"Solo Drinking" Trend

 In Japan, the activity of enjoying things alone, known as "solo [activity]," has been gaining popularity. The spread of these solo activities is seen as a reflection of the diversification of personal hobbies and interests, and is believed to contribute to the overall vitality of society and cultural richness.

Popular Solo Drinking Styles

Solo Drinking at Home:

  1. Drinking while watching TV: Many people enjoy drinking at home while watching television. 
  2. Enjoying izakaya-style dishes like karaage: It’s common to enjoy izakaya menu items like karaage during solo drinking at home. 
  3. Solo evening drinks: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people drinking alone at home has increased, with many enjoying solo evening drinks. 

Solo Drinking at Restaurants:

  1. Specialty shops like ramen, soba, udon, pasta, and pizza places: These are the most commonly visited places for solo dining. 
  2. Family restaurants: Family restaurants are another popular choice for dining alone. 
  3. Cafes and coffee shops: Especially popular among women, these places are often visited alone.

Popular Alcohol Choices for Solo Drinking

Solo Drinking at Home:

  • Beer: The most popular choice due to its ease of enjoyment.
  • Shochu: Particularly favored by those who enjoy stronger flavors.
  • Sake: Often enjoyed alongside meals.

Solo Drinking at Restaurants:

  • Sake: Sake is particularly popular at establishments like "Tateishi 'Yaoya no Ippei-chan'." 
  • Shochu: Again, favored by those who enjoy stronger flavors.
  • Beer: A widely loved and classic choice.

Generational Trends in Solo Drinking

  • Kakuyasu Survey: A survey targeting Kakuyasu’s newsletter users revealed that 93% of respondents have experienced solo drinking. Notably, 62% of those who started solo drinking did so more than 10 years ago, indicating a long history of this habit. 
  • SAKETIMES Survey: A survey on where people drink sake revealed that men in their 20s tend to drink outside, while those over 30 increasingly drink at home. For women, drinking out is common in their 20s and 30s, but by their 40s, more tend to drink at home. 
  • Planet Survey: A survey on home drinking habits found that younger people, especially men in their 20s, tend to drink while surfing the internet or using smartphones. 

These findings suggest that solo drinking habits and styles vary by generation. Younger people are more likely to drink outside and use digital devices, while older generations are more inclined to drink at home and follow traditional drinking styles.

It sounds like you also enjoy drinking wine with your family on weekends but used to prefer drinking alone outside when you were in your 20s-30s, especially shochu, wine, and tequila over beer!

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