TOKYO -- A new cultural and economic trend called "gekonomics" is spreading in Japan thanks to teetotalers. The term is a play on the word geko, which means someone who does not drink.
More restaurants and bars are serving courses with matching wines and cocktails that are basically alcohol-free. The beverages, which are aimed at the adult palate, are available in department stores. One estimate puts the economic impact of the trend at 300 billion yen ($2.77 billion). That is something everyone in the business can raise a glass to, whatever they are drinking.
