bali

    $2789
    The Bozeman Sober Retreat with Recovery Elevator | Bozeman, Montana
    August 12 - August 16

    The Bozeman Sober Retreat with Recovery Elevator | Bozeman, Montana

    6:00 pm
    Mahjong 101 @ Sober AF Zero Proof Bottle Shop
    August 14 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm PDT

    Mahjong 101 @ Sober AF Zero Proof Bottle Shop

    SOBER AF Bottle Shop Tacoma 5222 S Tacoma Way, Tacoma
    + 1 More
    All Day
    National Overdose Awareness Month
    August 1 - August 31

    National Overdose Awareness Month

    Sober Travel: Bali
    August 7 - August 17

    Sober Travel: Bali

    $2789
    The Bozeman Sober Retreat with Recovery Elevator | Bozeman, Montana
    August 12 - August 16

    The Bozeman Sober Retreat with Recovery Elevator | Bozeman, Montana

    National Relaxation Day
    August 15

    National Relaxation Day

    10:00 am
    Wide Awake: Sober Wellness Party
    August 15 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm CDT

    Wide Awake: Sober Wellness Party

    Three Cities Social Club 320 W Ohio Street floor 7, Chicago
    1:00 pm
    Let’s Get After It Booking Signing with Brian S Nicholson
    August 15 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm CDT

    Let’s Get After It Booking Signing with Brian S Nicholson

    Barnes & Noble 1600 Miller Trunk Hwy, Duluth
    + 3 More
    All Day
    National Overdose Awareness Month
    August 1 - August 31

    National Overdose Awareness Month

    Sober Travel: Bali
    August 7 - August 17

    Sober Travel: Bali

    $2789
    The Bozeman Sober Retreat with Recovery Elevator | Bozeman, Montana
    August 12 - August 16

    The Bozeman Sober Retreat with Recovery Elevator | Bozeman, Montana

    1:00 pm
    Tea & LPs: Post Disco
    August 16 @ 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm EDT

    Tea & LPs: Post Disco

    Crossroads Cafe 119 Knickerbocker Ave, Brooklyn
    + 1 More
    August 1 - August 31

    National Overdose Awareness Month

    National Overdose Awareness Month

    August 1 - August 31

    National Overdose Awareness Month

    National Overdose Awareness Month August is recognized as National Overdose Awareness Month, culminating in International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31st. As the world's largest annual campaign, it aims to

    August 2 - August 10

    Sober Cruising – Sail from Barcelona

    Sober Cruising – Sail from Barcelona

    August 2 - August 10

    Sober Cruising – Sail from Barcelona

    Sober Cruising: Sail from Barcelona on August 2, 2026, for eight nights with a small sober group (max 25) on Virgin Voyages — a journey of connection, clarity, and shared

    See website
    August 7 - August 17

    Sober Travel: Bali

    Sober Travel: Bali

    August 7 - August 17

    Sober Travel: Bali

    This is no ordinary getaway—it’s a zero-proof trip to paradise. Let your worries drift away as you reconnect with nature, dive into in the Balinese way of life, and put

    $2789
    August 1 - August 31

    National Overdose Awareness Month

    August 7 - August 17

    Sober Travel: Bali

    August 1 - August 31

    National Overdose Awareness Month

    August 12 - August 16

    The Bozeman Sober Retreat with Recovery Elevator | Bozeman, Montana

    The Bozeman Sober Retreat with Recovery Elevator | Bozeman, Montana

    August 12 - August 16

    The Bozeman Sober Retreat with Recovery Elevator | Bozeman, Montana

    The Bozeman Sober Retreat is more than a getaway—it’s an opportunity for people in recovery to experience connection, adventure, and joy in a way that reinforces an alcohol-free life. Hosted

