Kyle Kuehn worked in bars for most of his career. Eventually, booze-soaked surroundings combined with his own genetics led to a severe drinking problem. Now, thanks to the support of his close friends, his church and motivation he found watching Christian Bale’s character kick a heroin habit in the 2010 boxing drama The Fighter, he hasn’t had an alcoholic beverage (or a cigarette!) since January 21, 2015. Not a 12-step meeting attendant, Keuhn gives all the credit for his recovery to faith, prayer and asking God to take it away.
In the process of getting sober, he started to envision a place where someone like him could go for a healthy social atmosphere and to get some counsel. Again inspired by The Fighter, he first pictured an actual boxing gym. But in time that idea morphed into a social café where people in recovery could hang out while consuming non-alcoholic beverages. The concept of a sober bar was born. (Seems like boxing gym to sober bar is quite the jump but we’ll go with him on this.)
Preserving Their Demographic
I had the opportunity to interview Keuhn, who officially started Sober Bars in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in October of 2015. After becoming incorporated, they began planning sober events like festivals, conventions and road races—basically everything people are already doing but un-pairing it from substances. The Not Your Demographic Music Festival sprung from the need for substance-free entertainment. In February of 2016, Sober Bars tried to participate in a popular music festival but was given the runaround before ultimately being told, “sober people are not really our demographic.” I call bullshit, considering God knows how many musicians and people in the music industry are in recovery. Sober Bars did too (they probably didn’t use foul language like me though). So they decided to throw their own music festival—the night before the prominent one was taking place. They had six bands donate their time, and half of the musicians were in recovery.
Console Con, their sober video game convention, was widely received and another installment is in the works. Besides the actual bar we’re hearing so much about, planning is also underway for Ink Run. Planned for the spring of next year, this 5K event celebrates tattoo art—similar in feel to color runs—breaking down walls of bias and stigma of people who get tattoos in hopes of combating negative stereotypes. Think of it as a colorful, athletic celebration of what tattoos actually are: art on people’s bodies.
Keuhen says they want to reclaim all the things in popular culture that booze companies have hijacked for profit. I can’t argue with the guy. Everywhere you go in this country, alcohol is staring you in the face. And as Keuhen told me, “For someone in recovery, that person becomes segregated in their own community. Their home is like a jail cell because everything outside their four walls is trying to sell them alcohol and make a profit. So, much like in other countries where they create preserves for animals, we’re trying to do that in this country [for people in recovery]. No matter how much Stoli throws at us, we’re trying to keep alcohol away form our events.”
Happy Hour Reinvented
Although there is not an official “bar” yet, it’s in the works and is already generating buzz and a following. Kyle Keuhen and his crew found a café in town willing to share its space. Starting in November, when the café closes on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, Sober Bar will open (from 9 pm until 3 am Fridays and Saturdays, and then from 4 pm to midnight on Sundays). On prime weekend nights, no one under the influence will be allowed entry between 9 pm and 2 am—but at 2 am, anyone who has been drinking is invited in to sober up, then take an Uber home. There will also be the opportunity for patrons to fill out applications if they want help or information on getting help. While I personally question whether anyone who’s leaving a bar drunk then stumbling into an establishment with the lights on is looking for anything other than greasy food, the group sees a bigger picture. According to Kuehn, “The goal is just starting the process of people seeing that they need change earlier, and to try and prevent drunk driving and get a preventative arm in the night life. We think that’s really going to be effective. Drunk driving is really bad out here. [We’re] getting to people before they’ve gone to prison and burnt bridges—just one day earlier is all it takes.”
Taking Care of Their Own
Right now Sober Bars employs a couple of guys also in recovery. Tom—who was coming up on eight months of sobriety when I spoke to Kyle—does social marketing and strategy. Jeremy, who has four years, does website design and logo work. Providing jobs for people who face employment barriers due to incarceration is a long-term goal of Sober Bars. Hiring preference will be given to those who have struggled with addiction. As Kuehn says, “That’s our demo—if someone comes in with symptoms, I want staff to realize and diagnose and be able to help.”
Follow Sober Bars on Instagram (that’s how I found them) or search the hash tag #letschangeculture—a motto they’re certainly living up to.
Photo provided by Kyle Kuehn; used with permission.
Sponsored DISCLAIMER: This is a paid advertisement for California Behavioral Health, LLC, a CA licensed substance abuse treatment provider and not a service provided by The Fix. Calls to this number are answered by CBH, free and without obligation to the consumer. No one who answers the call receives a fee based upon the consumer’s choice to enter treatment. For additional info on other treatment providers and options visit www.samhsa.gov.
