0 comments
A ZipHealth survey suggests that Gen Z greatly prefer sober sex to drunken hookups. The stats give us an inkling as to why.
Even the most extroverted among us have had extremely awkward post-coitus mornings. But the majority of Gen Zers are reportedly keen to do away with Dutch courage, and experience all aspects of the ‘hookup’ authentically and with all their faculties.
A survey conducted by ZipHealth, including 500 Americans and 500 Brits, suggests that sober intimacy is now greatly preferred to drunken sex by young people. But why?
Around 43% of Brits and 33% of Americans said that sober sex deepened emotional connection with a partner, and almost half reported having a more intense orgasm when not inebriated. Probably something to do with not feeling on the verge of chundering.
A third cited sober sex as being more passionate, more satisfying, and more conducive to building genuine confidence. For better or worse, they’d rather confront the realities of their decisions and feelings the morning after. This aligns strongly with what we know about Gen Z’s desire for meaningful relationships, both platonically and romantically speaking.
That’s not to say everyone can be pigeonholed, however. About one in three Americans and Brits admitted they still lean on substances to boost their confidence, especially when approaching strangers, and 12% said they only have sex when they’re drunk.
Brits were half as likely as their transatlantic counterparts to lean on booze just to find their partner attractive (8% vs 16%). That statistic doesn’t add much colour to the overall picture, but it’s interesting to know. Damn.
Generally speaking, the sexual habits being described reflect Gen Z’s wider preferences and values. The cohort has significantly less sex than Millennials did at their age for a variety of reasons. They’re out clubbing and drinking less, which instantly limits the opportunity for casual sex, but are also more selective with who they choose to engage with in everyday life.
Being ‘digital natives’ is considered both a gift and a curse in this way. Growing up online and entering adulthood during a pandemic have created palpable issues around body image and loneliness for many Gen Zers, and young people are becoming increasingly introspective.
