If we compare the first date to a mathematical equation, especially one that is complex, unpredictable and involves multiple variables, more and more people are choosing to do it without alcohol, one of the most present elements in recent years. Meeting a date for a few drinks at a bar or nightclub to dance between drinks is no longer as common as it was a few years ago. At least among Gen Z couples, there are concepts like: perfect flirt any dry flirt.

The idea is pretty simple: Three people is a crowd on a date. And this third element is bottled or disco drinks.

A laboratory called Tinder. People don’t go to Tinder to explore sociocultural events. But with nearly 50 million monthly users spread across 190 countries, the reality is that the dating app has become part of that: a quirky laboratory of social trends. One of the conclusions reached by those responsible is that users are drinking less and less at their meetings. This was revealed last year by the platform in a report with the rather telling title “Sober Lover by Tinder”; This report noted, among other things, that one in four singles currently prefer alcohol-free dates.

Better without drink. Tinder data is just that, Tinder data. They only respond to information the platform collects among its members. But they’re still interesting because they reflect a clear trend toward dates that don’t involve booze or beer bottles. According to research published last year, more than 25 percent of its members aged 18 to 25 admitted to drinking less at meetings than a year ago, while 72 percent said they never or occasionally did so.

“Gen Z is challenging this habit and joining the new trend of ‘Dry Dating’, avoiding alcohol completely when meeting a person. Among Tinder members aged 18 and over, interest in ‘making a drink’ (sic) has dropped by up to 53% compared to last year. and I am 25 years old,” the company explained. Your data was collected in the first quarter of 2023 and 2022.

Reflection in networks. Tinder isn’t the only hint that beer, wine, or a glass of rum and vodka is out of the equation when it comes to Gen Z dating. Take a look at TikTok to discover that the hashtags #soberdate, #soberdating or #soberinlove have a good backlog. a handful of references. Moreover dry flirt It also does this among traditional media. Either way, there are many testimonies of people who decided not to try alcohol when they met someone.

A few days ago in Spain Newspaper published an article about alcohol-free dating where he shared a specific case; this was Víctor, the nickname used by a 27-year-old young man who decided a month ago not to try alcohol on his next Tinder date. Not because he was prevented from doing so by medical treatment or because he didn’t drink. His motivation was simpler: He wanted to remove alcohol from the equation, present himself as he is, and at the same time get to know the other person without the distorted filter of alcohol.

“I really liked it”. Statement shared by Victor EPEE It helps better understand Tinder data and why there are so many Gen Z singles who prefer to do without beer, wine or cigars during their meetings.

Although he admits at first he was worried he wouldn’t be able to “let it go” without booze, as the date progressed Victor began to feel more comfortable. Quite the opposite. Putting alcohol aside, he was able to return home satisfied that his impressions were not “distorted” by beer. “That way I’m clearer about whether I like someone or not, but I didn’t notice much of a difference between that date and the other dates I’d been drinking,” he recalls. “You become more attentive to everything, you don’t resort to alcohol to reduce anxiety.”

“Alcohol distorts”. The disruptive effect of beverages is one of the keys to this phenomenon. And as he explains, it makes sense that this is the case EPEE Lara Ferreiro, psychologist and Dating Expert at Tinder Spain. “When someone is not drinking, the prefrontal area, which is comprised of executive functions and concentration, is more active. When drinking, the connection is lost, and that’s when the area of ​​emotions comes into play.”

We may find temporary relief by placing a glass or bottle to our lips, but the same action makes it difficult for us to be “aware” of what the other person really is like. “Alcohol distorts,” he says.

“Be in the moment”. Magazine GQ He shares other testimonies, such as Lily, a 26-year-old Londoner who chose to quit drinking. “Sobriety made me think about whether I actually enjoyed it or whether it was just something that made me sad at the same time,” he says of his personal experience. He even claims the value of staying sober in bed. “When you’re sober, you have to be present. It also allows you to be more in the moment and you can more easily understand what really turns you on.”

Another one of those interviewed GQIan finds that quitting drinking helps create a more authentic connection. “When you eliminate alcohol in a situation like this, you have to develop more intentional intimacy. You can’t just rely on getting drunk to start conversations and develop intimacy,” he believes.

Reinventing dating. Alcohol loses ground. And other accessories during dating win her over. Tinder offers several “ideas” for “‘sober in love’ first dates”; So, here are alternatives to the classic date to share drinks at a bar.

The app’s suggestions include exercising and meeting for drinks. cocktailsgo to a museum, a restaurant, or just go to a cafe to chat with each other. latte and cappuccinos. Coincidence or not, Tinder ensures that the interest in the world of coffee among its users shows the opposite trend to the interest in alcohol: it has increased significantly by around 20% in a relatively short period of time. Gatherings to go for a walk also increased by 6%.

Completing the picture. The phenomenon of relationships, alcohol and youth is actually much more complex. This is evidenced by Health data, for example, in the 2023 drug use survey, which reflects that alcohol is still present in young people’s lives: 75.9% of boys and girls aged 14 to 18 have been drunk at some time and at best. At the time of the survey, 20.8% had gotten drunk in the previous month.

There are also reasons for optimism: despite these percentages, there are studies confirming a decline in alcohol consumption among young people, and this also coincides with the tightening of policies to prevent drinking.

Image | Tony Mucci (Unsplash) and Sangría Señorial (Unsplash)

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