Our Story

The Drunken Laboratory began as an after-school program introducing disadvantaged students to the incredible world of science. After quitting her job as a patient coordinator, our founder, Cautney Nelson, started a nonprofit called Millennial Scnce in March of 2019. Millennial Scnce allowed Nelson to teach and inspire underprivileged students through interactive, STEM-focused programming. As she soon discovered, both children and adults loved the fun curricula she curated, which made her wonder how could she continue to engage this older crowd of science lovers in an innovative way.

Thus, in October of 2019, “Sicnce & Sip” was born: Nelson created an immersive experience, in which adults could conduct outlandish science experiments, while sipping delicious drinks with their friends. The project evolved into “The Drunken Laboratory,” catching guests’ attention on Groupon and selling out in just two weeks without a set location, any reviews, or even a social media presence. One thing was clear: Guests craved a new, exciting way to engage with science, and The Drunken Lab’s delicious cocktails, thrilling games, immersive environment, interactive experiments, and live DJ did the trick.

The Drunken Laboratory soon averaged over 1,500 views daily on its freshly made website and became one of Groupon’s most viewed experiences in all of NYC. After many successful sessions, in March of 2020, The Drunken Laboratory took to Boston as a temporary installation and sold out all four sessions in a matter of days. Currently, The Drunken Laboratory is preparing to expand to Atlanta, GA for their second brick-and-mortar location in Fall 2025.

Nelson says “The simple goal of The Drunken Laboratory is to bring people together through science; and that will continue to be its main focus, as we continue to grow and reach more people.”