Turns Out There’s Actually A Reason Why Cocktails And Mocktails Are The Same Price, And It’s Fascinating
You won't catch me complaining next time I decide to treat myself to an alcohol-free cocktail!
The topic was hotly debated, which piqued my interest. To get more information about cocktail vs. mocktail pricing, I spoke with Abby Ehmann, owner of Hekate Café & Elixir Lounge and Lucky in New York City.
![Woman in leopard print coat smiles while holding door frame. She is wearing a black outfit and stands in a doorway with her hand on her hip](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-09/13/15/asset/72166656429a/sub-buzz-570-1726240160-1.jpg)
First, Ehmann told BuzzFeed that "referring to NA [non-alcoholic] cocktails as a 'mocktail' or 'virgin' is somewhat frowned upon in the 'NA space' due to the association with drinks for children, such as the Shirley Temple. So we call them alcohol-free cocktails, which is more accurate."
When asked why cocktails and alcohol-free cocktails are priced similarly, Ehmann said that it is "because the cost of NA spirits is closer to that of 'call' liquor. When you go to a regular bar and don't request a specific brand name or 'call' liquor, you are getting 'well' booze, which is comparatively inexpensive."
![A bar shelf filled with assorted liquor bottles, showcasing various brands and types of alcohol](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-09/17/19/asset/a50e9e83d2ae/sub-buzz-770-1726600471-12.jpg)
Ehmann explained that non-alcoholic spirits "are generally as expensive as middle-to-top-shelf alcohol. So far, no one is making 'well,' or less expensive, versions of NA spirits."
To follow up on Ehmann's point, I looked into the pricing of drinks at a few randomly selected bars across the US that serve both regular and alcohol-free cocktails.
![A bartender pours a cocktail from a shaker into a glass on a bar counter. The bar has various utensils and bottles in the background](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-09/17/19/asset/8664ebf672f8/sub-buzz-1113-1726600103-2.jpg)
This is a portion of the menu of Donna, a cocktail bar in New York City. Their cocktails range in price from $17 to $19, and their alcohol-free cocktails are $17.
![Cocktail Menu: House Cocktails $19 - Mala Vida, Draft Cocktails $17 - Lady Paloma, Non-Alcoholic $17 - Summer Nights. Each includes a list of ingredients](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-09/17/20/asset/86766c6db0f9/sub-buzz-1352-1726604695-2.jpg)
This is a section of the menu of Arbella, a cocktail bar in Chicago. Cocktails here range in price from $17 to $30, while alcohol-free cocktails are all $15.
![A cocktail menu featuring Zero Proof drinks like "Smoking Kills" and "Secret Window" with ingredients listed. Also featured are Cocktails, with "Arbella's Martini" and others](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-09/17/21/asset/d761c21a2013/sub-buzz-759-1726608172-8.png)
And this pricing is from the menu of The Rendition Room, a cocktail bar in Los Angeles. Their non-alcoholic cocktails are priced at $12, while their regular cocktails range from $16 to $18.
![Cocktail menu titled "The Rendition Room" with sections for Specialty Cocktails, House Infused Spirits, and Mocktails](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-09/17/21/asset/0dcc72043c0c/sub-buzz-1577-1726607553-1.jpg)
Ehmann also added that she felt the pricing of alcohol-free cocktails isn't "a problem for people who choose to avoid alcohol, but it certainly does seem to irk those who drink booze."
![A woman in a casual outfit sits at a bar, holding a pint of beer and looking thoughtfully at it](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-09/17/19/asset/7cf5cba83e34/sub-buzz-848-1726601736-1.jpg)
Finally, since Hekate is a sober bar, I was curious to learn if their best-sellers included alcohol-free versions of classic cocktails.
Ehmann said, "Our most popular cocktail, The Healer, is not an alcohol-free version of a familiar drink. It is a whole new concoction. But I believe it's popular because it looks great on Instagram. Our other best-sellers are The Draper, which approximates a Manhattan; The Amalfi Spritz, which tastes exactly like an Aperol Spritz; and our assortment of margaritas. I do think it is easier for people to understand an alcoholic beverage equivalent, but for some, that may be a trigger, so a preference for something completely different is understandable."