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Telegraph
17 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Hurrah for the Gen Z youngsters who are taking up drinking
In recent years, my generation (I'm in my 40s) has looked askance at people in their late teens and twenties with their obsession with TikTok, baffling love of grey tracksuits and, worst of all, their refusal to indulge themselves alcoholically. This is especially concerning for Britain's beleaguered drinks industry, which has been reeling from lockdown, tax rises and over-regulation. But could there be light at the end of the tunnel? A new survey from IWSR, a market research company, suggests that Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, aren't as alcohol-phobic as first thought. It suggests that young people weren't abstaining because they're glued to their phones, obsessed with their physical health or worried about making fools of themselves on social media. It's for the good old-fashioned reason of not being able to afford a pint or a G&T down the pub. The problem is that wages have not kept pace with prices. When I first moved to London in 2000, a pint was £2.50 and my first proper job as an assistant at a publisher paid £17,500. I spent most of my twenties in the Golden Heart in Commercial Street rather than in my cramped flat. Today, a similar job will pay £28,000 or less, but it's rare to find a pint under £6. No wonder younger people aren't drinking or going out as we used to, especially as so many places close early to save on energy and staffing costs. Now, as more youngsters come into the workplace and inflation is levelling off, it seems that they have belatedly discovered, just as their ancestors did, the joys of alcohol. Too bloody right. Your twenties are a great time to spend in a boozy haze, making friends, falling into romantic entanglements and not worrying about the future. Perhaps youngsters will give up their apps and return to dating the traditional way: by snogging someone in a bar after a few too many Bacardi Breezers. If you're not boozing during that time, what's the point of being young? The survey showed that 76 per cent of British Gen Zedsters have drunk alcohol in the past six months compared with 66 per cent two years ago. For comparison, it's 79 per cent for my generation. It turns out we aren't so different after all. This is a pattern that is repeated all over the world. Richard Halstead, the head of consumer insights at IWSR, explained: 'The idea that Gen Z drinkers are somehow fundamentally different from other age groups isn't supported by the evidence. For instance, we know that beverage alcohol consumption correlates with disposable income, and Gen Z came of age during a cost-of-living crisis.' For years the drinks industry, faced with falling demand, has pushed for premiumisation – in other words, getting the remaining drinkers to pay more for their booze. Combined with that, many have moved into zero-alcohol drinks like Diageo did with Seedlip – essentially charging through the nose for soft drinks. But if the results of this survey are anything to go by, the main problem with getting young people into pubs or bars isn't some generational crisis; it's affordability. Get the price right and they will come, as Tim Martin has long known. My local Wetherspoons is packed with youngsters on the weekend. Maybe the kids are alright after all.


The Independent
17 minutes ago
- The Independent
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall believes Club World Cup has made Chelsea squad tighter
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall believes Chelsea will be stronger as a squad having embraced the challenge at the Club World Cup. The Blues are through to the quarter-finals of the tournament in the United States and face Brazilian side Palmeiras in Philadelphia on Friday night (2am Saturday BST). Forward Joao Pedro could make his debut having completed his reported £60million move from Brighton and joined up with the squad this week. Pedro will link up with fellow summer signing Liam Delap and, while other clubs have been on holiday, Dewsbury-Hall feels it has been beneficial to integrate the new faces immediately. The 26-year-old told the club's website: 'It's been a different experience and you have to be grateful because not everyone gets to play in these sorts of tournaments. 'It's a little strange when you see players from other teams back for pre-season and we're still playing the previous season, but it's something that you have to take as a privilege because not everyone gets to play in something like this. 'It brings everyone closer together and the new lads that have come in have been able to settle in a lot quicker. 'It's a nice environment and we've got a nice dressing room. Everyone mingles, we go out and do things – shopping, food, beach. So it's been good.' Chelsea, now 11 months into their 2024-25 campaign, have had a rocky path to the last eight having suffered a heavy defeat to Flamengo in the group stage and come through an extraordinary last-16 encounter with Benfica. That game in Charlotte featured a two-hour stoppage for a thunderstorm and the Blues eventually needed extra time before seeing off the Portuguese side. Dewsbury-Hall said: 'Obviously, the further you go, the closer you are to getting to the final. 'The feeling in the camp is to take it game by game and then, before you know it, we could be in a great position.' Chelsea's summer spending does not appear to be over with a deal for Borussia Dortmund's English winger Jamie Gittens reportedly close. The Palmeiras clash will also see them get a closer look at Estevao, the 18-year-old winger who agreed to join them last year and will do so after the tournament. Chelsea beat the Brazilian side 2-1 after extra time when they met in the final of the Club World Cup, under its old format, in 2023. Dewsbury-Hall said: 'Nobody is overlooking Palmeiras and we have seen South American teams in this tournament have been really strong. 'It's a challenge I'm looking forward to, and the lads are also looking forward to. So we will make sure we're all ready for it.'


The Herald Scotland
17 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Rangers goalkeeper signs new Ibrox contract extension
Wright, 26, first joined Rangers in 2016 but is yet to make an appearance for the first team. 💙 We can today confirm that Kieran Wright has signed a one-year contract extension with the club. — Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 3, 2025 He did feature on the bench in the Europa League and Champions League qualifying for the club last season. Wright spent the second half of last season on loan at Airdrieonians, where he helped the club preserve their Championship status. The shot-stopper is a former Scotland under-21 international and also counts Gala Fairydean Rovers, Albion Rovers, Raith Rovers, Alloa, Partick Thistle, Dumbarton and Livingston in his former loan clubs. Read more: A club statement confirmed: "Rangers can today confirm that Kieran Wright has signed a one-year contract extension with the club. "The goalkeeper, who has been with the Light Blues since 2016, will continue his stay in Glasgow into a 10th year ahead of the start of the new campaign. "He spent the second half of last season on loan at Airdrieonians in the Scottish Championship, helping the club preserve their second-tier status by overcoming Cove Rangers 2-1 in the relegation play-off final back in May, making 24 appearances for the side in total."