No more ‘let's grab a drink sometime'... Dry dating is trending during the pandemic

Couples are opting for sober dates as they are safer, more real, and involve less oversharing and kharcha

- Divya Kaushik

If you are on a dating app and ‘let’sgrab a drink sometime’ is youridea of taking things ahead, then here’s some sobering news!

The tried-and-tested ‘let’s grab a drink’ formula of asking someone out is now passe, suggests a new study conducted by a dating app.According to the research, more than half (51%) Indians are now more likely to consider going on a ‘dry date’ as compared to the pre-pandemic times. In fact, Gen Z across the globe is increasingly opting for non-alcoholic first dates. Here’s why:

WHAT IS DRY DATING AND WHY IS IT POPULAR DURING THE PANDEMIC?

One of the reasons why dry dating – i.e. choosing to go alcoholfree on a first date – is emerging as a popular trend is because more youngsters are cutting down on drinking during the pandemic. “In fact, 43% Indians plan to drink less in 2022. Moreover, 32% single Indians feel that their relationship with alcohol has changed during the pandemic, and they prefer drinking lesser than before,” the research by the dating app states. “I have definitely seen this happening with me and a few of my friends,” says Akash Verma, a corporate lawyer from Delhi, on the findings of the research. He adds, “During the pandemic, I realised that I was relying a lot on alcohol to face even slightly complicated situations at work and in my personal life, including dating. I decided to cut down on my drinking to think more rationally, rather than depending on alcohol to handle tough situations.”