A nation of young foodies: young Britons shun alcohol for eating out according to new report

Young people aged 19-24 are increasingly shunning alcohol in favour of food. That’s the message of the new Future Shock report, produced by the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) in partnership with CGA.

According to the report, in the last six months fewer than 10% of young people have been out drinking at least three times per week, with 40% only going out once. The report also found that 1 in 7 young people did not go out at all. According to the report, 60% of young people, including students, drink out less than once per week. In contrast, 50% of young people eat out at least once per week, suggesting a fundamental shift in eating and drinking out patterns away from pubs and bars to branded dining outlets.

ALMR Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said: ALMR Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said: “The publication of the ALMR’s report shows the changing nature of consumer habits as well as the evolving nature of the sector itself. This research also puts paid to the myth that young people in the Britain are drinking dangerously. We have seen alcohol consumption fall by 17% since the Licensing Act and rates of binge drinking fall from 29 to 18%.

“Young people are increasingly planning their social lives around eating-out, turning away from drink and towards food. On average, under-25s are eating out between 5-6 times per month.

This is being driven by the accessibility and affordability of great eating-out options, but it’s also the case that young people are just becoming more sophisticated and demanding consumers of food. Celebrity chefs from Jamie Oliver to Deliciously Ella have helped to create a foodie generation that is more conscious of the health aspect of eating out and the provenance and freshness of the ingredients.

“The boom in eating-out, particularly in casual dining outlets, has seen a renaissance of our high streets driven by younger consumers. This is not only helping to drive growth in our local economies, but help contribute to healthier consumption and changing attitudes towards alcohol.”