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Drinking Culture Fades as University Towns See Declining Pub Business

Published : Aug 27, 2026 4:04 PM

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The days of heavy drinking are a thing of the past, and the numbers back this up. Last year, spending by those in their 20s at bars and pubs dropped by 20.9% compared to the previous year. Over the past decade, the monthly drinking rates for men in their 20s and 30s have also fallen by more than 10%. The landscape of university towns, where students once naturally gravitated toward alcohol out of a sense of liberation upon reaching adulthood, has changed. With a noticeable decline in students looking for drinks, an increasing number of bars are closing their doors.

Reported by Lee Jong-hoon | Produced by Kim Da-yeon | Video by Ahn Min-shin | Produced by SBS Digital News