— Working draft —
Contribute a Perspective
Share an observation from service, tasting, writing, or making—what Mensal clarifies, where it fails, and what you think belongs in the definition. Name and email are optional, so you can contribute anonymously. Choose how your contribution may be quoted publicly in the form.
Privacy: Aaron Oliver Alt is the data controller. He uses your submission to review contributions (legitimate interest); your quotation choice is the consent basis for any public quote. Hosting, email, Jetpack, and Akismet providers handle data as needed to run the form and screen spam. To exercise your rights, contact mensal@rafinade.com. Read the full privacy notice.
— How to contribute —
Offer a perspective that sharpens the definition
Mensal is a working category, not a brand and not a certification. Your contribution can be a short argument, a practical observation from service, or a useful example—anything that helps clarify how drinks participate in a meal.
Write from experience
Notes from the dining room, the cellar, the lab, or the kitchen are welcome—especially specifics about what changed on the plate when the drink entered the rhythm of the meal.
Use clear terms
Define what you mean (structure, service rhythm, pairing function). Precision matters more than consensus; we’re building shared language, not a position statement.
Bring examples, not pitches
Reference any type—wine, tea, beer, botanical infusions, fermented drinks, emerging formats. No beverage qualifies automatically, and Mensal is not a synonym for non-alcoholic.
Challenge the edges
Disagree thoughtfully. Point out contradictions, missing cases, and unhelpful assumptions—so the definition can evolve through scrutiny rather than branding.
— Practical notes —
A few questions, plainly answered
Mensal is a working category, so some details remain open. Here are the basics on how contributions are used, what we mean by “Mensal,” and what happens next.
Where do submissions go—and who sees them?
Your perspective is reviewed by the Mensal editorial stewards and may help refine the public definition and charter. Any public quotation follows the preference you select in the form.
Who is Mensal for—can anyone contribute?
Anyone who thinks seriously about drinks at the table is welcome: chefs, servers, sommeliers, producers, writers, and attentive diners. First-hand experience matters more than credentials.
Is Mensal a brand, a trademark, or a certification?
No. Mensal is an open, collaborative category concept—not owned by any company, not a label you can “carry,” and not a certification scheme. It’s vocabulary, intended for shared use and critique.
Is Mensal just another way to say non-alcoholic?
No. Alcohol content is not the defining line. A drink is Mensal when its function is gastronomic—built to participate in the meal, across repeated sips, shaping how food is perceived.
Can I share an idea without publishing my name?
Yes. Leave your name and email blank to contribute anonymously. In the form, choose whether your contribution may be quoted publicly: not at all, anonymously, or with your name.
Can I revise or withdraw a submission later?
Yes. Contact us with the email you used and what you’d like changed. Providing an email helps us locate the contribution; we can update, anonymize, or remove it from future use where feasible.