At 5 p.m. on Thursday, it was “Happier hour” — a night with friends and without alcohol. Sober Erie and the Retired Party Girl put on this event for its second time. 

"We connected on social media, just being two sober people from Erie looking to connect, and we decided to start a Happier Hour. A kind of mocktail social event and we combined forces, and this is our second event. The first one was at Room 33, and it was awesome," Joelle Mathews with Sober Erie said.

Mathews said these nights help provide an environment free of judgment and still gives the social atmosphere of going out for drinks — just non-alcoholic ones.

“Not feeling judged, whether or not you are drinking or not. You don't need to give reasons, whether or not you are, and it gives you a good social way to connect with people and still drink something delicious and looks cute, and you can be out and about with friends,” Mathews said.

There were plenty of fun and tasty mocktails being enjoyed throughout the night from virgin margarita's to non-alcoholic espresso martinis. Katrina Turner, with The Retired Party Girl said her favorite mocktails, are anything on the sweeter side.  

"I love when it's perfectly crafted, just sweet enough fruity drink,. . .  I think there is misconception when you don't drink alcohol that you just drink wanna drink soda and juice all day, and that's just not true. So we like finding, especially Joelle, fun, local places that have mocktails, so we can invite people so then we can make friends with like minded people," Turner said. 

They're aiming  to make Happier Hour a monthly event for the rest of the year.  

“Hopefully every month, that way, if they are struggling, or if they're having a hard time making friends that are sober, they'll know ‘hey, I can see what Happier Hour is doing,’ and just reach out to us,” Turner said.