Turns Out There’s Actually A Reason Why Cocktails And Mocktails Are The Same Price, And It’s Fascinating

Recently, while scrolling Twitter, I came across this tweet calling out the pricing of mocktails.

Twitter: @IAmShannonAli

A lot of folks seemed to agree — they weren't sure why a cocktail without alcohol should cost the same as one that contains alcohol.

Twitter: @BIGPIKLIZ

Some people felt the alcohol, which is typically the most expensive part of a cocktail, should dictate the price.

Twitter: @Just__JuJu

Many were really interested in understanding the pricing structure.

Twitter: @A_Djalo

And some felt like choosing a mocktail meant they weren't getting enough bang for their buck.

Twitter: @ni_problematica

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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."

So now, next time you check out the alcohol-free cocktails on a bar menu, you'll know exactly why those prices are so similar!