While many in the crowd stuck to beer as they mingled at last week’s Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championships, others chose to sip on something a little bit different–one of five varieties of mocktails.
Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving served up their alcohol-free concoctions for the second time at this year’s tournament, setting up bar on Tuesday night and remaining open every night through Saturday.
Once again, the goal was to promote a tasty alternative to the perennial beer tent. And this time around, the crowd was even more responsive to trying out the beverages, according to OSAID co-president Madonna Ring.
“We raised about $500 more than last year,” Ring said. “The total came to $1500 after expenses.”
Ring attributes this success to OSAID’s increased visibility at the bass tournament. “We’re more established this year. People know we’re here and they’re looking for us more,” she noted.
Business was best at the Mocktail bar Tuesday night because of the Much Music dance, Ring said, but it remained fairly steady every night for the rest of the week. Drinks averaged at about $2.50 each.
Ring added that while most mocktail customers were kids and teenagers, quite a few adults also gave the fruity beverages a try.
Organizers added new drinks, including one called “designated driver’s delight,” a mixture of fruit juices and ice cream. Like last year, they also sold “Bass Busters”, which, although the recipe is a secret, taste much better than they sound, Ring insisted.
But the most popular mocktail remained the strawberry Daiquiri, Ring said.
“People really stuck to what they knew,” she reasoned.
All proceeds of the Mocktail bar will go towards sending members of OSAID to conferences “to bring back ideas on how to create more awareness about impaired driving,” RIng noted.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
