Bar-hopping or meeting up for drinks has always been a popular go-to activity for a first date. According to the new study, almost 1 in 2 (47%) Millennials who were surveyed admit they turn to alcohol on a date to settle their nerves, whereas almost 1 in 3 (31%) GenZ respondents who consume alcohol admit they choose to drink alcohol on a date to give their date company. However, as per Bumble’s recent nationwide study, 1 in 4 single Indians (24%) who consume alcohol say they will not drink alcohol on dates in 2023. With a growing number of GenZ and Millennials in India now embracing ‘mindful drinking’ and being ‘sober curious’— alcohol-free ‘dry dates’ are set to be extremely popular this year. Daters are getting better about articulating what they do and don’t want in their dating journeys, challenging the status quo, and dating on their own terms in the new year.
For the majority (56%) of people, the top reason for not drinking on a date is wanting to get to know the other person with a clear mind. 45% of respondents who consume alcohol are choosing not to drink alcohol on dates because they’re trying to improve their health & well-being by reducing alcohol consumption.
“Since the pandemic, we have seen a rise in ‘sober curiosity’ and more people opting for alcohol-free dry dates. Dating while sober may feel more difficult for some, but nothing feels more empowering than living a life true to your needs. We want everyone in our community to be able to communicate the most authentic version of themselves, worry-free on Bumble and by using the ‘Drinking’ Badge you can express if you are sober or evaluating your relationship with alcohol.” shares Samarpita Samaddar, India Communications Director, Bumble.
Always up for going the extra mile when it comes to being inclusive and supportive, Bumble has updated its ‘Drinking’ badge within the app for people to clearly identify and showcase their sober lifestyle and drinking habits to give users the right tools to highlight their full, genuine selves to potential matches. The ‘Drinking’ badge now also features the selection ‘Rarely’ apart from ‘Frequently’, ‘Socially’, ‘Never’, and ‘Sober’.
Navigating dates when one person drinks and the other abstains doesn’t need to be awkward—and it’s certainly not a relationship deal-breaker. Bumble’s Relationship Expert, Shahzeen Shivdasani shares ideas to help you go on sober, dry dates:
1. Consider making the first date dry for both of you—perhaps by taking a walk or doing another sober activity
2. Choose coffee dates— it can be long or short, whichever works best for you.
3. Busting out the competition makes for a great early-in-the-game date. A run in the park, yoga, or who out-cycles who will get you into the competitive spirit!
4. Visit food fairs or explore street food hopping together.
5. Take a leisurely stroll together through the halls of a local museum full of history and pretty paintings. You’ll get a healthy dose of culture and some great photos for your social media while you’re at it!
6. Attend gigs, concerts, art and literary festivals that are happening in your city. You can bond over your favourite artists or authors and get to know more about your date!
Bumble’s sundowner on 31 Jan was an evening filled with meaningful conversations and mocktail mixing with Samarpita Samaddar, India Communications Director, Bumble and acclaimed mixologist Rachel Colaco. Urging you to make the first move, but in an unconventional way, Bumble has disclosed that alcohol-free ‘dry dates’ are set to be one of the biggest dating trends in 2023.
This research was commissioned by Bumble and conducted by YouGov across India with a sample of 2000 single adults in January, 2023.
