No booze allowed – would you go on a dry date?
If you're used to plucking up a bit of Dutch courage with a glass of wine on a first date, then brace yourself.
Dry-dating – where you go on alcohol-free dates – is set to be a big trend this summer, according to dating app Bumble.
In 2021, a study published by the University of Sheffield showed that alcohol consumption fell overall between March and June 2020 compared to the year before. This change in our alcohol consumption habits has been reflected in Bumble’s data too.
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The research found that more than a third of us (34%) would now consider going on a 'dry date', where no alcohol is consumed.
According to psychologist and relationship expert Michaela Thomas, founder of The Thomas Connection, no alcohol on a date has lots of positives.
"It can certainly be an ice-breaker to discuss your reasons why behind the request for a dry date," she explains. "You may feel like you get to know the 'real' person behind the liquid courage alcohol can give, or that you may feel more able to be clear-headed and not risk embarrassing yourself.
"Some people find that no alcohol means they don't cross their own internal boundaries around how far they want to go on a date, for example getting physical or going home together after the date."
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Another big trend which may raise some eyebrows is the 'Power PDA' with celebs like Anya Taylor-Joy and Malcolm McRae, as well as Justin and Hailey Bieber leading the charge.
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Nearly 70% of daters around the world say they are more open to public displays of affection post-pandemic.
"As the restrictions have been lifted in the UK, public displays of affection may be less triggering as they are not breaking rules," says Thomas. "How safe each individual feels about touching varies, so there may be some looks."
"Some daters may feel like 'making up for lost time' and public displays of affection can be a way of exercising this new freedom in a way that didn't seem so necessary pre-pandemic."
