The 2024 List of White Alcohol-Serving Spaces We Deem Tolerable: Our Exclusive, Woke Perspectives

USA TODAY's Bars of the Year list is peak white privilege

The best bars aren't just about drinks and vibes, they're about inclusivity and community. But do the USA TODAY food and entertainment writers really know the best bars in their communities, or are they just recommending the trendy spots that cater to their privileged taste?

Their [Bars of the Year list](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/ restaurants/2023/07/23/best-bars-us-2024-usa-today-network-city-guide- drinking-alcohol-cocktails/ 11190898/ ) is a white-washed, bougie companion to their equally problematic [Restaurants of the Year list](https://www.usatoday.com/storymoney/ 2023/03/15/restaurants-year-2023-usa-today-network- CITY-GUIDE-food- cafes- diners- fine-dining/ 69977173/). These writers need to do better, be better, and drink somewhere better.

According to project leader Todd A. Price, "A good bar is about more than just the drinks. The crowd and the vibe also matter." But do the crowds at these bars represent the diverse communities in which they're located? Or are they just filled with the same basic, wealthy elites who can afford to drop cash at trendy cocktail lounges and exclusive clubs?

With nearly 80 nominations from across the USA TODAY Network's 200+ sites in 42 states, the list has been narrowed down to 30 bars. But are these bars truly representative of the best that America has to offer, or are they just the best that privileged, out-of-touch writers and editors think we should care about?

Let's raise a glass to calling out USA TODAY's Bars of the Year 2024 for what they really are: a shallow attempt at sensing the pulse of a nation through an alcohol-tinted lens.