How The Drop in Alcohol Consumption is Raising the Price of Entrees and Concerts

[GreatGazoo]

The numbers are in and people of all ages are drinking less. The drop is most measurable among college age kids. One researcher said "compared to preceding generations, Generation Z may be the soberest generation yet." The biggest declines are seen among males 18 to 30YO but researchers do not agree on the reasons behind the drop. Pape et al. (2018: 99) suggests the drinking decline is ‘embedded in a general trend toward a slower passage into adulthood’ but Törrönen et al. (2019: 13) say the exact opposite -- highlighting "the early maturation of young people as more individualized, responsible, reflective, and adult-like actors than in earlier generations." The stigma associated with not drinking alcohol is quickly fading. Declining alcohol at social gatherings used to be taken as a sign that you were in recovery. It is now much more accepted and is part of trend that includes "Sober curious".

Others point to "hustle culture" where overworked young people seek to use what little free time they have more productively. They have a stronger emphasis on health and/or they have replaced alcohol with nicotine pouches such as Zyn.

Whatever the reasons for the decline, restaurants and concert venues have adjusted their pricing to make up for the losses in what used to be their biggest profit center. Restaurants and concert venues make the bulk of their profit on beverages. From $3 Coca-cola to $20 cocktails, beverages have been the core of the business model.

Restaurants fought the decline in a variety of ways since the 2008 worldwide economic collapse, one of which was to push spicier foods like Buffalo wings and Sriracha sauced everything. That had little impact so now they have somewhat surrendered to the decline and raised the price of everything else on the menu to make up for it.

Live concerts have taken a slightly different path to the same destination. Live Nation Entertainment now control about 80% of the business and they are vertically integrated. They have doubled the price of tickets but they also partnered with Liquid Death to sell cans of water for $14+ inside the venues.

[Initech]

1. Have you seen the price of beers at stadiums and concert venues? Utterly ridiculous!

[Mosby]

7. Travis Kelcey and Patrick Mahomes opened up a restaurant

Called 1587 Prime, they sell a drink named after a Swift song "The Alchemy" and it costs $22.

[raccoon]

12. The prices of tickets at concert venues are also utterly ridiculous.

[Initech]

21. Entirely depends on the venue / band.

I agree that some are absolutely ridiculous (someone was asking for $24K for the Strokes last week in Vegas). But I went to see Alestorm at the House Of Blues last night, $50 for the ticket. $20 for parking. That was not too bad.

Also too if you're willing to wait until the last minute you can usually snag some deals.

[Dulcinea]

32. I have one beer when I go to hockey games.

We go see our local ECHL affiliate, the Atlanta Gladiators, & beer costs almost half of what the ticket costs! I'm there to enjoy the game, not get plastered. Other than that, I'd rather drink at home where the beer costs a lot less & I don't have to monitor my alcohol intake.

[Initech]

36. That's one thing this article fails to take into account.

Nobody wants to buy a lot of alcohol and then drive home or you'll risk a DUI. On top of that, Uber rides after shows are absolutely absurd when they tack on a 300% surcharge. Especially in places that lack mass transit. It's literally a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation.

[Jack Valentino]

40. God only knows, how much at a stadium now? I attended an Arizona Cardinals game back in 2008,

and at that time they were asking eight or nine dollars for one draft beer in a plastic cup!

I declined, calculating that this was equal to the price of about 1.5 six-packs outside of the stadium...
and I guess it was an afternoon game anyway, and even though I am an alcoholic,
I am not accustomed to drinking before prime time in the evening....

[Initech]

42. Beers are like $21 at SoFi the last time I went there.

[D_Master81]

2. I don't drink at restaurants anymore either

Do I really care to spend $7 on a beer or $12 on a mixed drink? Restaurants can get outta here with that shit. I remember buying entrees for less than what alcohol costs anymore and I’m only in my early 40s.

[Initech]

22. My brother one time questioned me why I don't order cocktails at restaurants.

Easy - they're expensive. I could order one Old Fashioned for $25 or 3 beers for the same price. Guess which one I'm going with?

[maxsolomon]

34. $7 for a pint of good beer is pretty reasonable nowadays.

I can't remember paying less than that since the Pandemic if not earlier. There's no way that price is coming down.

[Jack Valentino]

41. LESS than seven dollars will buy me the equivalent of eight beers at Dollar General (in 24's)

and I don't have to worry about getting home afterwards, since I drink it there.

Of course, it isn't exactly 'good beer' but I've gotten used to it.

(I prefer a nice dark if money is no object... Guinness or Michelob dark,
and back in the day, Lowenbrau Dark or Heineken Dark---
but they don't seem to make those anymore, or sell them hereabouts...)

[maxsolomon]

43. In a restaurant or tavern, not at a grocery.

Sometimes, you're out at dinner and you have a beer.

