What to Do Instead of Drinking: Fun Ways to Enjoy Your Daily Life
When I meet people who don't drink much alcohol, I sometimes ask this question:
"So, what do you do in the evening?"
Thinking about it, it’s a bit of an odd question. It's not as if the evening disappears just because you don't drink, but for a long time, we have naturally connected "after-work" with a glass of something—with friends, at corporate dinners, or just to unwind.
If you take alcohol out of the equation, what fills the evening?
These are four guests who enjoyed a meal at Goldtuna after attending a cultural event for a friend's birthday. They coordinated their outfits with pink as the theme. This photo was captured with a staff member during their dinner.
The Trend Toward Drinking Less is Real
According to the "2025 Community Health Survey" released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) in July 2026, the monthly drinking rate among Korean adults is 57.1%. Still, about 6 out of 10 adults drink at least once a month.
However, generational shifts are noticeable. The monthly drinking rate for men in their 20s dropped from 76.9% in 2016 to 66.1% in 2025. For women in their 20s, it decreased from 64.6% to 58.6% during the same period. For men, the rate has been declining across all age groups over the past decade.
It's hard to say that alcohol is disappearing. Rather, it's more accurate to say that the way we drink and our attitude toward alcohol are changing.
Bluefin Tuna Kama-toro (Premium collar fat)
What Do Non-Drinkers Do After Work?
Recently, an interesting question was posted in a popular KakaoTalk community.
For those who don't drink or quit, what do you do after work?
The author mentioned that after exercising in the morning and working all day, drinking wine on the sofa had become a habit. They explained it seemed less about the alcohol itself and more about stress, boredom, and an evening routine.
Fried Tuna
Reading through the many responses, they are surprisingly simple. People read books, take walks, cook, or just space out. They have dinner with friends or watch movies. Some watch TV while drinking tea or sparkling water.
Others just lounge around on the sofa.
This part is fascinating.
Not drinking doesn't necessarily mean you have to do something new and productive.
Beef Tteokgalbi (Korean grilled short rib patties)
Perhaps We Needed a 'Signal That the Day Is Over'
A can of beer or a glass of wine after work serves a function beyond the alcohol itself. You close the laptop, change clothes, and grab a drink from the fridge. From that moment, work time and personal time are separated.
So, what we wanted might not have been strictly the alcohol.
It could be a signal that the day is done, a small reward for a hard day's work, or permission to finally do nothing.
Cream Shrimp
Organizational psychologists who study the recovery of workers after hours consider psychological detachment (mentally distancing oneself from work), relaxation, and the sense of control over one's activities as essential recovery experiences.
Therefore, you don't need to fill your evenings with exercise, reading, or self-development just because you've reduced your drinking.
Sometimes, resting well is the best way to spend the day.
Goldtuna Signature Cube-style Cut
Even Without Alcohol, Stories Happen
We recently saw such a scene at Goldtuna.
Four guests dressed in pink coordinated outfits for a friend's birthday and attended a cultural event. Afterward, they came to enjoy dinner together.
Alcohol was not a requirement to create the memories of that day.
Celebrating a friend's birthday, choosing the same colored clothes, seeing a cultural event, having dinner, and finally taking a photo together was enough.
Sushi made with Bluefin Tuna Akami (Lean meat) and Swordfish Belly
What do you do if you don't drink?
Spending a day like this seems to be a perfect answer.
Ankimo (Monkfish liver)
What Truly Fills Your Evening?
Back to the initial question.
What do you do if you don't drink?
You can take a walk. You can read a book or watch a movie. You can have dinner with a friend or simply rest at home.
Perhaps more important than what you do is who you want to spend that time with and how you want to spend it.
Sizzling Grilled Mushrooms
When you remove the alcohol, the evening doesn't become empty; rather, the things that were behind the glass become clearer.
People, appointments, food, conversations, and the time spent together.
Like this day when they wore pink outfits, we hope that "Hwayangyeonhwa" (the most beautiful moment in life) continues in the lives of these four guests for a long time.
Grilled Mero (Patagonian Toothfish)
Goldtuna Branch Information
Goldtuna operates in Bangi-dong and Sinsa-dong, Seoul.
The Bangi-dong branch is popular for group gatherings such as family dinners, friend meetups, and corporate dinners. The Sinsa-dong branch, located near Garosu-gil, is frequently used for dates, anniversaries, business meals, and small private gatherings.
As shown in this example, dinners celebrating someone’s birthday are welcome at both branches.
Related Guest Reviews
☞ Review: "Visiting every anniversary, never disappointed.".
☞ External References
The KDCA released data on the drinking rates and age-specific changes among Korean adults in July 2026, based on the 2025 Community Health Survey.
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