Pub bosses have criticised Gen Z drinkers for adding ice to pints of beer, with new research showing 28% of 18- to 25-year-olds put ice cubes in lager, cider or IPAs. The survey of 2,000 people by LG Electronics also found that 35% of Gen Z drinkers enjoy red wine on the rocks, compared to just 10% of older age groups.
Sir Tim Martin, founder and chairman of JD Wetherspoon, gave the trend a frosty reception, telling The Telegraph: “Ice in lager? Go figure, as our American cousins say. I think it’s a continental thing.” He added: “Guinness, the old man’s drink for a century, has become first choice among Gen Z-ers, male and female. Nothing whatsoever is sacred in the modern world.”
However, some landlords are more accepting. Simon Garbutt, of The Turfcutters Arms in Hampshire, said younger drinkers enjoy ice in “ciders, lagers and sometimes IPAs”, adding: “The cider thing is a bit of a trend, but definitely they can taste better when they’re chilled. It’s horrible when your drink is warm on a hot day.”
The survey also revealed that 29% of 18- to 25-year-olds who asked for ice in non-traditional drinks received a frosty reception at the bar. A fifth of 25- to 34-year-olds also reported admonishment, and one in ten said they avoid asking for ice for fear of ridicule. Overall, 44% of those surveyed agreed that adding ice to wine and lager is “uneducated”.
