It can be awkward for the younger crowd who might want to hang out with friends but don't want to drink. I think it's great to have an alternative so you can still have fun at the bar without drinking. At a bar where we were regulars years ago the bartender would make my wife "fancy water" - it looked like a cocktail, umbrella and all, but was just water and juice. It can make you feel more relaxed if it looks like you "fit in" with the drinkers.
I understand not wanting to drink.
But, if you had a glass of seltzer or a vodka drink, would anyone be able to tell the difference? Or glass of coke vs a rum and coke?
With all the differnt drinks out there, I can't tell just by the can what is and isn't alcoholic. At my sister and brother in laws place, I grabbed a Coors Edge out of the beer fridge and drank it. Never knew Coors Edge was non alcoholic. Never heard of it before.
Maybe I'm just behind the times, lol