Lager on the rocks? Gen Z’s iced beer habit gets frosty reception from traditionalists
Gen Z’s desire to put ice in their pints is ruffling feathers
- A new survey indicates that 30 per cent of 18 to 35-year-olds in the UK prefer lager with ice, with a significant proportion also adding ice to ale and red wine.
- This trend, partly influenced by TikTok, has ignited a 'culture war' among drinkers, as nearly half of those surveyed consider adding ice to wine an 'unnecessary, uneducated, or gross choice'.
- The survey also found that one in seven Britons have experienced shame from bartenders or hosts for requesting ice in their drinks, leading some to avoid asking for it.
- Drinks expert Merlin Griffiths from Channel 4's First Dates noted that adding ice to wine is a traditional practice in some regions, such as the South of France, where it is known as 'vin piscine'.
- The increasing demand for iced drinks coincides with the UK experiencing its warmest summer on record, following the warmest and driest spring, suggesting a link to changing climate patterns.