By Kaili Cochran 

Non-alcoholic bars have been increasing in popularity. Kava and Company is Jacksonville’s first Kava bar but not its last.  

According to a study by Data Insights Company, NC Solutions, more than 40% of Americans say they are trying to drink less alcohol. Since COVID, there has been a shift from alcohol to the cannabis industry.  

Kava and Company is providing locals with a safer alternative to drinking alcohol. Its benefits not only help your mind and body but also allow you to mellow out without the consequences of becoming drunk or high.  

Maxim is a regular at Kava and Company and although he hasn’t had addictions to alcohol before drinking Kava, he’s noticed the impact it has had on his friends who have.  

“I have noticed that a lot of my friends admit that they either can’t smoke because they know it has a negative effect on them, or they can’t drink because they get hooked on it all the time. I know a few of them have tried to drink, and they have preferred this as an alternative 

and I mean, I’ve had a few of them return,” Maxim said.  

Mike turned to Kava when one of his friends recommended it to him while he was going through some hard times in his life.  

“I was an alcoholic and I used to smoke a lot, I still kind of do but for some fun, special events, stuff like that. But [Kava] keeps me coming back. Like, they still give me that feeling of what I used to drink great smoke for when I used to like drugs when I was younger and stuff like that. But it doesn’t give me that high that a lot of things will give you like kind of like that you wompy feeling like drinking will give you sounds like a cool little balance,” Mike said.  

Ryan L has been a Kavatender for the last few years and has seen the direct benefit it has had on not only sobering people but also bringing people together over shared experiences.  

“I think there’s going to be a new norm of how we go about celebrating or spending time with each other there’s more than just going out and having a drink and just all centering around alcoholic beverages,” Ryan said.  

Instead of regular bar hopping, locals are taking to hopping between Kava and other non-alcoholic bars. They’re going street to street all while still being able to drive and function.