‘I just order cola’: South Korea’s drying booze culture leaves bars parched

Mar 26, 2026 · 211 words · By The Korea Times

Analysis Summary

Propaganda Score: 10% (confidence: 95%)
Summary: The article discusses a shift in South Korean youth culture toward moderate drinking and alcohol abstinence, citing examples of young people opting for non-alcoholic beverages and non-alcohol-centered social gatherings. It highlights changing social norms and their impact on bar culture.

“South Korea’s drying booze culture leaves bars parched: ‘I just order cola’”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence found in archive to support or contradict claims about South Korea's alcohol consumption trends

“Only one in five tables order alcohol. A customer ordering alcohol heavily is like winning a lottery”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence found in archive to verify statistics about alcohol ordering rates in South Korean bars

“I hardly drink at all – one or two glasses of beer at most.”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence found in archive to confirm drinking patterns among young South Koreans

“Gatherings that do not involve alcohol – usually centred on dinner, cafes or karaoke rather than bars – are becoming more common”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence found in archive to support claims about non-alcoholic social gatherings in South Korea

“An increasing number of college students say they no longer see much point in drinking”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence found in archive to verify trends in college students' drinking attitudes

“Alcohol tastes unpleasant to him and only leaves him feeling bloated”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence found in archive to support claims about South Koreans' negative experiences with alcohol

“So I just order a zero-sugar cola, even at a bar”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence found in archive to confirm cola ordering trends in South Korean bars