Millennials Vs GenZ: A Dialogue Between Two Drinking Cultures

When it comes to cocktail and mixology cultures, I am somewhere on the border. Neither a full millennial nor a proper GenZ, I can dip into both worlds simultaneously – as much to go for a negroni as to go for a latte with lots of aesthetic. So, a dialogue between millennials and GenZ about defining their drinking cultures almost feels like an internal monologue, where I end up speaking for both age groups of adults dabbling in mixology practices.

It’s Intentional With Millenials

Have you ever been at a table with a millennial telling you all about how they discovered the cocktail they were having while they were, let’s say, ‘backpacking through western Europe?’ Well, that’s essentially what millennial drinking culture is all about – elaborate thoughts wrapped in interesting anecdotes which inspire their cocktail, mocktail or any other beverage choices. Millennials drink with the intention of either invoking a memory, or due to a legacy attached to their favoured spirit or cocktail concoction or sometimes even because the blend has become their own signature mix.

But when I run out of stories and want to experiment with different flavours – remember, I am on the border after all – I hop onto the GenZ side of things where the drink itself is the story. This generation is keen on exploring the flavours, glassware, colour and ice cube shape of a drink, along with examining how social media worthy it really is! GenZ might be more interested in going for a drink like a strawberry chilli margarita, crafted with precision in an iridescent glass before being propped up on a ledge against perfect lighting. Not only is this drink complete with excellent taste but it is also full of an aesthetic presentation worthy of the gram.

GenZ’s Thoughtfulness

But what makes GenZ such a curiously interesting generation of cocktail connoisseurs is their thoughtful approach towards drinks. I do it too – even at the risk of being deemed ‘that person’ who wants to know whether the ingredients sourced for the drink were produced in sustainable ways. Do you, as a GenZ home cafe exponent, also go for coffee beans which were cultivated responsibly? Or ask those persisting questions like what goes in a cocktail, how is it made, is the glassware recyclable and whether the cocktail is vegan?

Well, contrary to millennials who are more invested in the taste and flavour composition of certain blends, the younger generation is all about taking extra care to make the drink itself into an event and explores the different components of the blend to curate a standout blend.

Curated Experiences

As someone straddling the borders, I boast of friends belonging to both generations and have been part of my fair share of social gatherings hosted by each one. When you head to a party hosted by a millennial, you will often find an elaborate bar, lots of cocktail options and a general eagerness to curate a beverage.

Contrarily, for GenZ, cocktails, mocktails or even non-alcoholic warm beverages are simply accessories to a carefully curated, staged moment which will become part of their virtual persona just as much as it depicts their personality in real life. 

Millennials on the other hand, are all about planning parties with a complete cocktail and mocktail menu, sometimes even determining the themes or cosplay at their home hosting event in ways that will make room for these specially crafted blends. They make the drink central to a gathering, whereas GenZ incorporates a drink into an aesthetic determined by the music playing in the background, the overall vibe or the conversation at the table.

So, while millennials go for timeless classics neatly curated with elaborate precision, a GenZ cocktail aficionado would muddle rose petals into a lime and gin-based mojito – because it is trending and because it simply blends into the overall beautiful vibe of a place.

Yet, both choices remain flavourful, both are complex. And both have stories to tell, although GenZ’s are reserved mostly for posting on social media!

Also Read: Here’s Your Ultimate Guide To Setting Up A GenZ-Style Home Cafe