Drinking Liberally®

Promoting democracy one pint at a time.

What is Drinking Liberally?

An informal, inclusive progressive social group. Raise your spirits while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. You don't need to be a policy expert and this isn't a book club - just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent frustration and hang out in an environment where it's not taboo to talk politics.

Bars are democratic spaces - you talk to strangers, you share booths, you feel the bond of common ground. Bring democratic discourse to your local democratic space - build democracy one drink at a time.

While drinking liberally, always remember to drink responsibly, and make liberal use of designated drivers. Drinking and driving is reckless and irresponsible, like a neocon war or corporatist tax cut. Liberals, don't do it.

Where did Drinking Liberally come from?

It began in New York City in May, 2003, when it felt as though the politicians, press and public were giving conservative cons a free pass. We began as one-part support group and one-part strategy session, playing with slogans and ideas we thought Democrats needed to be saying.

And when we came up with a particularly good slogan, we made buttons.

Occasionally, we bring in group questions, or talking points to back up the buttons. Sometimes our group list shares articles and forwards. But mostly, we keep it non-programmatic and free-flowing and create a space where people learn about each other's ideas, activities and enlarge a circle of progressive friends.

Who is behind all this?

Drinking Liberally is a project of Cosmopolity, an organization which builds progressive communities through social networks and events. Cosmopolity also runs Laughing Liberally, the political comedy tour; Screening Liberally, a series of socially-conscious films; and Reading Liberally, book tours for progressive authors. Cosmopolity is directed by Katrina Baker, David Alpert, Matthew O'Neill and Justin Krebs, and fueled by the volunteer energy of friends and partner."

Justin Krebs and Matthew O'Neill began Drinking Liberally in New York City in May, 2003. Previously, the two had collaborated on Speak Up New York! - a 2002 state-wide youth civic engagement tour that turned into a program for New York state's PBS affiliates. Speak Up won special commendation from the Society of Professional Journalists.

David Alpert is a Director of Cosmopolity and maintains the Drinking Liberally and Cosmopolity Web sites. David also works as a Product Manager for Google and founded IPac, a political action committee defending citizens' rights online.

Katrina Baker is National Organizer for Drinking Liberally. She is a coordinating member of Amnesty International's Women's Human Rights Action Team in New York and works on the NYC Human Rights Initiative. She is involved with national and international youth organizations, is the founder and former host of Eve Outloud, Ithaca's weekly feminist radio show and has been involved with various radio and television documentaries.

Drinking Liberally was made possible by Johnny Dirt, manager of Rudy's Bar and Grill and dabbler in all things, who opened his backyard to a weekly collection of rabble-rousers.

The name Drinking Liberally was conceived by Owen Roth, an excellent guy.

The Drinking Liberally logo and button designs were created by Daniel Greenfeld, a freelance artist and graphic designer living in New York City.