Functional shots for bars: what owners should know before stocking

If you run a bar, club, lounge or event space, a functional shot can be a low-effort add-on, but only if you vet it first. Check the full formula, the claims on the label, and what your staff will say at the bar. Then decide where it sits and how you price it. Here is the checklist we would use ourselves.

Why guests are asking for functional shots

Your guests already have a plan for tomorrow. Some drink water between rounds. Some eat a real dinner first. A growing group wants something small to take before the first drink, and they would rather get it where the night starts than remember it at home.

That is the opening for a venue. A guest who wants a good night and a clear-headed morning will add a small shot to an order without a long conversation. It gives your bartender something friendly to offer, and it gives the guest a ritual. We call ours "the shot before the shots."

It is also a category with no standard name yet. Guests say "pre-drink shot," "recovery shot" or "hangover shot." Your menu language matters, which we get to below.

What to look for in the formula

Not every shot on a distributor sheet is worth a spot behind your bar. Before you stock one, ask for the full formula, not a "proprietary blend." Here is what ours looks like, so you have a reference point.

Pregame has nine ingredients: DHM, NAC, taurine, L-theanine, milk thistle, an electrolyte blend (sodium, potassium, magnesium), B vitamins, vitamin C and ginger. It is plant-based, vegan, sugar-free and gluten-free. Every ingredient and its reason for being there is on the full formula page.

We left 5-HTP out on purpose. It can create unpredictable interactions for people on SSRIs or other serotonergic medications. We wrote up the reasoning in why Pregame doesn't include 5-HTP. If a supplier includes it, ask them why, and ask what their label says about medications.

Our legal counsel has reviewed our claims and formulation. Ask every supplier the same question. Whatever your staff repeats at the bar becomes your venue's claim too.

The words your staff can and cannot say

This is where venues get into trouble, and it is the easiest part to fix. A dietary supplement can use structure and function language. It cannot promise to treat or cure anything.

Say this	Never say this
"It supports liver function, hydration and antioxidant defenses."	"It cures hangovers."
"Nine ingredients. The full formula is on the label."	"You won't get a hangover."
"Take one before you drink."	"Take it so you can drink more."
"Ask your doctor if you take medication."	"It's totally safe with anything."

Keep it to one sentence. Your bartender does not need to explain DHM during a Friday rush. If a guest wants more, point them to the formula page.

We say "supports." We say the ingredient names. Then we stop.

Guest-safety messaging that protects your license

A functional shot is not a license to keep pouring. Pregame is a dietary supplement. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and the product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. It does not replace drinking responsibly.

Three rules for your team:

Never pitch it as a reason to drink more. One shot before you drink. That is the whole move.
Send medication questions to a doctor. Guests taking SSRIs, SNRIs or other medications should check with their doctor before using any supplement, ours included.
Keep your normal service rules. A shot does not change how you cut someone off, check ID or handle a guest who has had enough.

Also check with your state or local alcohol authority and your health department about selling items like this at a licensed premises. Rules vary, and we are not a substitute for that call.

Where it fits and how the numbers work

Placement is a short decision. The common spots are the speed rail or bar top, the door or coat check, a menu add-on line under first-round drinks, and a table at events. We cover these in detail in how to add a pre-drink shot to your bar menu, so we will not repeat the table here.

On economics, keep it simple. Per our venues page, you buy at wholesale and set your own retail price, so the margin stays with your business. The minimum order is 48 shots, which ships as one case, needs no cold storage and ships pre-labeled. Shelf life is two years. Wholesale pricing is quoted through the inquiry form, so retail pricing stays consistent for everyone.

Your guests will compare. The Pregame 6-Pack is $49 on our shop, so price your own shot knowing what a curious guest might see on their phone.

A short vetting checklist before you order

Can I see every ingredient, with amounts?
Is there a Supplement Facts panel and the FDA disclaimer on the label?
Who reviewed the claims?
What does the supplier say about medication interactions?
Does my insurance broker see any issue with retail sales of a supplement?
Do my state or local rules change how I can sell it?

If a supplier stalls on any of these, you have your answer.

Frequently asked questions

Do functional shots replace responsible drinking? No. Pregame supports antioxidant defenses, hydration and liver function. It does not replace drinking responsibly, and your staff should say so plainly if a guest asks.

Can guests on SSRIs or SNRIs take it? Those guests should ask a doctor first. We left 5-HTP out of the formula on purpose because of its interactions with serotonergic medications, but a doctor is still the right person to ask.

How do I get wholesale pricing? Fill out the venue inquiry form. Wholesale terms are by inquiry, and we reply within one business day.

Next step

Want to see if Pregame fits your bar, club or event? Send us your venue type and roughly how many guests you see on a busy night through the venue inquiry form. We reply within one business day, and your call from there.