[Prairie_Seagull]

3. Single handedly drinking more Canadian Club.

Just doing my part.

[newdeal2]

4. They pushed hot sauce to increase drink sales?

Sounds like something RFK Jr. should investigate.

[Wounded Bear]

23. Makes sense to me...

Over the last few years it seems like the "make it hot" craze has replaced the "put bacon in everything" craze in food, at least in the advertising.

As one who doesn't really like hot sauce on everthing, it drives me away as much as anything. I hardly ever eat fast food, so I'm kind of immune anyway. But I did wonder what brought on the craze. Makes sense to me that this was part of it.

[WSHazel]

5. It is greater appreciation of the health effects

Alcohol may be fun, but it is really bad for the body.

[maxsolomon]

17. Everything is bad for the body.

No one here gets out alive.

[EYESORE 9001]

19. While true, alcohol has a reputation

for giving people the bum’s rush right out of life itself.

[Wounded Bear]

24. Alcohol is a solvent, after all...

[republianmushroom]

6. More turning to cannabis.

[FalloutShelter]

10. The availability of "edibles".

IMHO

[NCDem47]

14. I was going to say the can vape anything

Probably for a high or low

[WestMichRad]

28. Michigan just passed their budget bill (finally!)...

… that includes a new 24% tax on all cannabis products.

It’s predicted that most cannabis businesses in the state will go out of business soon… and many people will return to the black market.

[republianmushroom]

29. States tax themselves right out of the business.

The black market and/or tents and auto bloom, it is easy to grow your own or find a dealer.

[WestMichRad]

39. I'm pretty sure...

… that a significant number of our legislators (R) have no problem with the idea of torpedoing our cannabis businesses. They painted it as necessary for balancing our budget, and sadly the other legislators mostly went along with it.

[Midnight Writer]

8. Last time I bought a drink at an entertainment venue it cost $12 for a can of lukewarm Budweiser.

And I had to stand in line for 15 minutes to get that.

[Coldwater]

9. It's dropped to the lowest level since prohibition

Perhaps someone should tell secretary of war Pete Hegseth he needs to pick up more of the slack.

[raccoon]

11. I am shocked, shocked I tell you, that in these ridiculous times, people don't consume as much alcohol.

[pandr32]

13. People have less money to spend.

Craft breweries can no longer compete and the prices they charge still don't result in profit, so they are starting to close up shop. Rising prices for hops and other ingredients as well as the tariffs on aluminum for cans mean stores that stock their beer aren't able to sell much.
Restaurants are hurting, too, and not just because of their cocktails.
The Pedo Regime is destroying the landscape of enjoyment where people met up with friends to enjoy some food and a few drinks. People are not able or willing to socialize much because it has become too costly, and tourism is way down.
One of the things I have always enjoyed while traveling is visiting craft breweries and one-of-a-kind eateries. Traveling foodies are not traveling so much now.
We are becoming a hell-hole.

[DFW]

15. The stigma associated with not drinking alcohol.

Boy, do I ever remember that!

The period from 1965 to 1975 in the States, and then in Europe. My peers did everything but demand a notarized medical certificate confirming hepatitis B. I hated the taste of it ALL. Beer, cognac, gin, whiskey, sangria, Jägermeister, it didn’t matter.

The few girlfriends I had didn’t mind. Apparently, they didn’t like car accidents or getting slapped around by drunken boyfriends. But most of the guys thought I had something seriously wrong with me. If I did, it’s still wrong with me. I hated it then, and I hate it now.

[GreatGazoo]

18. You were ahead of your time

I like the taste of wine but my social crime was not drinking enough. I'm good at a glass and a half but asleep at 3 glasses so I had stopped while others were just getting started.

[DFW]

25. I don't know if I was ahead of my time.

My male peers certainly didn’t think so. Even the ones who considered themselves progressive and non-conformist considered me seriously defective. I didn’t conform to the norms of their standard of non-conformity. I found it easier to endure their nssty comments than to drink stuff I couldn’t stand.

[3catwoman3]

26. I can't stand most beer and wine. I'm OK with sweet German whites like Spatlese...

...and Auslese. Dry wine, to me, tastes like Robitussin cough syrup.

[GreatGazoo]

16. Gen Zyn -- more data

Do bars and restaurants sell Zyn?

A recent report from the University of Michigan revealed that there’s been a significant decline in alcohol and marijuana use among high school seniors since the pandemic, but they may be replacing the traditional vices with something else: nicotine pouches. The study found that 42 percent of high school seniors reported drinking alcohol in the past 12 months, a substantial decrease from a whopping 75 percent back in 1997. Marijuana use among high school students is also at its lowest level in three decades, and even nicotine vape use has declined after a steady two-year surge from 2017 to 2019.
...
Despite usage of these big three decreasing, the study notes the use of nicotine pouches—like Zyn—significantly increased in 2024. The percentage of high school seniors using these products doubled compared to 2023

https://www.mensfitness.com/news/gen-z-is-replacing-alcohol-with-nicotine-pouches

And nicotine is an appetite suppressant so that is lose lose for resto revenues.

