Is Drinking Going Out of Style?
By Heidee Andres
Move over margaritas -- mocktails are shaking up the cocktail scene.
Gone are the days of nasty hangovers and meaningless buzzes. The latest trend in drinking is actually not drinking at all. Mocktails, non-alcoholic beers, and alcohol-free spirits are everywhere these days, but why?
In the United States, one’s 21st birthday is a rite of passage. The drinking culture is huge here. However, more people are choosing not to drink, especially Gen Z.
According to a study by NCSolutions, 41% of Americans will try to drink less in 2024, a 7% increase from last year. The study also highlights that 61% of Gen Z is trying to cut back on drinking this year.
The rise in choosing not to drink can be accredited to many different factors such as health concerns and the rising cost of alcohol and weed. Every year it seems to be as if drinking becomes less cool.
Concerns and consciousness
Luis Vasquez, a bar supervisor at Bass Concert Hall, said that he has noticed an increase in health consciousness.
“People are definitely exercising more,” Vasquez said. “More than ever now people have gym memberships and are health nuts.”
The associated short-term and long-term health concerns with alcohol intake seem to be never-ending.
What impact does alcohol have on the body?
According to the CDC, drinking too much can have a negative impact on your health. The effects of alcohol consumption range from short-term to long-term effects, with some being life-threatening. Short-term effects can include speech and motor impairments, nausea, vomiting, an increase in violent activities, and alcohol poisoning. Long-term effects can include an increased risk of cancer, strokes, mental health issues, and alcohol use disorders. In worst-case scenarios, excess drinking can lead to death. Between 2020 and 2021, excessive alcohol use led to about 178,000 deaths in the United States.
It is evident that now more than ever people are aware of the negative effects that alcohol has on them. Making the switch to cutting out alcohol and trying mocktails and other alcohol-free drinks can lead to a healthier, better lifestyle.
Mocktails can be made with certain ingredients to add more nutrients, like fruits with antioxidants or herbs for anti-inflammatory effects. They can also be made with coconut or mineral water for extra hydration. Mocktails can be made to address numerous health concerns and can be a healthier and tastier alternative to cocktails.
Increase cost of booze
Another contributing factor to the decrease in people drinking is the rising costs of alcohol prices. Buying alcohol, whether it be at a bar, concert venue or liquor store is expensive. On average, Americans are spending about $105 in alcohol monthly, according to NCSolutions.
Lillian Kalmbach, a junior at the University of Texas at Austin, says that the rising costs of alcohol prices are the reason why her friends cut down on drinking.
“A case of seltzers is about $20 and a cheaper bottle of tequila is around the same price,” Kalmbach said. “With that money, I could probably buy groceries for a week or pay a utility bill.”
Chad Foster, a bartender for nearly 12 years in California, Oklahoma, and Texas, said that people would rather just not drink at all than buy drinks at said pregame sporting events or concerts.
“Austin is crazy expensive. At the Moody Center you’re easily dropping at least $50 on liquor,” Foster said.
Making your own mocktails at home or ordering something alcohol-free at a bar can be less expensive than cocktails and alcohol.
Green is the new buzz
Another, more surprising contribution to the decline of alcohol consumption is marijuana. According to a dataset collected by Gallup, marijuana use has almost doubled among adults aged 18 to 34 since 2013, rising 11 points to 25% in 2021–2023.
Foster has noticed that people from all generations are smoking more marijuana than ever.
“It is slowly starting to become more acceptable in society to smoke weed,” Foster said. “Old people, young people, everyone’s smoking weed now.”
While the data does not prove that marijuana is a direct contributing factor to the decline in alcohol consumption, it is evident that it has become a popular alternative to drinking.
As alcohol consumption continues to be on a downward trend, the use of marijuana and its byproducts are on the rise. Replacing alcohol for THC or CBD and having a mocktail is a great way to still enjoy a drink without spirits or liquor.
The bottom line?
Overall, people are drinking less. Whether it be for health reasons, new alternatives, or rising costs, people are finding more reasons to not drink. Participation in “Dry January” and “Sober October” has also gone up within the past few years.
With that, mocktails have seen a huge surge in popularity, especially on social media. On TikTok, things like “sleepy girl mocktails” (which are mocktails intended to help improve sleep quality) and “mindful mocktails” (mocktails with added health benefits) have been all the rage.
Whatever the reason may be for wanting to drink less, mocktails have shown to be a refreshing and tasty alternative to alcohol.
My favorite go-to summer mocktail: The Peachy Bubbly Sunrise
Total prep time: 2–20 minutes
Ingredients:
Peach Syrup:
- 1 ½ cups of peaches
- 1 cup of water
- 1 cup of white sugar
The Peachy Bubbly Sunrise:
- 2 ounces of peach syrup
- 1 ounce of grenadine
- Ice
- Topo Chico
Instructions:
- Make your peach syrup (the syrup can also be store-bought instead)
- Bring the peaches, sugar, and water to a boil
- Once boiling, reduce the heat, lightly smash the peaches with a fork, and simmer for about 10–12 minutes
- Take off the heat and pour the syrup over a strainer into a heat-safe container
- Make sure to press down on the peaches in the strainer to get as much syrup out
- Let the syrup rest for about 5 minutes before using
- Fill a glass with ice
- Pour the syrup into the glass
- Then fill with Topo Chico
- Top off the drink with grenadine
- Mix and enjoy!
