Why is everyone ditching alcohol?

为何人人弃酒如敝屣?

What in the World

2026-07-30

14 分钟
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You might have heard Gen Z being called the “sober generation” - the data suggests that we’re less likely to drink than older generations, that alcohol-free brands are getting more popular with under-30s and there’s a huge push towards sobriety and wellness culture more generally. At the same time, pre-mixed cocktails are flying off the shelves - and new figures suggest that binge drinking has gone up. So is Gen Z really drinking less than previous generations? Or is that just a myth? In this episode, we go to one of London’s alcohol-free pubs to chat to three guests who all stopped drinking in their 20s: Millie, founder of the Sober Girl Society and author of HANGXIETY, Daniel, creative director of The Scene, a South Asian-led collective organising alcohol-free events in London, and Tyler, a content creator. We discuss how drinking culture is changing — and whether quitting alcohol is on the rise for Gen Z. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Chelsea Coates and William Lee Adams Video Producer: Baldeep Chahal Editor: Verity Wilde
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  • This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.

  • Gen Z is supposed to be the sober generation.

  • So why does it suddenly feel like everyone's talking about big nights out again?

  • There are more alcohol-free drinks available than ever before and even alcohol-free pubs.

  • But I read some research that suggests that binge drinking is having a comeback.

  • So is Gen Z really drinking less than previous generations?

  • Or is that just a bit of a myth?

  • Well, I'm going to be speaking to three young Londoners at a pub that mainly serves alcohol-free drinks

  • and we're going to hear their perspectives.

  • I'm Hannah and this is What in the World from the BBC World Service.

  • Cheers!

  • I'm joined by Daniel, Millie and Tyler, and you all have different relationships to alcohol.

  • So let's start off by talking about those.

  • Daniel, tell me about yours.

  • Yeah, so today I don't drink at all.

  • But when I was in my early 20s, I think I felt maybe a bit of like societal pressure,

  • you know, work, drinks or being at uni where it was the norm to just join in.

  • I think you'd probably get a few weird glasses if you're like, no, I'm not going to join in at all.

  • So I did that.

  • And I think COVID lockdown just gave me a bit of confidence to say, OK.