Forget open tabs; Gen Z is rewriting the rules of bar hopping.
Instead of racking up a running bill, young adults are increasingly choosing to pay as they go, one drink at a time, the New York Times reports – and this isn’t just about saving a few bucks on a night out.
Why the shift? For starters, consider the digital world they’ve grown up in. Online transactions are often one-off deals: you pay, you receive. This “pay-as-you-go” mentality, common in app-based services, appears to be influencing Gen Z’s approach to spending in the real world, The Times reports.
But there’s more to it than just digital habits. According to The Times, there’s a sense of financial caution driving this trend.
Amidst economic uncertainties, many young adults are wary of accumulating debt. They’re choosing to stay on top of their spending, avoiding the potential pitfalls of an ever-growing bar tab.
