I don't agree with the cost of living remark. The main reason is that contrary to pubs, restaurants are doing extremely well. At least where I live. Quite a fe

I don't agree with the cost of living remark. The main reason is that contrary to pubs, restaurants are doing extremely well. At least where I live. Quite a few pubs are converted into restaurants and they're full all of the time. Even in my small town. For sure there's a COVID catch up effect, but this is a long running trend. It suggests that just price is not a very strong driver for changing behavior. Yes, a full time pub life is increasingly rare, but as it comes to health, I don't think it's a serious consideration for young people. Or the particular group of young people looking for "fun". They still drink, just differently. Or do lots of drugs. Health seems the least of their worries. I do agree with your last point: many more distractions and types of entertainment. Pubs might have filled a void that no longer exists. Except for one: spontaneous socializing. You can just walk into any pub and with a bit of luck, have an interesting/healing conversation, meet new people, perhaps even a friend, or find romance. Nobody in the pub would find any of it awkward as that is kind of the point of a pub.