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world Scmp World 2026-03-26

South Korea's Drying Booze Culture Leaves Bars Parched

South Korea's drinking culture is declining, with younger generations opting for non-alcoholic beverages. A recent study found that only a few people out of a group of friends order alcohol when going out.


โ€œI hardly drink at all โ€“ one or two glasses of beer at most.โ€ Kim Min-ha, a 21-year-old student at Sookmyung Womenโ€™s University, recently headed to a cafe with fellow club members after a meet-up. They each ordered one of the newly released drinks and chatted for a while before parting ways. On the rare occasions that they do go out for beer, only a few actually order alcohol. Kim said the gatherings usually start at 6pm and end around 8 or 9pm. Kimโ€™s experience reflects the growing spread of...

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