When you’re about to paint the town red with your mates, safety and preventing a hangover are probably the last things on your mind. But, who wants to wake up feeling terrible and blanking out on last night’s events?
Partying sober is the trendiest thing to do, and your health will thank you for it.
Sober is still trending
Generation Z, born between the mid-1990s and early 2000s, is rejecting alcoholic beverages and opting for clean-living alternatives. Rather than hanging out at bars and nightclubs, Generation Z can be found attending juice crawls (a healthy-living social event) and silent discos, or even staying in and playing board games with friends at home.
A study by researchers at San Diego State University and Bryn Mawr College found that Generation Z is growing up slower and is more responsible than previous generations.
According to the UK’s Office for National Statistics, there’s been a significant decline in alcohol consumption amongst the 16-24 age group over the last 10 years. The percentage of young people who don’t drink any alcohol at all has risen by 32%.
Clean living
Aside from alcohol being pricey, a key reason as to why this generation is saying no to alcoholic drinks is due to the growing health and wellness movement. Young adults are concerned with their health and more so, the long-term effects of their beverage choices. Other motivations for abstaining from alcohol include religious and cultural reasons. Juice bars, dry dinners and sober day parties are the new ways to have a good time. Here’s some breaking news: partying without the need for alcohol is possible and fun.
Join the party
Who needs alcohol to unleash the fun? Not you. If you’re hosting, set up an enticing drinks trolley of virgin mixes, paired with filling and tasty finger foods. Make sure you have entertainment on offer to keep the party going.
Your menu can include an assortment of decadent mocktails like a fruit punch, sparkling mint ice tea, and mocktail mojitos. Even water can be refreshing and just the drink for that thirst, when it’s infused with raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, cucumber or mint and floral ice cubes. Get extra festive and throw in fun paper umbrellas for decoration.
Your music playlist and board games can make or break your party, so ensure its engaging and involves everyone. This way, people get to mingle and get to know each other better. Something interactive and upbeat like karaoke is always a fun activity that gets everyone to loosen up.
References:
- https://www.huffingtonpost.co.za/2018/06/08/an-alcohol-free-party-yes-its-possible-heres-how_a_23454191/
- http://www.mintel.com/blog/drink-market-news/igens-meet-the-sober-generation
- https://www.drinkstuff-sa.co.za/millennials-sobriety-isnt-seems/
- https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/apr/21/millennials-booze-free-events-juice-crawl-new-york