FAQs
General
What is Raising The Bar?
Raising the Bar is a monthly subscription box for anyone interested in discovering alcohol-free beverages, for any reason. Newly sober? Cutting back? Pregnant? Taking a break? Hosting? Curious about zero-proof cocktails? Whatever brings you here, we’re here to help you discover delicious, creative, and innovative alcohol-free options.
Why was Raising The Bar created?
Driven by the rise of innovative alcohol-free brands and the growing sober-curious movement, our Founder and CEO, Abbie Romanul, launched Raising the Bar to make zero-proof cocktails more approachable, exciting, and fun. Our goal is to help you build an alcohol-free home bar experience with standout products, thoughtful recipes, and a little bit of monthly discovery.
How does it work?
Each month, we curate a themed zero-proof cocktail kit with everything you need to make elevated alcohol-free drinks at home. Inside, you’ll typically find two unique recipe options that make at least 10 drinks, a standout ready-to-drink feature, and a playlist to set the vibe. On our Box Recipes page, we also share creative ways to use your ingredients for even more beverage options.
Monthly subscription boxes ship in a bulk shipment around the 10th of each month, with delivery timing depending on your location and carrier. If you sign up between the 11th–24th, your first box typically ships right away. If you sign up between the 25th–10th, your first box ships with the next monthly shipment, typically around the 10th.
Occasionally, as stock levels allow, new members may receive a recent box from a previous month as their first shipment so they can start mixing right away. This is separate from sale products, mystery boxes, past boxes, archive boxes, and discounted bundles, which may have their own product-specific disclosures listed on the product page.
For more information on shipping and processing, please see our Shipping Policy.
How many drinks does each kit make?
Each box makes at least 10 drinks total using the featured recipes. After you’ve tried the included recipes, you may still have leftover ingredients to experiment with, giving you the freedom to mix, garnish, and create your own zero-proof drinks at home.
I need support. Who do I reach out to?
Please contact us here with any questions, comments, or concerns. Our team typically responds within two business days, excluding weekends and holidays.
Subscriptions
Do I have to commit to a monthly membership?
We offer flexible membership options, including 1, 3, 6, and 12-month subscription terms. Subscriptions are pre-paid and automatically renew unless canceled before the next renewal date.
You can cancel at any time before your next renewal date to stop future renewals. Because memberships are pre-paid, canceling does not cancel or refund boxes that have already been paid for. Any remaining boxes on your account will still ship as scheduled.
If an upcoming box isn’t your vibe, you can skip, swap, or pause your shipment. Subscription renewals process on the 1st of the month, so skips, swaps, pauses, address changes, and cancellations must be completed before the 1st to apply to that renewal.
To manage your subscription, log into your account, click “Manage Subscription,” and you’ll see your available options.
For more details, please review our Purchase Options & Cancellation Policy and Returns & Refunds Policy.
Prefer not to commit? We also offer a selection of one-time boxes in our one-time shop.
How do I cancel my subscription?
Subscription renewals process on the 1st of the month. You can cancel any time before your next renewal date to stop future renewals.
Because all memberships are pre-paid, canceling your membership does not cancel or refund boxes that have already been paid for. Any remaining boxes on your account will still ship as scheduled.
To manage your membership, log into your account, click “Manage Subscription,” then scroll to the bottom of your member page and click “Cancel subscription.” Find more information in our subscription policy.
How do I make updates to my account?
To manage your account, log in and click “Manage Subscription.” From there, you can update your credit card, shipping address, skip, swap, pause, or cancel future renewals.
Subscription renewals process on the 1st of the month, so account changes must be completed before the 1st to apply to the upcoming renewal.
Once an order is in the shipping queue or has shipped, we’re unable to modify the order.
For help with your account, please contact us.
When will my subscription ship?
Monthly subscription boxes ship in a bulk shipment around the 10th of each month, with delivery timing depending on your location and carrier.
If you sign up between the 11th–24th, your first box typically ships right away. If you sign up between the 25th–10th, your first box ships with the next monthly shipment, typically around the 10th.
Can I skip, swap, or pause a prepaid subscription box?
Yes, when available, you can skip, swap, or pause an upcoming subscription box before your next renewal or shipment cutoff.
Subscription renewals process on the 1st of the month, so skips, swaps, pauses, address changes, and cancellations must be completed before the 1st to apply to that renewal.
If you skip a prepaid box, your remaining prepaid boxes will move to subsequent months. Skipping does not cancel or refund boxes that have already been paid for.
To manage your subscription, log into your account and click “Manage Subscription.” For more details, please review our Purchase Options & Cancellation Policy.
