Recent research has shown that the time-honoured Aussie tradition of buying a round has declined, most likely due to a combination of a change in drinking habits, changes in technology and of course cost of living pressures.
The National Australia Bank (NAB) surveyed 2,000 Australians late last year, discovering that while over half of all adults do not shout, for the 18–29-year-old age group, the number rises to nearly three quarters.
The younger drinkers were shown to be more likely to drink less and to be more tech savvy, and more inclined to purchase their own drinks.
Kylie Young, a personal banking executive at NAB, believes that since the research was done, this trend has continued downward.
“What we’re seeing is that across the board, Australians are making changes to their spending in the face of cost-of-living pressures,” Young said.
“It really chimes with the fact that this is a generation that is far more conscious about spending and trying to cut back where they can and save where they can, but they’re also far more comfortable talking about how they’re managing their money,” she continued.
John McAndrew, owner of Frisk. Small Bar said that while his bar did see some rounds, this was due to the bar’s position near the marriage office. Otherwise, he agreed with the trend.
“I think ad hoc drinking and going out for one or two doesn’t relate to round-buying culture anymore. Maybe it’s for financial reasons or maybe just culturally people aren’t out for a whole ‘night out’ as often,” he told The West.
While some drinkers at Perth CBD’s The Royal were unsure about the decline, they tended to agree that buying a round was now more conditional – for instance, if an entire party arrived together, or if they were all drinking the same thing.
One punter, Chris Eyres, said he had recently shouted four aperitif drinks, totalling $100.
“You think ‘I’m not getting my money back on this’,” he quipped.