[flvegan]

20. LOL, a $14 can of water.

I guess that's nothing compared to the $2500 I had to spend for the actual tickets to see TayTay* or whomever.

The whole live music industry is a joke.

*I despise myself for knowing her nickname.

[global1]

27. The Knee-Jerk Response To Less Alcohol Being Used Is To Raise Prices On The Drinks........

They are pricing themselves out of the market.

They should be thinking - lets lower the prices and make it more affordable. Make the money after the volume sold begins to go back up because it is easier to justify drinking - if the drink is more affordable.

When I know that I can buy a whole bottle of wine at TJ's for $5 OR $6 - it doesn't make sense to pay $12 for a glass of wine.

When I can buy a case of 32 bottles of water at Sam's or Costco - for under $6 - it doesn't make sense to pay $4-$6 per bottle.

Some restaurants have begun even charging you for refills on soft drinks and ice tea.

When you realize that you are paying more for the beverages you drink vs the food you eat - the rational person stops eating out at restaurants.

[Wednesdays]

30. Personally, I think the decline is due to the ongoing decriminalization of weed.

Weed, which is safer and healthier in many respects.

[highplainsdem]

31. Link, please, for the source of your OP, the five paragraphs there?

[maxsolomon]

35. the link is the highlighted sentence.

https://theconversation.com/the-rise-of-sober-curiosity-why-gen-zers-are-reducing-their-alcohol-consumption-243775

[highplainsdem]

37. No, that isn't it. I'm wondering where GreatGazoo found this first paragraph

The numbers are in and people of all ages are drinking less. The drop is most measurable among college age kids. One researcher said "compared to preceding generations, Generation Z may be the soberest generation yet." The biggest declines are seen among males 18 to 30YO but researchers do not agree on the reasons behind the drop. Pape et al. (2018: 99) suggests the drinking decline is ‘embedded in a general trend toward a slower passage into adulthood’ but Törrönen et al. (2019: 13) say the exact opposite -- highlighting "the early maturation of young people as more individualized, responsible, reflective, and adult-like actors than in earlier generations." The stigma associated with not drinking alcohol is quickly fading. Declining alcohol at social gatherings used to be taken as a sign that you were in recovery. It is now much more accepted and is part of trend that includes "Sober curious".

and the other four paragraphs.

This sentence in particular

Pape et al. (2018: 99) suggests the drinking decline is ‘embedded in a general trend toward a slower passage into adulthood’ but Törrönen et al. (2019: 13) say the exact opposite -- highlighting "the early maturation of young people as more individualized, responsible, reflective, and adult-like actors than in earlier generations."

is apparently quoting some academic writing.

And that highlighted link has nothing about the citations there. Those are really odd-looking (for a message board) citations that apparently reference the year and page number of some source, and the last name of the main author of a source with multiple authors ("et al." for the others), but when citations like those are used, there is ALWAYS a list of cited works at the end.

And the OP has no such list. Which makes it look like they copied something and left out the references that went with what they copied.

Which is why I wondered where they got this. I'd like someone to please show me where the

Pape et al. (2018: 99)

and

Törrönen et al. (2019: 13)

references came from, because they came from somewhere, a source using that abbreviated way (2018: 99) to refer to something on a list of sources.

[highplainsdem]

38. I did more digging, answered one of my questions but found another problem with how the OP was written.

Those two academic citations are not from the article linked to, but from a publication that article links to, one of quite a few - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9545949/ - which does include, at the bottom of a very long piece, a list of 57 references including those written by Pape and Törrönen.

But the first paragraph of the OP also says this

One researcher said "compared to preceding generations, Generation Z may be the soberest generation yet."

with the quote being the link to that article at https://theconversation.com/the-rise-of-sober-curiosity-why-gen-zers-are-reducing-their-alcohol-consumption-243775 .

And it's a direct quote from the article. But the article has two authors, and they're both lecturers in marketing. Not researchers, let alone a single researcher.

[Aristus]

33. Buried in the report: "they have replaced alcohol with nicotine pouches such as Zyn."

So, they're not indulging fewer vices. Just one of the worst. Nicotine will mess you up, even if it doesn't come in tobacco form.

Anyway, I agree with the assessment that young people are just joining the rest of us in their understanding that the price of everything is too high to enjoy that which was once enjoyable. We, for many other reasons now, are officially a joyless, dystopian hellhole.

And that last reason is why, ladies and gentlemen, I have not quit drinking. I can afford booze. I can wait to put it off until the weekends. And I hope to wake up one morning to hear that the author of all this misery is stone cold dead.

[617Blue]

44. Bottle of Dogfish 60 Min IPA was 9.75 at a place near me. Nope.