Why We’re Here
We, the undersigned tattoo professionals and concerned members of the San Marcos tattoo community, are urging local venues to reconsider the hosting of events like “Tattoo & Sip”—a rapidly expanding business model that poses cultural, ethical, and health-related concerns for the tattoo industry and the public alike.

 
Marketed as Fun. Built for Profit.
Though these events are often presented as fun, unique social gatherings and quirky date nights, they’re effectively crash courses in tattooing led by individuals with unknown credentials. In many cases, they involve:

*Alcohol consumption
*Real tattoo machines and needles in high-risk environments with untrained individuals
*No oversight by licensed professionals
*No health, safety, or sanitation protocols aligned with industry norms

Even when no human skin is tattooed, these events blur the line between licensed tattooing and amateur demonstration. They foster a false sense of accessibility to a complex, deeply skilled trade—and that’s where real harm begins.

There is also no way to prevent accidental needle sticks or actual skin tattooing in these environments, as the number of attendees often outnumbers that of the instructor.

 
The Bigger Trend
Events like “Tattoo & Sip,” “Ink and Drink,” and “Tattoo and Booze” have been gaining popularity across the country in recent years. They follow a pattern: start small, rent local venues in different cities, then expand based on where the model gains traction.

These events are often not led by professional tattooers, nor do they reflect the values or training standards of the tattoo community in the towns they enter.

This isn’t about community—it’s about profit-driven expansion.

 
The Business Model: Spread Fast, Cash In
The company behind San Marcos’s “Tattoo & Sip” is No Regrets Tattoo Experience, which launched in January 2025. According to public Instagram activity, their tattoo equipment was acquired just a month prior, in December 2024.

Their timeline so far:

January: Flyers advertising a “tattoo workshop” with BYOB go public; first event held at an art gallery in Austin
February: Second event held at a coffee shop in San Antonio
(Over a dozen events have been held in San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas between February and April)
March: First San Marcos event hosted in a local coffee shop
April: Second San Marcos event announced in the same location

The business is listed under Christian McNeil, whose name appears on the LLC of a connected entity, Twin Reapers Tattoo Company. To date, there is no public evidence verifying McNeil’s experience, training, or professional background in tattooing.

This rollout mirrors a trend seen with other “ink and drink”style businesses across the U.S. Its all quick expansion with minimal transparency.

 
What We’re Asking For
We ask that:

*Local venues and businesses refrain from hosting future Tattoo & Sip-style events due to the potential risk they present to our community—physically, ethically, and culturally
*The upcoming “Tattoo & Sip” event in San Marcos be canceled
*The City of San Marcos prohibit all future unlicensed tattoo training events, ensuring that any tattoo-related instruction meets appropriate health, safety, and professional standards
 
Why It Matters
Tattooing isn’t just art. It’s a discipline rooted in history, trust, and technique. These events may seem benign at a glance, but they reflect a broader cultural shift—one that devalues the work of trained artists, sidesteps health and safety practices, and treats tattooing as a gimmick instead of the sacred, skill-based work it is.

San Marcos deserves better than to be part of this trend.
We may not be able to stop these events everywhere—but we can stop them here.

Sign your name to show your support for ethical tattooing, public safety, and the artists who uphold these values every day.

Thank you for joining us!