In the time of Coronavirus, Happy Hours have gone Virtual

With bars shuttered and stressed-out workers stuck at home, companies and friend groups across the U.S. are holding happy hours over video chat to commiserate and keep spirits high amid the new coronavirus pandemic. In one community, neighbors are toasting to one another every night from the ends of their driveways to unwind — while keeping a safe distance, of course.

“Let’s be honest, we could all use a break and a drink right now,” said Nick Minerd, who recently took part in a virtual cocktail hour with more than 30 of his home-bound colleagues with Hendersonville, Tennessee-based STR, which provides data and analytics for the hospitality industry.  Video chat happy hours have popped up all over social media as communities have closed bars and restaurants to all but delivery and takeout and banned large gatherings in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Emily Anderson, who runs an organization that connects moms in New York City, was forced to cancel all of her events because of the virus. Now she planning to host weekly video chat happy hours to help moms “celebrate surviving another week of the Coronapocalypse” with a “quarantini.”  “On a good day, a lot of moms feel isolated, particularly new moms … So now, more than ever, moms need one another’s support and camaraderie,” Anderson, founder of Mom Crew, said in an email.  Even book clubs, game nights and support groups are going virtual.

Leave it to the work-hard, play-hard Japanese to already have a name for this: on-nomi, which roughly translates to “drinking online.” Start your tele-drinking session by logging in to your virtual cocktail hour via Skype, Zoom or FaceTime, and share a drink and conversation in front of your screen, minus the threat of infection.

Bartenders around the country are also hosting #VirtualCocktailHour via Zoom every night at 6 pm Eastern. They will teach you how to make a particular cocktail and facilitate the conversation with your fellow online drinkers. Tips can be paid through Zelle and Venmo. And the Whisky Advocate has opened its weekly tastings up to the digital public beginning Friday, March 20 at 3 pm, via Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, #TastewithSpice.

Can’t leave your house to stock up on cocktail makings? Many retailers are now delivering to your door – provided you can show proof of age, of course.  So, set up your Zoom, invite your friends, and get to mixing it up! Cheers!

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Photo Credit:  darkwulf11 / Shutterstock.com