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The drinking culture of Gen Z in India is gradually taking a more refined form. While excessive drinking purely for the sake of enjoyment is becoming less common, moderation, quality, mixing, reduced alcohol content drinks, and environments which emphasize connection over intoxication are gaining ground.

The idea here is that you drink less, but you drink better. In the case of today’s youth generation, the act of drinking is not limited to simply the consumption of alcohol anymore. It encompasses the whole experience associated with drinking alcohol.

In contrast to drinking cultures of the past that revolved largely around excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, for many members of Generation Z, the act of consuming alcohol seems much more planned. While many young people can consume their drinks more responsibly and switch from regular drinks to mocktails partway through the evening, some may choose to have just one or two beverages without the need to continue drinking.

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It should be noted that the way nightlife is changing reflects a move away from loud binge-drinking culture towards curated social experience venues such as rooftops, wine bars, cocktail venues, café meetups, live performances by musicians, as well as private parties among friends where alcohol might be consumed but in smaller quantities.

Social media has also played an important part in driving this change. Going out nowadays is always associated with aesthetics, identity, and the experience created. It has become much more interesting to drink a perfectly crafted cocktail, be in nice lighting conditions, or have a cosy dinner.

In addition, there is much less social pressure surrounding alcohol consumption today. Instead of the old nightlife scenes where binge drinking was almost a necessity, Gen Z members consider alcohol an option, not something that is necessary for a night out. It is also much easier to regulate one’s consumption by drinking mocktails or even sobriety cocktails.

Wellness culture is another factor contributing to changing alcohol consumption trends. Today’s youth is significantly more conscious of their well-being and takes care of their sleep, hydration, physical and mental condition, and other aspects. The idea of losing the whole next day because of a hangover after a long night of partying is unattractive when people feel tired from the daily grind.

The softer side of the drinking scene

This does not mean that partying no longer exists. The attitude towards alcohol consumption among young individuals is certainly shifting. It remains uncertain whether this can be seen as a more conscientious consumption or merely a prettier one.

One thing that is certain, though, is that the act of drinking is gradually moving from being a form of indulgence to becoming more moderate, engaging, and enjoyable. The perception of the perfect night out is slowly shifting from consuming the most alcohol to enjoying the night without guilt, living the moment, and waking up the following day without any remorse.

Lead and social image credit: Netflix , Instagram/suhanakhan, Instagram/aliaabhatt