...To revolutionize the social experience of a bar...
Creating a safe place for healing and heightened agency
To revolutionize the social experience of a bar by creating a safe healing environment which improves mental health and agency of patrons.
That’s the simple working mission statement including subtle, yet critical key elements. Perhaps the largest challenge is the first 8 words…
…To revolutionize the social experience of a bar…
What needs to be revolutionized about the bar experience?
There is an increasingly growing movement of individuals who seek alternatives to alcohol. This has been most evident by the increased participation in Dry January.
Most current bar experiences are centered around alcohol as the “hero”.
As a result, most current bar experiences do not provide equality to the non-alcoholic (NA) experience - with a general lack of diverse NA beverage options on the menu. The experience revolves around drinking. This does not serve patrons who do not drink and is an environment avoided by many persons in recovery from AUD/SUD.
Alcohol has a negative effect on health, particularly mental health. While there may be brief pleasure, there is increased risk of poor judgment, injury, increased aggression, or a variety of actions that can stress relationships and lead to social isolation.
So what’s good about a bar experience?
It’s a social environment. It’s a meeting place. People gather, giving an opportunity to exchange thoughts, share experiences, and feel connection. It’s a place where events can occur on a schedule - celebrations, performances, karaoke, trivia, or other group gatherings.
What can be improved about a bar experience?
It can be more inclusive.
Alcohol need not be the hero - the patron can be the hero.
As such, the bar should exist to provide the patron with an experience that enriches their life. The bar should not cater to only one type of individual, but all who come seeking a social experience.
This means a diverse set of beverage options, a diverse set of programming, and a diverse set of space layouts. — Some areas more private than others. Some areas quieter. Some areas in an open floor plan.
Why would I go to a bar to work on mental health?
There is a loneliness epidemic. A key graph from that linked Surgeon General’s report is this alarming trend showing a rapid decrease in time spend with friends (even prior to the COVID impact).
I posit that a safe, inclusive environment which puts the patron at the center of the social experience can impact this trend.
But what is the bar experience that the patron receives that enriches their life?
A culture of inclusion. From when you walk through the door at Toward Wellth through when you leave, staff “meet you where you are”. Patron-to-patron acts of aggression are not tolerated. Beverage options are available for an spectrum of preferences. AUD and SUD persons in recovery are welcomed.
Wellness programming. Programming is provided across a variety of topics applicable to general audiences and specialized programming for subpopulations of patrons. All programming will have the goal of improving quality of life, increasing agency, or enhancing community. A majority of content will be mental health focused. Certain mental health programming led by licensed counselors may require an intake process prior to participating.
A space designed for growth. From the seating options through the range of privacy options, patrons select their physical experience. Private focus rooms, small group rooms, and open spaces are available. Within open spaces, privacy walls can be utilized to create more isolated environments. Aural masking and zoned sound provide additional privacy and comfort, particularly with providing a sensory experience tolerable to persons with neurodivergence.
A community mindset. Community partners (businesses or individuals with skills that can enhance the programming) are asked and encouraged to participate in the Toward Wellth experience. Patrons become part of a larger community as they participate in programming. Patrons encourage each others’ growth.
These design elements are core to the vision of Toward Wellth. A different social experience which I am so very excited to bring to the community.
I was privileged to travel to Morocco recently and while there realized how utterly safe I felt as there are virtually no bars because it’s an Islamic culture. Alcohol is available however it is hardly centered and there for the tourists. Thank you!