ABOUT US
The idea for Sobar began in Florida when we saw a HUGE, pulsating beach volleyball party with over 1000 people. It was an alcohol-free event and I thought why not bring this vibe and excitement to events in my community? The event fermented (get it) for a few years and one evening while attending a concert at Merriweather Post Pavillion, it gelled. I was at a beautiful bar and my options as a non-drinker were soda, Red Bull, or creating a “mocktail” in my head and asking a bartender to prepare it. I envisioned
• Beautiful bars serving non-alcoholic beverages with healthy ingredients, innovative, sophisticated flavors and exciting tastes;
• A separate point of purchase for events serving alcohol to remove a potential trigger for people in recovery from alcoholism and addiction; and
• Creating exciting alcohol-free events.
Sobar was launched in 2017 after we entered and were one of three winners in the Changemaker Challenge contest sponsored by The Horizon Foundation and United Way. (link here to the article)
Since then, Sobar has served at cutting-edge non-profit events in our community and this year will begin our alcohol-free event schedule.
VISION
We envision an environment where the stigma of alcoholism, addiction, mental illness and not drinking alcohol is eliminated.
MISSION
Our mission is to encourage choice in how we celebrate by providing a variety of sophisticated non-alcoholic beverages to consumers and hosting alcohol-free bars and events.
VALUES
Inclusion – we believe
Choice – we believe
Healthy – we believe
Innovative – we believe
Sophisticated – we believe
SOBAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFF
Trustee
Treasurer
Trustee
Internship and Innovations Manager
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Founder
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Intern
SOBAR IN THE NEWS
Founder Beth Harbinson – Beverage Inclusivity: Yeah, It's A Thing!
Presented at Ignite Howard County
Meet Beth Harbinson
A conversation with Beth Harbinson and CanvasRebel Magazine
Learn about how we started
Click here to watch founder Beth Harbinson's interview with AARP as part of their series Meet the Founder.
Sobar Puts Grant To Good Use
When Beth Harbinson serves up non-alcoholic drinks to the board of her new nonprofit for a taste test, they know to expect the unexpected...
United Way announces winners
As the Horizon Foundation and United Way of Central Maryland prepare for their second Changemaker Challenge in November...
Changemaker Challenge Winners
The Kossiaoff Center at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab looked a bit more like the set of ABC's "Shark Tank" Monday night, as 10 innovators...
SOBAR CERTIFICATION
Sobar Certification partnership is offered in recognition of a pledge your business or organization makes to offer equitable non-alcoholic beverages at all events that include alcohol. Examples of equitable offerings include non-alcoholic wine, beer, or cocktails. There are now over 400 products that meet this description and are available through Sobar’s partnership with Better Rhodes.
The benefits of certification include:
● Limited use of the Sobar logo on event promotions, menus, and your website.
● Inclusion on Sobar’s website as a Sobar Certified organization, including a link to your website in the listing.
● If applicable, inclusion on the Better Without app that guides users to restaurants, bars, and venues that serve and include non-alcoholic beverages.
● The opportunity to inform your stakeholders, clients, members, friends, organization, and community that you proactively and equitably support choice and inclusion for non-drinkers.
● The potential of broader attendance and increased revenue from non-drinkers who look for events and venues that include beverages they can enjoy.
● Direct access to and discounts with our NA beverages wholesaler, Better Rhodes.
Our Certified Partners
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SOBAR IN THE COMMUNITY
February 21, 2023 6pm to 8pm FREE
LinkNetworking Event with Anne Arundel Public Library
Annapolis Branch
Saturday, February 25, 2023 7 pm to 11 pm
Evening in the Stacks, Howard County Public Library
East Columbia Library
Celebrate Pop Culture! Featuring DJ Kopec, Pop Trivia Quiz,
Food Stations and a Sobar Signature Cocktail – alcohol-free of course.
For tickets and additional information click here.
March 8, 2023 5 pm to 7 pm
Women’s Giving Circle 2023 Annual Celebration
Howard Community College
Sponsor or register here
March 11 @ 7:00 am - 11:00 pm
Howard County Autism Society 30th Anniversary Gala!
Turf Valley Resort 2700 Turf Valley Rd, Ellicott City
Join us for an epic celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Howard County Autism Society! It’s Casino Night and Sob will be serving up the Sunset Strip – a flavorful flend of lemon, ginger, passion fruit and fresh thyme and Gamble All Night Espresso Martini
Friday, April 14, 2023 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 pm
14th Annual Pretty in Pink Luncheon
Presented by Turf Valley Resort
Enjoy retail therapy with over 50 vendors, hors d'oeuvres and a served luncheon, followed by a runway fashion show featuring cancer survivor models. Pretty in Pink is presented by Turf Valley Resort to benefit Blossoms of Hope and the Claudia Mayer/Tina Broccolino Cancer Resource Center at Howard County General Hospital.
Drink, dine, shop, and laugh the afternoon away with unlimited (non-alcoholic too!) pink champagne.
Click here for more information and tickets
Saturday, April 15 Noon
Spring Fest Ellicott City Main Street
We’ll be featuring Mocktail Beverages new Espresso Martini and 4 new flavors from Zen Hemp Infusions.
https://visitoldellicottcity.com/springfest/
Saturday April 22, 2023 7pm to midnight
The Arc of Howard County’s 25th Annual Chocolate Ball
The Peace, Love, and Inclusion Tour!
The 25th Annual Chocolate Ball is The Arc of Howard County‘s Signature Event! The 25th Annual Chocolate Ball will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2023, from 7 p.m. to Midnight at the Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, Maryland. This black-tie preferred gala — Tuxedos, Suits, and Gowns — Only Groovier! — is a magical evening of fine food, live music, dancing, signature beverages, silent auction, raffles, and of course, delicious chocolate!
Saturday, April 22, 2023 Noon to 5 pm, FREE
Sunshine & Soul Festival
The Tent Next to Opies, 1603 Edmondson Avenue, Catonsville, MD
This outdoor festival will feature an afternoon of presentations and vendors to promote and support local wellness-based businesses. This is a fun, educational, family-friendly event.
Rain Date – Sunday, April 23rd
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FEATURED COCKTAILS
AQUA FRESCAS
FRESH FRUIT, COCONUT, LIME AND AGAVE PINEAPPLE MANGO PEACH, WATERMELON CUCUMBER OR MINTED STRAWBERRY
DROP THE MIC
CORIANDER, LIME, COCONUT AND SPARKLING ORANGE BLOSSOM WATER
CHAI BLOSSOM
CHAI TEA BLENDED WITH AGAVE, ORANGE, LIME AND SAN PELLEGRINO
FALL FEST
APPLE CIDER AND CRANBERRY FINISHED WITH BUBBLY GINGER
GRAPEFRUIT GIRL
FEATURING BITTERMILK’S CHARRED GRAPEFRUIT TONIC - SOPHISTICATED & TART
HORCHATA
CREAMY SWEET RICE-BASED
MEXICAN STREET BEVERAGE SPICED
WITH CINNAMON
FROM THE GALLERY
