‘Dry tripping’ explained as holiday trend takes over Gen Z
When you thought the list of new words to add to your vocabulary couldn’t get any longer, Gen Z have added some more phrases to remember.
Last year in particular was a big year for Gen Z lingo, with words like ‘micro retirement’ and ‘parasocial’ making the list as some of the community’s most used words, and the latter even made it as Cambridge’s ‘Word of the Year’, so best to start brushing up on your Gen Z language skills now, and what a better occasion than before going on holiday?
Yes, even before your holidays, there are a few things to learn to describe your trip, whether that is a ‘holidate’ or ‘side-questing’. However, one phrase in particular has grown in popularity amongst Gen Z: ‘dry-tripping’. But what exactly is that?
What is ‘dry-tripping’?
To put it simply, 'dry-tripping' is the absence of alcohol on your holiday. Or, as Lifestyle Asia India put it: "Choosing rest, nature, and meaningful experiences over nightlife and packed social plans. "We're dry-tripping this weekend: books, hikes and early nights."
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So, instead of nights out at the club until 4am in Ibiza or Benidorm, it's all about rest and relaxation. And it appears as though many young travellers are deciding it is better to go alcohol-free while on holiday.
Why is 'dry-tripping' so popular?
According to Eurochange, 'dry tourism' is on the rise, largely due to social media and wellness culture, with 50 per cent of travellers saying they'd prefer to holiday somewhere with alcohol-free options.
Meanwhile, other holidaygoers said that going alcohol-free allowed them to create more meaningful experiences, be in the moment, and engage more with local culture or nature, such as hiking or sunbathing.
Plus, it seems like younger generations have fallen out of love with alcohol, with the International Wine and Spirit Research (IWSR) stating in 2024 that 54 per cent of Americans hadn't touched alcohol in six months.
Business Insider adds that more than half of Gen Z respondents had said they'd become more interested in alcohol-free travel recently, with others pointing to physical and mental health as a reason to ditch the booze.
Melanie Fish, a travel expert and Expedia spokesperson, further told the outlet that one in four travellers said that their main reason for drinking less was to 'stay in control and feel better emotionally and physically'.
And hotels and resorts have noticed this uptick too, with a 2023 Hotels.com survey identifying 'dry-tripping' as an emerging trend, with 40 per cent of travellers saying they were likely to book a "detox trip" in the preceding year.
Meanwhile, Fish noted in an Expedia report that many hotels were offering 'delicious mocktails, adaptogen drinks, teas and serotonin sodas' to their patrons.
What are the benefits of 'dry-tripping'?
Of course, one of the benefits is that you'd enjoy your holiday hangover-free, something which Elizabeth Gascoigne, founder and CEO of Absence of Proof, a non-alcoholic events company and distributor, told BBC Travel is something we can 'all get behind'.
However, there are also other side effects from travelling that alcohol could make a lot worse, such as jet lag or long-distance travel, which Victoria Watters, co-founder of Dry Atlas, also said will be helpful if there's no alcohol involved.
There are also psychological benefits to removing alcohol from the equation, particularly on your mental health, as the National Institute of Health puts it: "The greater the amounts of alcohol consumed and the more regular the intake, the more likely a person will be to develop temporary anxiety and depressive symptoms."
Outside of how it makes you feel, it is similarly a load off your wallet too, as Eurochange noted that alcoholic drinks, depending on the consumption amount, can be some of the most expensive things on your trip, never mind the cost of food, transport, entry fees into clubs, and souvenirs.
Many experts have noted that, with the prevalence of trends such as Dry January, alcohol-fuelled holidays aren't where it's at any more, with Watters noting that Gen Z is now seemingly more focused on paying for an experience rather than a temporary item, such as a drink.
And perhaps they are on to something, as I don't know about you, but sunbathing with a good book sounds like more of a fun time than nursing a hangover in the scorching weather.
Topics: Travel, Social Media, Gen Z
Charlotte Dorans