Gen Z are refusing to buy rounds at the pub to avoid hangovers – now scientists say it really works

From drinking ‘Tiger’s milk’ to soaking socks in vodka, many booze–loving Brits will try just about anything to avoid a hangover. 

Now, a new anti–hangover method is emerging on social media – avoiding rounds at the pub. 

While buying a round of drinks is a long–standing British tradition, it seems many Gen Z are evading the practice, and simply buying themselves drinks. 

Taking to Reddit, one user explained how they had witnessed youngsters only buying drinks for themselves, and asked: ‘Is this just a generational thing? I’m 36 and it’s always felt like the normal thing to do.’

In response, one user said: ‘I always rather just get myself a drink when I wanted one. Rounds generally just overcomplicate things.’

Another added: ‘I personally don’t like to do rounds at the pub because I’m probably only going to have one or maybe two drinks max, so if there’s more than a few of us, it suddenly becomes quite a steep option.’

While the rounds system may be a British tradition, the British Heart Foundation says avoiding it really is a good idea. 

‘Opting out could be a simple trick to keep alcohol intake in moderation. Buying your own drinks avoids social pressure to drink more than you might want,’ it explained. 

While buying a round of drinks is a long–standing British tradition, it seems many youngsters are evading the practice, and simply buying themselves drinks (stock image)

The debate was sparked on Reddit at the end of last year by one user, who was surprised to observe youngsters shunning rounds. 

‘Two lads from the same group were at the bar together while the rest of their mates were sat at a table,’ they explained. 

‘Instead of one of them getting a round in, they each bought their own drinks. A third mate from their group came up, stood chatting to them while they ordered, and they still didn’t offer to get him one — he went up after and bought his own.

‘I always thought it was just the norm that if you were out with a group, you’d start doing rounds. In bigger groups you’d split it up or do smaller rounds, but there was always some kind of system.’

The post has had hundreds of responses, with many users explaining their reasoning for shunning rounds. 

One user said: ‘I always hated rounds. I drank 2 or 3 times slower than most people in that situation so ended up paying way over the odds for a night out!’

Another wrote: ‘I don’t think most people drink enough for rounds to make sense tbh. If you’re having 2 drinks each in a night and have a group of 5 it’s a bit of a mess.’

And one quipped: ‘Always just buy my own at my own pace, rounds are stupid.’

According to the British Heart Foundation, opting out of rounds is a great way to reduce your alcohol consumption – and reduce your risk of a dread hangover  (stock image)

According to the British Heart Foundation, opting out of rounds is a great way to reduce your alcohol consumption – and reduce your risk of a dreaded hangover.  

‘While there is no completely safe level for alcohol, if you do drink alcohol, and consume the maximum recommended limit of 14 units per week, it’s best to spread this evenly over three days or more,’ said Tracy Parker, senior dietitian at British Heart Foundation.

‘Binge drinking, which is more than six units of alcohol for women on one occasion, and more than eight for men, can have a serious impact on your health. 

‘In the long term, it can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease as well as alcohol–related cancer.’

As well as opting out of rounds, experts ‘zebra striping’ – a technique that involves alternating alcohol drinks with non–alcoholic ones. 

‘Zebra striping can reduce hangovers if it leads you to drink less overall,’ explained Cathy Montgomery and Abi Rose, psychologists from Liverpool John Moores University, in an article for The Conversation. 

‘But if you compensate for zebra striping by extending your night out or drinking stronger drinks, the benefits quickly disappear.’