Not too long ago, catching up with friends often meant ordering a round of cocktails or opening a bottle of wine. These days, another drink is quietly finding its place at the table.
Kombucha
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Once known as a niche health drink, kombucha has become a favourite among many young adults looking for something refreshing without the alcohol. It is part of a wider shift in how Gen Z thinks about going out, celebrating and taking care of themselves.
A recent report by Vogue Business explores how younger consumers are changing the global drinks industry. Instead of drinking more, many are choosing drinks that fit into a wellness-focused lifestyle, from kombucha and botanical spritzers to sophisticated alcohol-free cocktails.
While South Africa’s alcohol industry remains a major economic contributor, generating R226.3 billion for the country’s GDP and supporting close to 500 000 jobs, younger consumers are showing there is growing demand for alcohol-free alternatives alongside traditional favourites, according to the Drinks Federation South Africa.
Raising a glass, differently
For Gen Z, the question is no longer whether to drink alcohol. It is about choosing when it feels right. Research from the long-running Monitoring the Future study found that alcohol abstinence among young adults has steadily increased over the past two decades. The Cleveland Clinic says the shift is being driven by growing interest in healthier lifestyles, better mental wellbeing and a greater understanding of alcohol’s effects on the body.
That does not mean social life is slowing down. If anything, it is becoming more creative.
Today, a beautifully made mocktail can feel just as celebratory as a cocktail. A bottle of kombucha shared over lunch can be just as satisfying as a glass of wine. It is less about what is missing and more about what people are choosing to enjoy.
A trend that feels right at home in Cape Town
Cape Town has long embraced slow living, good food and the outdoors. Sunrise hikes, ocean swims, weekends at local markets and lingering coffee dates are already woven into the city’s lifestyle.
So it’s no surprise that mindful drinking is finding its place here too.
Across the city, cafés are expanding their kombucha selections, restaurants are putting more thought into their mocktail menus and wellness stores are stocking a growing range of functional drinks made with botanicals, probiotics and natural ingredients.
Having more choice means everyone can enjoy the occasion in their own way.
Whether it is a sparkling kombucha after a morning at the Oranjezicht City Farm Market, a citrus mocktail while watching the sunset at Camps Bay or a carefully chosen glass of wine shared over dinner, there is room for every kind of celebration.
It is not about saying no
One of the biggest changes is that drinking alcohol has become a choice rather than an expectation. According to Vogue Business, younger consumers are helping reshape the market by embracing moderation instead of excess. That shift is encouraging brands to rethink everything from premium spirits to alcohol-free alternatives.
Perhaps that is what makes this moment so interesting.
It is not about giving something up. It is about having more choice. The freedom to order what suits the moment, enjoy good company and wake up feeling ready for whatever tomorrow brings.
Sometimes, the best conversations happen with a bottle of kombucha in hand.
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Also read:
The rise of the sober curious: Non-alcoholic cocktails hit record highs
Picture: reateasea / Unsplash
