New Web Site Offers Drinks Through E-Mail

April 20, 2007 By Nick Mokey

BuyYourFriendADrink.com allows people to catch up over a cold one... sort of.

The Web has done a lot to connect people who can’t be together. Friends can stay in touch by sending each other e-mail messages, photos, video, and now, the opportunity to imbibe. BuyYourFriendADrink.com is an online service that allows people to buy each other alcoholic drinks through the Internet, which launched Friday in New York City.

The beverages can be redeemed at a network of 46 bars in and outside the city, but the process is a little more involved than the traditional method of slapping a $10 bill on the bar. The giver must log in to BuyYourFriendADrink.com, fill out a gift form that includes a personalized message, and send it. On the other end, the drink recipient receives an e-mail and text message with a redemption code, reads the digits to a bartender at a participating bar, and receives their booze.

We’re guessing you had better start this process at the beginning of your night.

“BuyYourFriendADrink.com creates the emotional connection of buying someone a drink when you can’t be there in person,” said Steven Cohn, founder and CEO of BuyYourFriendADrink.com, in a press release.

Showing 6 comments

zboone at 11:22am 26th April 2007 not quite sure what to make of this. i think it's a really interesting concept that could either crash and burn or become the next big thing. however, as a bartender in a high volume establishment, i'm thinking it would be a pain in the ass to have to deal with these drink codes. i have a hard enough time with people yelling their last names for tabs...can't imagine trying to decipher a code on a saturday night.
sandy at 6:03am 23rd April 2007 As a bar owner in Pennsylvania, I would love to become a participant in this network. I think all that is needed for this to take off, is for the word to get out. It sounds like the perfect gift idea for occasions such as birthdays, bachelor parties or nights where "congratulations" are in order.
Will at 7:13pm 21st April 2007 Pointless...defeats the purpose of physically buying someone a drink and have a good time pounding a few 'together'...look, the person you bought the drink for, won't even remember the next day whether or not you were there...they might even be too drunk to repeat the 'code' back...let alone, the bar may be pretty loud..."what was that? 'G' or 'P', huh?? what was that again???"
Ben at 5:26pm 21st April 2007 This service rocks. I was sent $20.00 from someone and it was smooth sailing from there...great idea for a birthday present.
Barry at 3:37pm 21st April 2007 ya, you can only do it when you are sober!
Ian Bell and Dan Gaul at 3:37pm 21st April 2007 Sounds too complicated for a drink!