The annual workplace Christmas get together is often a time of decadence, the place colleagues get higher acquainted with each other with the assistance of music, meals, and, crucially, a whole lot of alcohol.
This yr’s workplace Christmas events, nevertheless, are set to get rid of the booze and as an alternative change into afloat with mocktails and artisanal sodas, as bosses react to their Gen Z staffers’ new urge for temperance.
Analysis from occasions administration firm Togather suggests greater than a fifth of the Christmas occasions they are going to be operating this yr are more likely to be alcohol-free. The 21% of events set to go booze-free this Christmas is a rise on the 19% determine from final yr.
Togather says 74% of Gen Zers are acutely aware of the well being impacts of alcohol, driving their bosses to accommodate them with booze-free celebrations. Will probably be one other boon for beer suppliers, who’ve recognized alcohol-free drinks as a profitable development market.
“As we glance towards 2024 Christmas, it’s clear that Christmas events are evolving in ways in which align with Gen Z’s values. From bigger, extra inclusive occasions to artistic, Instagrammable venues, this festive season is all about creating memorable experiences that replicate the distinctive, forward-thinking tradition of right this moment’s workforce,” mentioned Abigail Gliksman, occasions gross sales govt at Togather.
“For them, it’s not nearly celebrating the top of the yr—it’s about doing so in model. Whether or not it’s by way of alcohol-free choices, trendy themes, or big-budget leisure, Christmas events in 2024 are set to go away a long-lasting impression on this vibrant era.”
The Gen Z-driven craze for temperance has been properly documented in recent times, with younger employees diverging from the tastes of millennials and above.
Certainly, many youthful individuals are chopping their ingesting amid heightened consciousness of alcohol’s hostile results on bodily and psychological well being.
Nevertheless, there’s some disagreement about whether or not Gen Z is shunning booze due to the related well being advantages or as a result of it’s simply change into too costly. Many drinkers are turning to cheaper alternate options or going fully sober as a mix of excessive inflation and rates of interest left them with much less disposable earnings every month.
A survey of European adults aged 18-34 discovered two-thirds had in the reduction of on their alcohol spending in bars and eating places in 2023, with value of dwelling pressures cited as the primary purpose for his or her frugality.
“There seems to be a generational shift in attitudes in direction of alcohol consumption that inflationary will increase have merely accelerated, somewhat than created,” Nikki Lavoie, EVP of promoting, model, and innovation at Savanta, beforehand informed Fortune.
Not everybody has been capable of sustain with the altering developments of an more and more highly effective Gen Z buyer base.
In February, Peter Marks, the CEO of U.Ok. nightclub proprietor Rekom, mentioned the price of dwelling disaster was driving extra of his prospects to “pre-drink” at dwelling as a way to spend much less in his golf equipment, which means they arrive later and spend much less once they’re there.
Initially of the yr, three out of 5 Gen Zers mentioned they wished to chop again on their alcohol consumption in 2024.
Whereas an financial slowdown could also be the true purpose for Gen Z breaking with the older generations and embracing temperance, their employers aren’t pinching the pennies this festive season.
Collectively’s analysis finds large celebrations are on the rise, with 44% of its occasions catering to greater than 100 visitors. And whereas extra occasions gained’t include alcohol, 40% of corporations are rising their general drinks budgets in contrast with final yr.
