Is Going Out, OUT?
After a long week of school, most college students are probably getting ready for a night out with their friends. However, others may have a different idea of fun. For example, one of my roommates doesn’t really drink or go out, even though her four other roommates leave together. I struggle with fear of missing out (FOMO), so I am consistently impressed that my roommate can look past the experiences she might miss if they don’t fully serve her. When I asked her why she doesn’t go out, it isn’t because of fitness or health reasons. She simply doesn’t like the taste of alcohol, and she explained that she doesn’t like feeling out of control over what she says/does. Besides my roommate, being sober has become a recent trend among Gen Z. In one research paper I read, Gen Z drinks significantly less than every other generation, and I wondered why.
Does Gen Z resonate with my roommate’s sentiments? A research study in the UK surveyed Gen Zers and found that this generation appears self-conscious, with more focus on their well-being and control (Burguess et al. 2022). The paper even named them as “Generation Sensible” (Burguess et al. 2022). I think the idea of people in my generation being more cautious about their behavior, especially when under the influence of alcohol, makes complete sense. For example, we all have phones that can record any mistake, which can then be uploaded to social media. This can and has caused so many people to get canceled, ultimately ruining their lives in the aftermath. Additionally, there is an immense amount of pressure to look a certain way, and alcohol (based on personal experience) never makes one look their best. Have you ever woken up after a night out, looked in the mirror, and thought, yikes… Maybe I should take a break.
This sentiment is now trending on social media, with many people posting about their experiences abstaining from alcohol for long periods of time. An influencer named Olivia Rae posted a video with the tagline “alcohol is stealing your glow” , explaining how cutting out alcohol has helped her change her physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Rae is not the only one posting content like this on social media; there are thousands of videos across different platforms of users promoting alcohol abstinence. If this is the type of content Gen Z is watching, then it’s less surprising that the generation is starting to drink less. While my research has not revealed any study in particular that has connected social media content that promotes alcohol abstinence, other articles and blog posts have acknowledged the possible correlation.
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As influencers like Rae become more popular, how are people choosing to spend their time now? Instead of going out at night and drinking, many Gen Zers are going to bed early so they can make their 8 am run club or Pilates class. This generation is so obsessed with their health, more than other generations, because of advances in research and the accessibility of this information. Past generations did not have smartphones to look up any question or concern they had. However, now anyone can look up the negative effects of alcohol and get a lengthy response in return.
My main question is: Does Gen Z really think skipping going out and instead doing other “healthier” or “more productive” activities is beneficial? Do they feel like by giving up drinking or going out, they are missing out on a huge part of socializing or their youth? I guess only time will tell.
Works Cited
Burgess, Adam, Henry Yeomans, and Laura Fenton. “‘More options… less time’in the ‘hustle culture’of ‘generation sensible’: Individualization and drinking decline among twenty‐first century young adults.” The British Journal of Sociology 73.4 (2022): 903–918.
Rae, Olivia. “Alcohol Is Stealing Your Glow.” TikTok, 20 June 2026, TikTok video
