The truth behind Gen Z's return to booze & why they're ditching sober, clean living

Scottish Sun

03-07-2025

We explore why the previously clean living generation are turning to drink
THAT'S THE SPIRIT The truth behind Gen Z's return to booze & why they're ditching sober, clean living
MORE young adults - who were turning their noses up at alcohol - have started drinking according to major research on changing social habits.
Gen Z - people of legal drinking age to 27 years old - had been dubbed 'generation abstinence' for shunning booze.
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Gen Z are beginning to drink more, according to a major survey.
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Frank Murphy from The Pot Still believes Gen Z is following the ethos of drink less, but drink better.
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Frank also reveals how a hauf an' a hauf is back in fashion.
However, a survey of more than 26,000 people in the world's 15 biggest drinks markets found that 73 per cent of Gen Z respondents had consumed alcohol in the previous six months, compared with 66 per cent two years ago - while in the UK that number soared to 76 per cent.
Chief Features Writer MATT BENDORIS finds out why the previously clean living generation are turning to drink.
FRANK Murphy has had a ringside seat on changing drinking habits over the last 40 years from when his family owned a string of boozers to taking over the Glasgow landmark The Pot Still.
But in the last couple of years the publican has noticed a shift in both the frequency of younger drinkers and exactly what they are now spending their money on.
And he reckons students of old, who traditionally looked for the cheapest and quickest way to get drunk, have been replaced by Gen Zers who have more discerning tastes.
They're also more likely to drink spirits than any other generation, according to the recent poll.
Frank, 49, says: 'Gen Z definitely drink a lot less than students did previously, but I believe they now follow the ethos of 'drink less, but drink better'.
'What it means is that we're now seeing more young people who have a keen interest in more expensive single malts, so the likes of flavoured gins aren't moving now.
'Rums are also becoming more popular again with that age group, partly because they are cheaper than single malts but still of high quality.'
The survey also found that millennials - people aged between 28 and 44 - were the most likely to drink.
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While 72 per cent of baby boomers, folk who are 60 and over, said they had drunk alcohol over the same time period, a slight fall on the last time the survey was conducted two years ago.
Overall 78 per cent of the 26,000 who took part said they were drinkers.
But with The Pot Still's blend of older drinkers, along with city centre office workers, students and tourists, it has given Frank a unique view of what is in demand from a Scottish perspective.
And he insists that home brewed craft beers are also high on the agenda.
He says: 'I see a lot of foreign students coming to the pub often with their parents when they're looking for accommodation.
'They always ask for what's local and want a pint of craft beer. They even want to know exactly where it's come from.
'So yes Tennents and Guinness and Magners will always be popular, but young folk, not just the visitors, are also looking for provenance.'
However Frank has witnessed an old Scottish favourite 'a hauf an' a hauf' - a half a pint of beer with a measure of whisky - also become popular with younger customers.
He says: 'I have no idea why it's come back in fashion but we have started getting new customers asking for the traditional hauf an' a hauf.
'Of course the older crew have always asked for it, but it's become very much in vogue with the younger ones too. It's odd but the two drinks do fit perfectly well.'
Frank also believes that that gentrification of areas - with old man boozer's being transformed into trendy bistros - may also be urging Gen Z to drink more.
However The Pot Still proves that is not always the case as it still has all the hallmarks of a scuffed-floored traditional pub.
He says: 'I've seen some right little dumps being renovated into beautiful bar diners.
'But believe it or not I think younger drinkers also want the traditional experience.
'We've certainly never tried to compete with bistros as the only food we serve are pies, toasties and soup.'
ELLE McCANDLISH, 24, FROM EAST KILBRIDE IS A GEN Z DRINKER
OVER the last couple of years my friends and I have definitely been hitting the pubs more.
It doesn't have to be anywhere fancy, as long as it has live music and good beers, we're happy.
Most of us enjoy pints, with a lot of my group into IPAs, although I've always been a Guinness girl.
The demise of nightclubs means more people of my generation are preferring a drink and a chat - rather than somewhere you can't hear yourself think over a DJ.
You want to be able to catch up with pals in a more chilled-out environment and there's no better way to do that than over a pint or a bottle of wine.
So I can understand the rise in drinking with my generation as it's a great social thing to do, compared to the rest of the time when we're communicating with each other over WhatsApp or social media.
But with an estimated 1,000 bars closing across Scotland in the last 20 years, Frank believes that all premises need to make themselves more appealing for the next generation of pub goers.
He says: 'I've been around the pub business since I was six and the change has been fundamental.
'Many pubs closed their doors when the smoking ban came into force in 2006, believing that people simply wouldn't come in if they couldn't smoke at the bar.
'Instead it brought different customers who didn't smoke or didn't want to leave smelling of it.
'Well it's the same thing now. We all need our own unique selling point that gets new people coming in the door.
'Because drinking culture has changed and more of the marginal pubs, ones with no USP, will go to the wall.'
He adds: 'But if you serve Gen Z drinks they want in an environment they like, then they will come out and they will spend more.'