After a car accident, he stopped drinking and opened a bar with soft drinks

“Binge Bar” is located in Washington, USA; the story behind this place is about friendship and overcoming

In 2016, Vergie “Gigi” Arandid destroyed his sister’s vehicle in a car accident. Breathalyzer results showed she had drunk more than double the legal limit in the United States, where there is no “prohibition.” She would be the equivalent of drinking 10 Jack and Cokes, a drink that mixes whiskey and soda.

After the episode, the Filipina was forced to attend “Alcoholics Anonymous” and undergo a period of rehabilitation. What she missed most, however, was not drinking, but social interaction, parties and environments generally fueled by alcohol, such as bars and clubs.

Along with a friend also in rehab, Hawkins, she began spreading the “no alcohol” message; until, in February 2023, they decide to open the Binge Bar.

Before deciding to become partners, however, the best friends spent some time talking to each other. They worked together in a department store as soon as Gigi moved from the Philippines to Washington, and they both experienced intense periods during their early adulthood, always full of drinks and parties.

Until, one day, an argument separates the two, who hadn’t spoken to each other for years. Contact was reestablished only after Hawkins, now 35, reached the ninth step of AA: making peace. And sobriety led them both to entrepreneurship.

“Come as you are”

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“Come as you are” is the slogan of the Bar. In Portuguese: “come as you are”, where pregnant women, people who have stopped drinking for religious reasons and many TikTok users can be found.

On the menu you can find popular drinks, such as the Espresso Martini, and other drinks that do not imitate the taste of alcohol. The most popular in the house? “Cecumber Mangorita”, a blend of natural juices with cucumber.

In an interview with the Washington Post newspaper, Gigi, who is 38, said she believes the alcohol-free movement is “not a trend” but something that is here to stay. Numbers and research prove what the entrepreneur said.

“NoLo”, the no or low alcohol movement, is already a success abroad. Second a survey by IWSR Drinks Market AnalysisConsumption of these beverages reached $11 billion in 2022 and is expected to increase by a third by 2026.

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Additionally, a report found that the Gen Z population drinks 20% less per capita compared to Generation Y, who in turn drink less than Generation X and baby boomers. In January, we saw the “Dry January” movement fill social media feeds with testimonials from people choosing to have a sober January.

And the data shows that this wave is not expected to pass after January. A Gallup study found that young Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 drink less than previous generations.

Apparently, the trend is for bars like Binge Bar to become more and more popular.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.