What happens if I cancel after my renewal processes?
Canceling after your renewal has processed will stop future renewals only. It does not cancel, refund, or stop shipment of boxes that have already been paid for.
Subscriptions are pre-paid and non-refundable. If your subscription has renewed, that box or prepaid subscription term will still ship as scheduled.
To avoid a renewal charge, cancellations must be completed before the 1st of the month. For more details, please review our Purchase Options & Cancellation Policy and Returns & Refunds Policy.
Recipes & Ingredients
What comes in each box?
Every Raising the Bar box is designed to help you shake up elevated, zero-proof cocktails at home. Each month’s box typically includes:
- Premium non-alcoholic spirits, mixers, or ready-to-drink beverages
- Flavorful add-ins like bitters, syrups, garnishes, sodas, or other cocktail ingredients
- Recipes and instructions to create at least 10 zero-proof cocktails total
- Thoughtful extras like curated playlists, tools for your home bar, or seasonal surprises
We collaborate with standout brands, makers, and bottle shops to bring you bold flavors, new discoveries, and a complete cocktail experience, no booze required.
Each box is unique, so you’ll get something fresh and exciting every month. Whether you’re sober, sober-curious, pregnant, taking a break, hosting, or just looking to elevate your evenings, there’s something in our boxes for everyone.
Want to preview the current month’s box? Head to our Subscribe page to see what’s shipping now.
Can I customize my box?
We don’t offer customization for individual boxes, as each box is carefully curated to create a cohesive experience. Think of us more like a curated discovery kit than a bottle shop. We select products that work together to offer something fresh, exciting, and balanced in every box.
If an upcoming subscription box isn’t quite your vibe, you can skip, pause, or swap it before your next renewal. To make changes, log into your account, click “Manage Subscription,” and you’ll see your available options.
Please note that subscription renewals process on the 1st of the month, so skips, swaps, pauses, address changes, and cancellations must be completed before the 1st to apply to that renewal.
For more details, please review our Purchase Options & Cancellation Policy.
Where can I find the recipes for the boxes?
Each month, we create several unique recipes using the ingredients provided in the box. To access the recipes, scan the QR code on the recipe card included in your box or visit our Box Recipes page.
What does zero-proof or non-alcoholic mean?
Zero-proof and non-alcoholic are commonly used to describe beverages made without traditional alcoholic spirits. In the U.S., non-alcoholic beverages may contain up to 0.5% ABV. Many products included in Raising the Bar boxes are 0.0%, while some may contain trace amounts of alcohol up to 0.5% ABV.
Choosing whether to consume products with trace alcohol is personal. If avoiding all trace alcohol is important to you, we recommend reviewing individual product labels before consuming.
Are all of the ingredients completely alcohol-free?
Most ingredients included in Raising the Bar boxes are 0.0% alcohol. Some items, such as bitters, kombucha, or dealcoholized beverages, may contain trace amounts of alcohol up to 0.5% ABV.
Products at or below 0.5% ABV are commonly categorized as non-alcoholic beverages. Choosing whether to consume trace-alcohol products is a personal choice, so we recommend reviewing each product label and consulting a healthcare provider if you have questions.
How can I check if a box is safe for me or my dietary needs?
We carefully review each box for major allergens and dietary considerations when information is available, including peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, fish, soy, wheat, sesame, mustard, sulphites, vegan-friendly products, functional ingredients, and grapefruit.
That said, product packaging and manufacturer labels are the source of truth, as ingredients, allergen statements, and manufacturing practices may change by batch. We always recommend reviewing the ingredient list and allergen information on each product before consuming.
Want to learn more about what’s in your box? You can visit the box’s recipe page or blog post for links to each product’s website if you’d like a deeper dive into ingredients or sourcing details. You can also contact us with any questions.
Do your boxes contain caffeine, adaptogens, grapefruit, or functional ingredients?
Some boxes may include ingredients such as caffeine, botanicals, bitters, adaptogens, grapefruit, functional beverages, or other specialty ingredients. Because each box is curated around a different theme, ingredients vary from month to month.
We always recommend reviewing the product packaging, ingredient lists, allergen statements, and manufacturer information before consuming. If you are pregnant, nursing, avoiding certain ingredients, taking medication, have a medical condition, or have any dietary concerns, please consult your healthcare provider before consuming anything you’re unsure about.
If you have questions about a specific box or ingredient, please contact us before your renewal or purchase so we can help point you to available product information.
Are the boxes vegan, gluten-free, allergen-free, or safe for my dietary needs?
Each box is different, and we are not able to guarantee that every box will meet every dietary preference, allergy requirement, or restriction.
