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Shwinkers is a social network for drinkers launched in September, 2011, operated and privately owned by Shwinkers, Inc. It is a drinking club, but with a digital twist. Taking advantage of trends in geolocation, mobile computing and local socialization. Users may create personal profiles, add other users, known as "Shwinking Buddies" and exchange messages. Shwinkers is a closed, private, niche network that caters exclusively to the cocktail community and doesn't broadcast its members' actions across the expanding social landscape. Users must join the club before becoming Shwinkers and gain access to the network. Shwinkers must be 21 to be considered for membership. The name "Shwinkers" stems from a "mash-up" of the words social and drinkers.
The company was founded by Hollywood Screenwriters Patrick J. Clifton and Beth Rigazio (Raising Helen, Go Figure), and startup entrepreneur Brian Meckler; long-time friends. The entire Shwinkers solution consists of: a desktop website for end users, a desktop website for bar and club owners, and a mobile application for end users (iPhone, Android and iPads).
Here’s how it works: A User, at home or on the road, wants to have a drink, but not necessarily alone. The Shwinker, then, launches the app and finds a list of nearby "Shwinking Joints" prioritized by the numbers of Shwinkers present. Then, User could decide if they wanted to join the old friends or make new ones. Additionally, if they elected to be notified, Users get exclusive, real-time “Drink Alerts” delivered to their smartphones.
Shwinkers seeks to spread “cheer” one Shwinker at a time. When two Shwinkers meet, they bump phones together creating an electronic toast and a “Cheers” is registered on their global Cheers counter. The Shwinker with the most “cheers” spread at that bar at that time becomes the Social Butterfly, reinforcing the idea that Shwinkers wants to bring the “social” back to the social network.