    August 7 - August 17

    Sober Travel: Bali

    August 1 - August 31

    National Overdose Awareness Month

    August 12 - August 16

    The Bozeman Sober Retreat with Recovery Elevator | Bozeman, Montana

    August 7 - August 17

    Sober Travel: Bali

    August 1 - August 31

    National Overdose Awareness Month

    August 12 - August 16

    The Bozeman Sober Retreat with Recovery Elevator | Bozeman, Montana

    August 7 - August 17

    Sober Travel: Bali

    August 1 - August 31

    National Overdose Awareness Month

    August 12 - August 16

    The Bozeman Sober Retreat with Recovery Elevator | Bozeman, Montana

    August 7 - August 17

    Sober Travel: Bali

    August 15

    National Relaxation Day

    National Relaxation Day

    August 15

    National Relaxation Day

    National Relaxation Day National Relaxation Day is celebrated annually on August 15 to promote stress relief, mental health, and physical well-being. Founded in 1985 by then-nine-year-old Sean Moeller, the day

    August 1 - August 31

    National Overdose Awareness Month

    August 12 - August 16

    The Bozeman Sober Retreat with Recovery Elevator | Bozeman, Montana

    August 7 - August 17

    Sober Travel: Bali

    Monday, August 10, 2026

    • Virtual Event
      August 10, 2026 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
      Claude Anonymous | Weekly Monday AI Meeting for Sober Humans Who Are Sick of Feeling Behind
    • Virtual Event
      August 10 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PDT

      Claude Anonymous | Weekly Monday AI Meeting for Sober Humans Who Are Sick of Feeling Behind

      Claude Anonymous | Weekly Monday AI Meeting for Sober Humans Who Are Sick of Feeling Behind Bring your questions, your half-finished projects, and your low-grade panic about AI. One hour,

    + 1 More

    Tuesday, August 11, 2026

    No events on this day.

    Wednesday, August 12, 2026

    No events on this day.

    Thursday, August 13, 2026

    No events on this day.

    Friday, August 14, 2026

    • August 14, 2026 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
      Mahjong 101 @ Sober AF Zero Proof Bottle Shop
    • August 14 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm PDT

      Mahjong 101 @ Sober AF Zero Proof Bottle Shop

      Mahjong 101 @ Sober AF Zero Proof Bottle Shop Join us at Sober AF, Tacoma's premier alcohol-free bottle shop! Sip on some delicious mocktails while you learn how to play

    + 1 More

    Saturday, August 15, 2026

    • August 15, 2026 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
      Wide Awake: Sober Wellness Party
    • August 15 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm CDT

      Wide Awake: Sober Wellness Party

      Wide Awake: Sober Wellness Party A rejuvenating wellness experience featuring yoga, sound baths, local vendors, vitamin injections, sponsor activations, and more! Wide Awake is a curated wellness experience bringing together

    • August 15, 2026 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
      Let’s Get After It Booking Signing with Brian S Nicholson
    • August 15 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm CDT

      Let’s Get After It Booking Signing with Brian S Nicholson

      Let's Get After It Booking Signing with Brian S Nicholson Come grab a book and get one signed before publication, meet Brian and hear about his journey to recovery, and

    + 3 More

    Sunday, August 16, 2026

    • August 16, 2026 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
      Tea & LPs: Post Disco
    • August 16 @ 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm EDT

      Tea & LPs: Post Disco

      Tea & LPs: Post Disco a sunday to relax and link in bushwick taste signature hot or iced teas enjoy an afternoon scored by soulful sounds inspired by the early

    + 1 More
    View Calendar
    #ADDTOCART and Save 10% by using code: SOBERCURATOR10
    Aura House Diffuser
    The Sober Curator
    Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) TikTok YouTube Pinterest
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • LINKS DISCLAIMER
    • EDITORIAL GUIDELINES
    • TERMS OF SERVICE
    • REFUND POLICY
    • DON’T SELL MY INFO
    • DATA SUBJECT REQUEST FORM
    • CONTACT US
    © 2026 The Sober Curator - Benefits of a Alcohol Free Lifestyle

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.