When former flight attendants Annie Fees, 24, and Tyra Combs, 23, met on a flight to Frankfurt, they had never imagined they’d eventually run a rapidly growing mobile bartending business in Tucson.

But months later, that chance connection turned into The Social Spritz – a mocktail led bartending service expanding from Charlotte to Tucson.

Fees launched the original concept of the business in North Carolina, crafting elevated zero proof cocktails for private events. When Combs moved to Tucson, the two took it as an opportunity to expand the business into a whole new market.

“I’d been flying constantly and just caught up in that lifestyle,” Combs said. “I wanted to feel good again, mentally and physically. When I started experimenting with mocktails at home, I realized Tucson really needed something like this.”

Even before launching in the Southwest, the two noticed a pattern. People wanted nonalcoholic alternatives, but the options just weren’t good enough.

“We noticed that people were really into wellness and private events, but the only non-alcoholic options were ready-to-drink cans,” Fees said. “Nothing elevated.”

The gap between interest and quality became the foundation of The Social Spritz.

People in Tucson confirmed the interest almost immediately for Combs.

“People would message me saying they wanted to go out but didn’t want to drink,” she said. “That’s when I knew there was a gap here.”

Different from traditional bartending services, The Social Spritz is tailored to focusing on crafting zero proof drinks, with the same mixology detail given to cocktails elsewhere.

“A big part of it is treating mocktails like real craft cocktails,” Fees said. “Garnishing them well, putting them in nice glassware. It elevates the moment.”

Combs said that the goal is to make the experience fun, not restrictive.

“I didn’t want sobriety to feel like this serious, heavy thing,” she said. “It can still be playful. It can still be something you celebrate.”

The women work to customize the menus for each event, adjusting flavors, style and branding to fit all types of events. Whether it’s corporate gatherings, wellness retreats, or boutique openings, everything is tailored to fit the vibe.

“In Charlotte we work strictly for private events,” Fees said. “We tailor the menu and setup to match the brand or venue we’re working with.”

When Fees first launched The Social Spritz, she was unsure how clients would react. Instead, the business soon became busier than anticipated. 

“I wasn’t sure it would take off,” she said. “I was surprised by how quickly people responded and how needed the service was.”

Combs saw the same momentum in Tucson.

“There’s so much potential here,” she said. “People want to socialize, they want connection — and they still want something special in their glass.”

One of the biggest challenges is teaching customers that mocktails aren’t a concept “less than” their alcoholic counterparts particularly when it comes to cost; mocktails often cost more to produce.

“Our drinks use the best ingredients,” Fees said. “Fresh lime juice, real botanicals — honestly, they cost more to make than most alcoholic cocktails. But people still tend to value alcoholic drinks more.”

Changing that perception, she said, is part of the long-term strategy.

Combs runs the Tucson operation while Fees oversees Charlotte, and the women say they are getting requests to bring the concept to other cities. 

“We get comments all the time saying, ‘We need this in our city’,” Fees said. “So expanding into more states is definitely the goal.”

Despite interest in brick and mortar space, both Combs and Fees say the mobile model is what makes The Social Spritz scalable.

“It really is a mobile bartending company at its core,” Fees said. “That’s the space we want to stay in.”

For Combs, being part of that growth at just 23 had been meaningful.

“We’re building something that feels special,” she said. “It’s about creating an experience. That’s what people come back for.”

Combs manages all local inquiries for Tucsonans interested in scheduling The Social Spritz for a private event. You can get additional information through the Instagram @thesocialspritz.co or their website, thesocialspritz.co.

About The Social Spritz:

Founded: 2023
Founders: Tyra Combs & Annie Fees
Locations: Tucson and Charlotte, North Carolina
What They Do: A mobile mocktail bartending brand offering alcohol-free pop-ups, private events, curated brand collaborations, and elevated zero-proof beverage experiences.
Follow: @thesocialspritz.co  on Instagram

Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.