Responding to today’s DEMOS report into changing drinking habits, the ALMR has highlighted the evolving nature of the licensed hospitality sector and praised the sector’s ability to drive new trends.
The report states that the number of young people drinking to excess is in decline.
ALMR Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said: “The figures from DEMOS concur with what the ALMR has been saying for some time: that the number of people drinking, and drinking to excess, is falling. The entire landscape of licensed hospitality has changed enormously over the past ten years and it would be fair to say that the sector has contributed hugely to positive changes in attitudes towards alcohol consumption and eating and drinking out.”
Figures in January’s Peach Report Brand Track show that over half of 18-35 year olds eat out at least once per week, with one in five eating out at least three times a week.
Nichols concluded: “We are an experiential sector and we are seeing sustained numbers of young people eating out in our venues at least once a week. Online and offline socialising are not mutually exclusive and it is not difficult to find groups of young people simultaneously interacting with social media and socialising face-to-face.
“Young people may well be drinking less, but we are seeing them use our venues for different purposes than the youngsters of a decade ago. Our venues are social spaces to interact, socialise and work. New and innovative offers such as free Wi-Fi, all day coffee refills and comfortable areas to mix have seen younger customers using our venues in new and different ways.
“Pubs and bars are, in many cases, different places to the pubs and bars of a decade ago and the businesses in our sector are helping drive this change and providing younger customers with fresh experiences.”
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