'No Soju, Americano please': Young Koreans are drinking less, and bars are feeling it

"I hardly drink at all — one or two glasses of beer at most." Kim Min-ha, a 21-year-old sophomore at Sookmyung Women’s University, recently headed to a cafe with fellow club members after a meet-up. They each ordered one of the newly released drinks and chatted for a while before parting ways. On the rare occasions that they do go out for beer, only a few actually order alcohol. Kim said the gatherings usually start at 6 p.m. and end around 8 or 9 p.m. Kim’s experience reflects the growing spread of moderate drinking and abstinence culture among young Koreans. Gatherings that do not involve alcohol — usually centered on dinner, cafes or karaoke rather than bars — are becoming more common, and the shift is also changing the face of evening streets in university districts. An increasing number of college students say they no longer see much point in drinking. Lee Ye-chan, 25, said alcohol tastes unpleasant to him and only leaves him feeling bloated. "So I just order a zero-sugar cola, even at a bar," he said. Park Ye-ka, 21, said she also avoids alcohol because it affects her condi

Go to News Site