Clubbing Is On Its Way Out, According to 17-Year-Olds

We’re often told that Gen Z aren’t that up for hedonism and drugs; that they’re more into Netflix and chill than vodka and Red Bull. Next year, that theory gets put to the test for the first time, as “millennium babies” – those who were born in the year 2000 – will be able to legally go out clubbing for the first time.

So, what do young people, currently 17, think about that age-old pursuit of lugging oneself around a dance floor in an inebriated state? We’ve asked seven people on the verge of their clubbing dawn whether or not they care that they’ll soon be able to legally dance in sweaty rooms until 4AM.

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Niyonella

I do think that clubbing is on its way out. I don’t think it will end with my generation, but I definitely think we’ll see a decline in the culture. People will always like partying, but with the way everything’s changing, I don’t think clubs will be as successful as they are for too much longer.

I think social media has allowed for people like myself – who aren’t really into the going out scene – to have a reason to stay in while still feeling connected to their generation. Though, I definitely think social media glamorises clubbing and glosses over the dangers of it.

I like early mornings better than late nights, and find that the risks associated with clubbing outweigh the benefits.

Sara

I know how to get a fake ID, and I’ve had opportunities to go clubbing, although I’ve never actually been. I think there’s too much risk and not enough reward in the potential dangers going out as a young female. I have reason to fear sexual harassment and assault at clubs in today’s society. Clubs seem to provide an environment that makes it easy to take advantage of people, with the alcohol and drug use. I feel like I would have to be on high-alert at all times in a club just to keep myself safe, which defeats the purpose of going at all.

House parties are ideal. We go out for events and special occasions, but we prefer to stay in and watch movies, play games and eat pizza, mostly. We love to stay in and chill.

Ernest

When I went to clubs in Moscow I edited a copy of my passport and told my bouncers that my original passport was on a visa. Clubbing is good mainly for the new acquaintances with girls, and the funny consequences you discuss with friends in the morning.

While I was away, I met drunk Russian men who tell you absolutely everything about themselves after an hour of dancing and call you “brother”. That’s a great clubbing experience. The worst, though, were the guards who often behaved aggressively.

Back home, at the weekend, every second on my Instagram feed is photos from people at clubs. There are so many different clubs for every taste. Club owners come up with more ways to drag people inside, so there are always a lot of people on the weekends.

Noah

Recently, someone told me clubbing wasn’t the same as it used to be. Obviously I don’t know what it used to be like, but they said people don’t seem to have the same attitude as they used to. Apparently people would be very loyal to a club that they wanted to get into: they would try over and over, changing their clothes or appearance until they were allowed in – but apparently this doesn’t happen any more.

I think it’s a lot easier to get into clubs now; I hardly ever see people being turned away from clubs. What I don’t understand is why another club hasn’t opened up that is hard to get into, which gives people the old school attitude.

It’s risky going clubbing underage, with someone else’s ID, so I’ve only done it four times.

One time in a club a fight broke out between two girls, and one of them threw a cup at the other but it missed her and cut my friend’s head open. He was fine – he didn’t need stitches or anything – but it was my first clubbing experience and it surprised me how lairy things could get. It wasn’t really what I expected to see.

When I’m 18 I expect to go clubbing a lot more. When I see that famous people I like are going to a club it makes me want to go. I like the idea of a VIP area with friends a lot more than going in, getting drunk and dancing for a while. I’m not a big drinker and I don’t do drugs.

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Matilda

I usually go clubbing once a week, even though I’m 17. I like the whole experience of going out: it’s so different to anything I’ve experienced before, like house parties. When you’re out, you forget about everything else going on and just focus on that moment, have a good time, dance, listen to music, have some drinks and meet new people.

Pretty much all of my friends can’t wait to go clubbing, and the ones who are already 18 are constantly messaging each other, arranging when they’re next going out. We all like a party and drink, so we’re all going to pick a night out over staying in.

Isaac

The appeal to going clubbing is drinking, dancing and getting your graft on, to say it bluntly. Pulling girls is rather a big appeal.

I’ve used fake ID before. It wasn’t really a peer pressure thing, but the fact all your mates go and you can’t without fake ID is a bit of a bummer.

I’ve often found an ace variety of people at the clubs I’ve been to. The worst is usually the overpriced drinks, or sometimes the occasional dickhead, but you don’t often get them.

My main group of mates would much rather chill out – mainly because the majority are potheads, excluding me and a few others, and because we live quite far from the closest nightclub. However, I’ve got a group of “club mates” who I normally stay with, and they go out every weekend pretty much. Social media’s improved the clubbing experience. I’ll often get a Snapchat or a Facebook message asking if I’m going to Spiders, our local nightclub in Hull, at the weekend.

@adamzx