Young South Koreans are increasingly forgoing alcohol when they meet up with friends, a shift highlighted by a 21-year-old university student who said she now orders cola instead of beer. The pattern, reported by the South China Morning Post, points to changing social habits that are leaving some bars and nightlife venues with fewer customers.
What Happened
Kim Min-ha, a 21-year-old student at Sookmyung Women’s University, told the South China Morning Post: “I hardly drink at all – one or two glasses of beer at most.” She recently met club members at a cafe where each person ordered one of the newly released drinks and they chatted before heading home. When the group does go out for beer, only a few people actually order alcohol. Kim said these gatherings usually start around 6pm and end by 8 or 9pm.
Background
South Korea has long been known for a strong drinking culture, with alcohol playing a central role in socialising, company gatherings and nightlife. In recent years, however, international reporting and local observers have noted shifts in consumption patterns among younger generations in several countries, including South Korea. The example cited by the South China Morning Post reflects this shift: a young student opting for non-alcoholic options during social meet-ups and shorter evening outings that do not centre on drinking.
Why It Matters
Changes in young people’s drinking habits can have ripple effects across the hospitality sector and nightlife economy. Fewer young adults ordering alcohol may reduce revenue for bars, pubs and beverage producers that have traditionally relied on younger clientele. Beyond economics, the trend signals evolving social norms around leisure, health and public behaviour. For readers in Panama and across Latin America, the story is a useful indicator of how youth culture can reshape long-standing social practices and consumer markets elsewhere.
While this account focuses on one university student’s experience and the broader pattern reported by the South China Morning Post, it illustrates how individual choices — preferring a cola over beer, leaving earlier in the evening — add up to cultural change with visible effects on nightlife and the businesses that serve it.