Nightclubs are a staple of the British hospitality industry, and a defining cultural feature of the country on the global stage. From the underground rave culture of the 90s to the mainstream superstar DJs of today, the influence of music and the economic impact of this industry are uniquely important.
What’s changed in recent years is the habits around drinking and drug taking in UK club culture. A scene that was once defined by overindulgence in both legal and illegal substances is growing up. Here’s an overview of this seismic shift and where it might lead as habits continue to alter.
Clubbing’s Chequered Past
Going back to the data, it’s clear that the evidence of club culture’s love affair with illicit drugs is more than anecdotal.
The 1990s were dominated by ecstasy, helping propel the rave niche into a £2 billion-a-year behemoth. The first decade of the new millennium saw cocaine rise to prominence in its place, with a combination of falling prices and stricter regulations making certain Class A drugs harder to procure.
A contemporary BBC report found that by 2003, 33% of people had taken at least one illegal substance, with those aged between 20 and 24 most likely to have used cocaine.
Flash forwards to the 2020s, and the latest party drug to dominate the club scene in the UK is ketamine, with Time Out reporting on its ascendancy and the fact that it too is significantly more affordable than its rivals, hence why it’s so widely taken.
Modern clubbers are still at risk of health damage and addiction, even if the drugs taken in the 2020s are different to the 1990s. The growing proportion of people seeking ketamine detox treatment demonstrates this, as does the government’s proposal to reclassify this substance to the same level as ecstasy and cocaine. However, there’s a parallel trend worth talking about; one that could shake the foundations of the UK’s entire club culture.
The Sobriety Revolution
There’s an emerging generational divide in habits around drinking and drug-taking in Britain. A 2021 study found that 28% of Gen Z identified as non-drinkers. This contrasts with the 15% of over-35s who live a completely sober lifestyle.
More recent data suggests this is slowly changing, with only 24% of Gen Z respondents to another study steering clear of booze. Regardless, there’s still a stark divide in play.
A similar pattern emerges for drug-taking. While more of Gen Z believe that currently illegal substances should be decriminalised, research from the Times cited by Warc suggests that sober habits are far more prevalent than 20 years ago.
Wrapping Up: The Future of Club Culture
So, with drink and drugs less popular but still problematic among those of club-going age, what does the future hold?
Worryingly for the industry, nightclubs in the UK are on a commercial precipice. 400 closed their doors for good in the past 5 years, and the fallout from the pandemic is partly to blame. Rising costs and economic uncertainty are similarly cited as the things holding back young people from hitting the club, sober or otherwise.
Meanwhile, live music and concerts are growing, and fashion is intertwined with this more than inebriation. This could be the legacy Gen Z leaves.
Of course, habits tend to go in cycles. While there might be fewer clubs and fewer clubbers to attend them today, this could all change if the next generation rejects the shut-in, sober lifestyle of Gen Z.
