According to the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee, adult beverage servings have decreased by more than 10% since 2020. The latest data from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services also show alcohol-related hospitalizations have dropped by about 7%.
Michael Teeple
NonStop Local Multimedia Journalist
LIVINGSTON, Mont. — Changing drinking habits across the country are raising new questions about what people want from their local bars.
In Livingston, bar owners say they are optimistic about what those changes could mean for their businesses.
The Owl Lounge is under new ownership, and staff are working to determine the next steps for the longtime Livingston business.
Owner Colin Frazer said he sees an opportunity to build on the bar’s history while giving people a place to connect in person.
“I saw an opportunity to build on the legacy of the Owl and continue to create a wonderful third space for people to get off their phones, come in, intermingle with people that they don’t necessarily know or wouldn’t cross paths with in all walks of life, and have a social experience,” Frazer said.
General Manager Tyler Black said the focus is on making the bar a place where people want to stay.
“Just creating a vibe. Being in an atmosphere that you want to sit and stay for a while, not just have a drink and get out,” Black said.
For Frazer and other Livingston business owners, fewer alcoholic drinks being served do not necessarily mean a weaker sense of community. Instead, they see an opportunity for bars to continue evolving as places where people gather and connect.
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