We carefully review each box for major allergens and dietary considerations when information is available, including peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, fish, soy, wheat, sesame, mustard, sulphites, vegan-friendly products, functional ingredients, grapefruit, and other common considerations.
That said, product packaging and manufacturer labels are the source of truth, as ingredients, allergen statements, and manufacturing practices may change by batch. Please review the ingredient list and allergen information on each product before consuming.
If you have a severe allergy, medical condition, or strict dietary requirement, we recommend contacting us before your renewal or purchase so we can help point you to available product information.
Are your boxes pregnancy-friendly?
We aim to be thoughtful about pregnancy and nursing considerations, but every person’s needs and medical guidance are different. Some boxes may include ingredients, functional botanicals, bitters, adaptogens, grapefruit, trace-alcohol products, or other items that certain customers may choose to avoid while pregnant or nursing.
Please review product labels carefully and consult your healthcare provider before consuming anything you’re unsure about.
Want to learn more about what’s in your box? You can visit the box’s recipe page or blog post for links to each product’s website. You can also contact us with any questions.
What is the calorie content of the drinks?
Because we create new recipes every month, calorie counts vary from cocktail to cocktail. Nutritional information for most ingredients can be found on the individual product packaging.
Want to learn more about the ingredients featured in a specific box? Visit the box’s recipe page or blog post for more details.
I loved a product I received. Where can I buy more?
We love when you discover a new favorite. First, check our Back Bar to see if we currently have the product in stock. We carry a rotating selection of featured products, past box favorites, and other zero-proof finds.
If we don’t currently have it available, head to the Box Recipes page and find the box the product was featured in. From there, you can “shop the box” and go directly to the brand’s website for more product details or restock options. When available, we’ll also include any partner discount codes or special offers from the brand.
What is the Back Bar?
Our Back Bar is our rotating shop of zero-proof products, past box favorites, and featured finds that may be available outside of a subscription. Inventory changes often, so if you loved something from a box, check the Back Bar first to see if we currently have it in stock.
Sales, Past Boxes & Best-By Dates
What does “best-by” mean?
A best-by date is a manufacturer-provided quality guideline. It tells you when a product is expected to be at its peak freshness, flavor, carbonation, or overall quality. It is not the same as an expiration date or a food safety cutoff.
According to USDA guidance, product dates are generally about quality, not safety, except when used on infant formula. For shelf-stable beverages, mixers, syrups, garnishes, and pantry items, quality may gradually change over time, but a product is not considered unsafe solely because the best-by date has passed.
Do you sell products that are near or past the best-by date?
Sometimes. Certain sale products, backbar, mystery boxes, past boxes, archive boxes, or discounted bundles may include items that are near or past the manufacturer’s best-by date. When that applies, we note it on the product listing so you can review the details before purchasing.
This is not the standard experience for our current monthly subscription boxes. Best-by date disclosures are most common with past boxes, mystery boxes, sale items, and discounted archive inventory.
Why would RTB offer products near or past a best-by date?
Many shelf-stable products are still enjoyable after the manufacturer’s best-by date, especially when packaging is intact and the product has been stored properly. Offering these products as part of disclosed sale or archive inventory helps reduce unnecessary product waste and gives customers a chance to discover products at a lower price.
That said, we understand that some customers prefer not to consume anything near or past a best-by date. If that is your preference, please review the product listing carefully before purchasing sale products, mystery boxes, past boxes, archive boxes, or discounted bundles.
Are sale products, mystery boxes, and past boxes final sale?
Yes. All sale products, mystery products, past boxes, archive boxes, discounted bundles, gift cards, and RTB merchandise are final sale. These products are not eligible for cancellation, return, refund, exchange, store credit, or replacement, except where required by law or in cases where an item arrives damaged, is missing from the order, or the wrong item was sent.
Please review the full product listing before purchasing. Product-specific details, including best-by date notes, box contents, and shipping timelines, will be included on the product page when applicable.
What should I do if I receive an item that looks damaged or spoiled?
Please do not consume any product if the packaging is damaged, leaking, swollen, has an off smell, or otherwise appears compromised. Contact us within 48 hours of delivery with your order number and clear photos of the item, packaging, and shipping box so we can review and help.
Are Back Bar items final sale?
Some Back Bar items may be final sale, especially sale products, discounted products, limited inventory, past box items, archive items, or products with best-by date disclosures.
Please review each product listing carefully before purchasing. Product-specific details, including final sale terms, best-by date notes, product condition, box contents, and shipping timelines, will be included on the product page when applicable.
For more details, please review our Returns & Refunds Policy.
Will current monthly subscription boxes include past-best-by items?
