Hey Bartenders...

Elliott Clark and Justin Cross started Earn Your Booze roughly two years ago, from a mantra Clark used to say at the gym. “It was a slogan I'd use to remind myself to maintain balance between my health and my developing job in the spirits industry,” explains Clark. “But it was Justin who really brought the event aspect of who we are as a company to fruition.”

The goal of Earn Your Booze events is to bring people together, to sweat together, in an engaging and fun atmosphere. “Earn Your Booze is catchy, and if bartenders and others in the liquor industry can get the thought ‘Earn Your Booze’ into their mindset, then we believe it will influence their actions and habits for the better,” says Clark.

We spoke with Elliott about this lifechanging movement for bartenders and how we can all learn to earn our booze.

Q: What was the inspiration for your company?

A: For me, the inspiration behind the company came very organically. Earn Your Booze was a saying I’d say over and over again and post on my social channels— and it stuck.

For Justin, he had been working on different ideas to merge the world of fitness and booze together. When we met, we combined inspirations and ideas and it grew from there. It’s been a lot of figuring it out as we go, but I’m really happy how things have progressed, and the impact we’ve had on people in the industry so far.

Q: Why focus on physical and mental wellness of bartenders and people in the industry?

A: As much as I love the industry, it has a dark side—late nights, overaccess to alcohol, addiction. These are

just a few realities prevalent in the industry, and I feel it’s a very important topic to speak about and be a voice of positivity for. I also consider myself to be part of the industry, so it’s also as much of a reminder and pursuit of my own to stay on top of my own well-being, because it’s easy to let bad habits creep in.

Q: What does it mean to “earn your booze”?

A: Earning your booze is intentional time you take to care for your mind or body—any activity, including yoga, hiking, running, CrossFit, martial arts, etc.

Q: What are your goals for Earn Your Booze?

A: We recently brought on our first EYB ambassadors in Phoenix, and are looking to extend that out to other parts of the country. Ultimately, our goal with Earn Your Booze is to expand and inspire as many people as we can to put their health as a priority so they can enjoy more of life’s experiences with family and friends. Whether that’s through our events or educational platforms, we just want to elevate the overall health and wellness of those in the industry.

ELLIOTT CLARK

JUSTIN CROSS