The tradition of buying a round in the pub is in danger of dying out as hard-up younger drinkers increasingly buy only their own drink at the bar. Data from the World Cup shows the average Gen Z customer made a larger number of smaller transactions than older age groups, a trend that pubgoers and licencees have noticed, with queues forming at bars as people buy a drink at a time.
A generational shift at the bar
Richard Whitaker, 64, a veteran pintsman, has bought in rounds with his friends ever since he started drinking in his youth, but says the habit is becoming less common among younger drinkers. He said: "If I'm having a drink with the lads, I'd buy them a drink and they'd reciprocate. I have one friend who goes mental if someone goes to the bar and it's not their turn, it's just the done thing."
He added: "I think it is less prominent now, there are still people who drink together, but it's not as common as it used to be. You see young kids in the pub these days and they just buy their own drink and go back to the table. Maybe it's a generational thing."
Izzy Hawksworth, 23, said nobody in her friend group buys in rounds, as some prefer more expensive drinks and others drink faster. She said: "I definitely think it's a little outdated to buy in rounds but I guess it does make sense if everyone is ordering the same drink. It's just so much easier to buy your own drink when you want one."
Cost of living pressures
The shift comes as more than 40% of 25-year-olds are now living with their parents as the cost of living crisis bites younger people. Analysts say people in their 20s are facing a tougher start to adulthood than any generation in almost half a century.
Izzy, of Sheffield, South Yorks., added: "I do think you could be worse off if you were buying more expensive drinks. It's like when people order 3 courses and champagne and then you only have a main and then they want to split the bill."
Not all Gen Z have given up
There is hope yet for the time-honoured tradition. Hattie Dogus, 22, of Warrington, Cheshire, said she and her pals still get the drinks in for each other. She said: "We buy in rounds or we'll get a bottle of wine to share. It costs an arm and a leg, though. You can't get a round for less than £25 these days. It can be expensive, so I understand why some people don't."
Licensee sees queues at the bar
Morag Douglas, licensee of the Star in Burntisland and Scottish spokesperson for the Campaign for Pubs, said the trend is adding to queues at the bar. She said: "It is really encouraging to see young people coming to the pub and socialising and engaging with the wider pub community. As a rule they are a pleasure to welcome in and provide hope for the future of pubs."
"However it would be nice if they could learn from the older clientele the concept of buying a round or putting in to a 'kitty' and not creating a queue waiting to be served. Anyway, it's great that so many younger people do enjoy the pub and hopefully this is something that they can learn the more they enjoy it!"