Current monthly subscription boxes are separate from sale products, mystery boxes, past boxes, archive boxes, and discounted bundles. Best-by date disclosures are most common with those sale, mystery, past box, archive, and discounted products.
If a product includes items that are near or past the manufacturer’s best-by date, that information will be noted on the product listing when applicable so customers can review the details before purchasing.
A best-by date is not an expiration date. It is a manufacturer-provided quality guideline for when a product is expected to be at peak freshness, flavor, carbonation, or overall quality.
Gifting
Can I send a gift from Raising the Bar?
Yes. We offer several gifting options, including digital gift cards, prepaid single products, and prepaid subscription memberships.
You can shop gift cards, send a prepaid subscription, or gift select one-time products. When sending a gift, you’ll be guided through the available delivery options, which may include sending the gift by email, sharing a gift link, downloading a printable gift, or shipping the item directly when “Ship now” is available for eligible one-time gift products.
Do gift orders ship right away?
It depends on the gift type and delivery option selected.
Gift subscriptions and most gifted products must be activated by the recipient before boxes ship. The recipient will use their gift link to set up their account, confirm their shipping details, and redeem the gift.
For eligible one-time gift products, “Ship now” may be available if you want the product shipped directly without recipient activation.
Please review the gift checkout options carefully before completing your purchase.
Can I choose when a gift is delivered or redeemed?
It depends on the gift type and delivery option selected.
Depending on the product, you may be able to send the gift by email, share a gift link, download a printable gift, or select “Ship now” for eligible one-time gift products.
Gift subscriptions and most gifted products must be activated by the recipient before boxes ship. The recipient will use their gift link to set up their account, confirm shipping details, and redeem the gift.
Please review the gift checkout options carefully before completing your purchase.
Does the gift recipient need to enter a credit card?
For prepaid gift subscriptions and one-time boxes that are not shipped immediately, the recipient may need to add a payment method when redeeming the gift so they can activate and manage the subscription through their own account.
The recipient will not be charged during the prepaid gift period unless they add additional items, upgrade, or choose to continue the subscription after the gifted period ends.
Gift purchases do not auto-renew on the sender’s end. If the recipient chooses to continue after the gifted period, they can manage or cancel future renewals through their own account before the next renewal date.
For more details, please review our Purchase Options & Cancellation Policy.
I sent a gift to someone. How can I check the status of the delivery?
Once a gift is redeemed, the recipient will have access to their own account and will receive their own tracking emails.
If the gift has not shipped yet, the recipient may still need to activate or redeem the gift through the link they received. If you or the recipient need help locating the gift link or checking the status, please contact us.
Will my gift membership automatically renew?
Gift purchases do not auto-renew on the sender’s end.
Prepaid gift subscriptions are designed to end after the final prepaid shipment. If the recipient chooses to continue the subscription after the gifted period, they may manage or cancel future renewals through their own account before the next renewal date.
For more details, please review our Purchase Options & Cancellation Policy.
Can the gift recipient skip, swap, pause, or manage their gift subscription?
Yes. Once the recipient redeems the gift and creates their account, they can manage their subscription options, including available skips, swaps, pauses, address updates, and account details.
Any changes must be made before the applicable renewal or shipment cutoff to apply to the upcoming box.
I’m interested in a group gift or corporate order.
For group gifts, corporate gifting, or events, please visit our Group & Corporate Events section below. If you’re ready to share details, you can submit our inquiry form. If you’re still figuring out your quantity, timeline, budget, or customization needs, you can contact us and we’ll help point you in the right direction.
Orders & Shipping
Can I get a refund or return my order?
Due to the nature of our products, refunds, returns, and exchanges are not offered except where required by law or expressly approved by us.
Subscriptions are pre-paid and non-refundable. Canceling a subscription stops future renewals only; any boxes already paid for will still ship as scheduled.
All sale products, mystery products, past boxes, archive boxes, discounted bundles, gift cards, and RTB merchandise are final sale.
Find more details in our Returns & Refunds Policy.
If your order arrives damaged, is missing an item, or includes the wrong item, please contact us within 48 hours of delivery so we can review and help.
Where does RTB ship?
We currently ship to the United States, United States territories, and APO/FPO boxes.
If international shipping becomes available for select products, additional duties, taxes, customs fees, and import charges may apply and are the responsibility of the customer.
When will my product ship?
Monthly subscription boxes ship in a bulk shipment around the 10th of each month, with delivery timing depending on your location and carrier.
If you sign up between the 11th–24th, your first box typically ships right away. If you sign up between the 25th–10th, your first box ships with the next monthly shipment, typically around the 10th.
