Young people in Switzerland drink and come out less: we know why

Less outings, less alcohol: times are hard for bars and nightclubs in Switzerland.Image: watson/keystone

In Switzerland, young people come out less and drink less alcohol. This is what a survey of watson.

Follow me

In Switzerland, alcohol consumption behaviors are changing. Wine, beer and spirits seem to occupy a less central place in the evenings, a change visible even in bars and clubs ensure them. A change that can be seen in the figures: Daily alcohol consumption has been reduced. It increased from 30% among men in 1992 to 12% in 2022, indicated the OFS in 2024. Punctual intoxication, however, increased since 2007.

The world of the night is also affected. Some clubs, such as the famous mascot, a high place of Zurich nights, have even closed recently, invoking a drop in attendance. They point to behavior changes from the pandemic. Have they really taken place? If so, where do they come from? Do the Swiss are now partying otherwise?

Watson looked into these questions through an investigation carried out in collaboration with the social research institute Demoscope, between June 4 and 10, 2025. In total, 7863 people were questioned, a representative sample for German and French -speaking Switzerland.

How are the Swiss out today? Answers.

Differences between genres and generations

Over the past year, Almost 80% of 16–30s said they consume alcohol only twice a weekto the maximum. All age groups combined, this figure drops to 63%.

However, the analysis shows clear differences between generations: almost one in ten people over 55 is drinking alcohol daily. Among 16–30 year olds, only 4.6% (55 people out of 1,195 respondents).

Greases also appear between genres: more than one in three women (36%) declares to drink less than once a month, against only one in six men. Conversely, 46% of men consume alcohol three to four times a week or more, twice as much as women (21%).

General consumption downward

The observation is clear: all generations combined, the respondents say they have reduced their consumption. Almost a third is “significantly less” than before, and one in ten no longer drinks at all. Only 6% of respondents claim to drink more than before.

Z generation aware of his sobriety

Our questionnaire reveals another interesting point: how the different generations believe their consumption and the way in which they see that of others. Thus, in 16–30 year olds, 70% think that their generation is drinking less alcohol than previous ones at the same age, of which 16% believe that the decline is significant. A feeling that corroborates the testimonies of certain players in the environment seeing a drop in attendance.

Otherwise, on the older side, 62% share this diagnosis. The 31–54 year olds are the most numerous to consider that today’s young people drink less than them in their time (71%). The over 55s are a little more nuanced.

Attendance of bars and clubs: A marked decline

Less alcohol does not only mean more sober evenings, but also less evenings. Half of the 16–30 year olds say they go to a bar or in a box at most once a month, and 16% of them ever go there. All generations combined, 83% of respondents come out little generally.

Why young people do they come out less?

Among the reasons invoked, 56% of respondents prefer to see their friends in a private setting. In 16–30 year olds, this preference reaches 60%. Then comes the cost of outings: 53% believe that bars and clubs are too expensive.

In addition, a third of young people do not feel attracted by the atmosphere or the music offered, and 29% simply have no interest in this type of place.

The 31–54 year olds also evoke the lack of time and the cost (33%each), while, among those over 55, the lack of interest dominates (42%), followed by the feeling of being “too old” (31%).

To the question “What could make customers come back?” The most frequent responses are: a good atmosphere (36%), affordable prices (29%), an outdoor space or a terrace (29%), and welcoming staff (28%).

Safety and accessibility in public transport also stands out, with a marked gap between genres on these two criteria.

How many glasses per evening?

On average, more than half of the participants declare consuming between one and four glasses (beer, wine, longdrink, etc.) per evening.

However, young people remain the most inclined to excess: almost 10% of 16–30 year olds drink over ten evenings in the evening. The proportion drops to 8% in those over 55, and the age is advancing, the more consumption decreases. Men, all generations combined, drink significantly more than women.

Less alcohol, but why?

So, “Living healthier and no longer partying until the end of the night”: is this the new creed of young people?

Indeed, 53% of respondents mention health reasons. Other motivations follow: no need or desire to drink (40%), refusal to lose control (39%), desire to stay in shape (31%). Almost a quarter of young people said they were marked by alcohol -related negative experiences.

The “trend healthy”, a secondary factor

If the healthy lifestyle is promoted on social networks, it does not seem to be a decisive factor: only 6% of respondents say that this influences their consumption. A majority (57%) do not feel concerned, and 27% have not even noticed this trend.

Adapted from German by Tanja Maeder

The actor made famous for his role in Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill: vol. 2 succumbed to cardiac arrest.

He was an actor appreciated by Quentin Tarantino. The legendary American director will no longer be able to call on Michael Madsen: he died at 67 years old.