Legal Happenings
Zero-Proof Fun: AU’s Annual Mocktail Competition Draws a Crowd
March 10, 2026
On March 2, American University Washington College of Law's (WCL) nonalcoholic cocktail party proved popular once again, drawing more than 200 students to the annual event in which teams of professors compete to produce the most appealing craft mocktail.
David Jaffe, associate dean of student affairs, says the mocktail competition is intended to support students who may struggle with mental health or substance abuse issues. "The legal profession is a challenging profession, and law school, for many, can be tough," Jaffe says.
"[Substance use] issues may predate law school, and law school itself may have an amplifying effect," Jaffe adds. "Our event reminds students that they can enjoy each other's company, that they can enjoy drinks without alcohol, and … that if they do face challenges with mental health or substance abuse, we and the [D.C. Bar] Lawyer Assistance Program can help them achieve as the most healthy and successful attorneys they can be."
One sponsor, Ritual Zero Proof, provided the nonalcoholic spirits used to craft the beverages produced by the six competing teams. The education software company AppointLink cosponsored the event. The competition's returning judge, Vergie "Gigi" Arandid, owns and operates Binge Bar, the District's first entirely nonalcoholic bar.
Arandid selected two winners this year. Professors Elizabeth Earle Beske, Sylvia Lu, and David Snyder won accolades for their "Cold Collins" — a mixture of orange and pomegranate juice, club soda, and grenadine syrup in multicolor layers reminiscent of a tequila sunrise, garnished with an orange slice. Professors Gustavo Ribeiro and Christine Haight Farley also won for their Issue-Rule-Aperitif-Conclusion, made with blood orange juice, nonalcoholic prosecco wine, and sparkling water, garnished with a slice of blood orange and a sprig of thyme.
Arandid says that when she opened Binge Bar, she hadn't anticipated the amount of lawyer and law student interest in the nonalcoholic movement. She regularly participates in events at American University, George Washington University, and Gallaudet University helping to increase alcohol abuse awareness and promote alcohol alternatives.
Arandid looks for specific elements when judging alcohol-free cocktails. "It isn't just alcohol that can trigger a relapse to alcohol in someone," she says. "Sugar content and caffeine can affect your nervous system and raise your cortisol. I am looking for cocktails that are really well-balanced … low calorie, low sugar, made with ingredients you can find in your own kitchen."
The popular vote went to Professors Ira Robbins and Stephen Wermiel, who offered a beverage they described as a root beer float minus the root beer: equal parts cold brew concentrate and water, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel syrup. The goal, Wermiel says, "is to have fun, and for the students to have fun."
Substance abuse and mental health are ongoing concerns within the legal profession, potentially impacting an attorney's ability to ethically practice. The D.C. Bar Lawyer Assistance Program offers a variety of confidential resources to help attorneys and law students address these issues.