One-time orders typically ship within 1–2 business days, unless a different timeline is listed on the product page. Pre-sale items, sale products, mystery products, past boxes, archive boxes, and discounted bundles may have product-specific shipping timelines listed on the applicable product page.
Once an order is in the shipping queue or has shipped, we’re unable to modify the order.
How will I know when my box is on its way?
You’ll receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking details once your order leaves our warehouse. Please allow up to 24 hours for tracking to update after the label is created.
If you have questions about tracking or delivery, please contact us.
Which box will I receive?
Your first subscription box is shown on our Subscribe page. In most cases, it corresponds to the current box available when you subscribe.
Occasionally, as stock levels allow, new members may receive a recent box from a previous month as their first shipment so they can start mixing right away. This is separate from sale products, mystery boxes, past boxes, archive boxes, and discounted bundles, which may have their own product-specific disclosures listed on the product page.
If you have questions about which box you’ll receive, please contact us before placing your order or before your next renewal.
My box arrived damaged, missing an item, or included the wrong item. Can I get a replacement?
Please inspect your order upon delivery and contact us within 48 hours if an item arrives damaged, is missing, or is incorrect.
To help us review and resolve the issue quickly, please include your order number and clear photos of the item(s), packaging, and shipping box, if applicable.
In the rare event an item is damaged during transit or an order error occurs, we’ll review the issue and, when applicable, arrange a replacement, store credit, refund, or other resolution at our discretion.
Can I change my shipping address after I place an order?
If your order has not entered the shipping queue yet, we may be able to update the shipping address before fulfillment. Please contact us as soon as possible if you need to request an address change.
Once an order is in the shipping queue, has been packed, or has shipped, we’re unable to modify the shipping address. Customers are responsible for entering the correct shipping information at checkout and keeping subscription shipping details up to date before renewal.
For subscription orders, address changes must be completed before the 1st of the month to apply to the upcoming renewal. For more details, please review our Shipping Policy.
What happens if my package is marked delivered but I can’t find it?
If tracking shows your package was delivered but you can’t locate it, we recommend checking around your delivery area, mailbox, mailroom, front desk, parcel locker, or with neighbors who may have received it by mistake.
Packages marked as delivered by the carrier are not considered lost in transit, and Raising the Bar is not responsible for missing or stolen packages after delivery confirmation. We recommend shipping to a secure location and monitoring tracking updates closely.
If you still need help reviewing the tracking information, please contact us and we’ll do our best to point you in the right direction. For more details, please review our Shipping Policy.
Can I combine shipping for multiple orders?
We do our best to keep fulfillment efficient, but we cannot guarantee that multiple orders can be combined. Subscription boxes, one-time shop orders, merch, gifts, pre-sale items, and sale products may process separately and may ship on different timelines.
Once an order is in the shipping queue, has been packed, or has shipped, we’re unable to combine it with another order or modify the shipment. For more details, please review our Shipping Policy.
Group & Corporate Events
Does RTB coordinate corporate gifts, group orders, or events?
Yes. We love helping teams, clients, communities, and event hosts create memorable zero-proof experiences.
We can support a range of group and corporate needs, including:
- Corporate gifting
- Client gifts
- Employee appreciation gifts
- Event boxes
- Direct-to-recipient shipping
- Custom branding
- Bar tools and add-ons
- Custom recipes
- Hosted happy hours or mixology experiences
- Curated zero-proof drink packages
For products currently in our inventory, there is no minimum order. For fully customized boxes, we typically require a minimum order of 40 boxes.
If you’re ready to share details, please submit our inquiry form with your estimated quantity, timeline, shipping needs, budget, customization requests, and whether you need boxes shipped to one location or directly to individual recipients.
If you’re still gathering details or aren’t sure what you need yet, contact us and we’ll help point you in the right direction.
Raising the Bar Merch
How long does it take to get my RTB merch?
When you order Raising the Bar merch, each item is made to order just for you.
Merchandise processing time is typically 3–8 business days, or 7–10 business days during peak months, including November and December. Once your order has been processed, delivery typically takes 2–8 business days depending on your location and carrier.
RTB merch ships separately from other items in your order, so you may receive multiple tracking emails if your order includes both merch and non-merch items.
All merchandise sales are final. Please review size charts and product details carefully before ordering. If an item arrives defective or damaged during transit, please contact us so we can review and help.
Can I return or exchange RTB merch?
All RTB merchandise is made to order, so merch sales are final and are not eligible for return, exchange, refund, or store credit.
If your merch arrives defective or damaged during transit, please contact us with your order number and clear photos of the item and packaging so we can review and help.