Hard liquor sales in Washington County fell approximately $5 million between 2021 and 2025, a 4.9% decline, according to Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission data.

Local restaurants and caterers are responding by building out nonalcoholic drink programs that didn't exist a few years ago.

Thirsty Lion, the gastropub chain with a Tanasbourne location in Hillsboro, permanently added five zero-proof cocktails to its menu after a 2025 seasonal trial proved popular enough to stay.

Founder John Plew said the chain slashed its draft beer selection from 52 taps to 24 as customers gravitated toward cocktails over pints.

"We used to carry 52 draft beers, and now we're down to 24 (because) we've seen consumers shift to more cocktails than beer," Plew told the Beaverton Valley Times. "The nonalcoholic line was a really nice round-off option for people (who are) not drinking for their own purpose."

The idea for what may be Washington County's first dedicated nonalcoholic lounge started at a family Easter party.

Michelle Garner made two pitchers of cocktails — one with alcohol, one without. By the end of the gathering, the nonalcoholic pitcher was nearly empty. The alcoholic one was only a quarter gone.

That moment led Jackie and Michelle Garner to open Urban River Spirits Zero-Proof Lounge at 380 E. Main St. in Hillsboro in October 2025.

The couple had previously operated a tasting room in Forest Grove before outgrowing it. Jackie Garner said the lounge draws families with kids ordering mocktails alongside their parents, teenagers during Tuesday night markets, and customers in their late 70s.

Reedville Catering, a Hillsboro-based company that has served events statewide for 36 years, also permanently added signature mocktails to its bar menu. Jessica Gardner, the company's sales and event planner, said requests for mocktails and Italian sodas with specialty syrups picked up over the past year, prompting the company to purchase Portland Syrups for drink customization.

The numbers back up what these business owners are seeing. Statewide, the share of Oregon adults who reported drinking in the past 30 days fell from 57.3% in 2019 to 54.9% in 2024, according to Oregon Health Authority figures.

Oregon's active craft brewery count dropped to 297 in 2025, below 300 for the first time since 2018, per the Brewers Association.

Thirsty Lion's zero-proof menu at its Tanasbourne location and Washington Square location in Tigard includes a Ginger Mint Mule served in a copper mug, a Chocolate Espresso Martini made with Fever-Tree N/A Espresso, an Old Fashioned using zero-proof bourbon, a Passion Fruit No-Jito with Ritual Zero Proof Rum, and a Ritual Margarita. All five are on the permanent menu.