By Lilly Whitsell
Last week, my mother told me, a 21 year old college student, that I am lame. I don’t go out, I don’t drink, and I’m a bit of a “workaholic”. To defend myself, I told her that it’s not just me – it’s my whole entire generation that is lame.
Generation Z (AKA Gen-Z, born 1997 to 2012) are graduating college and moving into the real adult world, and they are finding that it’s not nearly as fun as their parents raised them to believe. It’s becoming harder to have a “night out on the town” due to rising costs and health concerns that are affecting both businesses and young adults.
According to a 2025 interview by NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly, with Stephen Parker of the National Independent Venue Association, “… the problem is, in part, the economy. Rents keep going up. So does insurance, and people just do not go out as often as they did before COVID, and they drink less alcohol.” A study conducted by Parker’s group found that “…64% of independent venues, promoters, and festivals are not profitable.”
Helium Comedy Club, in downtown Buffalo, is an independently owned venue. A standard ticket includes a hefty purchasing fee, as well as a two-item minimum per person before the night ends. As a frequent patron there, a $20 ticket typically ends in a $55+ bill at the end of the night.
Lydia Saad studied the consistency of alcohol consumption by Americans from 1939 to 2025 using data collected by Gallup. According to her, alcohol consumption has hit an all time low at 54%. Saad’s reasoning for this generational change in behavior was because Gen-Z is taking their health seriously. Alcohol is being viewed as a high risk with no reward.
I am not one to drink often. I personally don’t enjoy the feeling of being drunk, nor do I like the effects that alcohol can have on the body. I’ve lost many loved ones to liver-related illnesses, so I don’t think it’s worth it. Also, drinks are expensive.
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s labor market study, using federal census data, shows that unemployment of young adults aged 22 to 27 (all Gen-Z), has been steadily on the rise since June of 2023. As of the most recent update in 2025:Q4, unemployment in recent college graduates within that age range was at 5.6%, and young workers 7.8%. This, in comparison with the general unemployment rate at 4.2%, is significant.
My career field is IT. Over the last 3 months, I have been looking for a new job. I have submitted 25 applications, and I have received 4 rejections and 0 interviews. The market is abysmal.
McKinsey and Company’s “Mind the Gap” published a newsletter that talked about Gen-Z’s newfound health obsession. Multiple reasons are cited, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the influence of social media, and the desperate attempt to find a “third place” at the gym.
I’m not a health nut by any means, but I care about it. I go to the gym 3 times a week and I have a high fiber and protein diet, cutting out artificial sugars and alcohol. The importance of diet and exercise for long-term health have always been stressed, but the intensity of those conversations absolutely raised after the pandemic.
Economic and social factors are basically acting as the cops crashing the party. The kids aren’t getting turnt like they should be, to no fault of their own.
Spring 2026 
Leave a comment