{"id":844,"date":"2025-08-06T15:01:49","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T15:01:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.answerla.org\/?p=844"},"modified":"2025-08-07T13:52:20","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T13:52:20","slug":"gen-z-eat-like-senior-citizens-and-our-chaotic-world-is-to-blame","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.answerla.org\/index.php\/2025\/08\/06\/gen-z-eat-like-senior-citizens-and-our-chaotic-world-is-to-blame\/","title":{"rendered":"Gen Z eat like \u2018senior citizens\u2019 \u2014 and our chaotic world is to blame"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The average time of a table booking has got even earlier in 2025 (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While our friends over in Italy<\/a> and Spain<\/a> might be famous for their long, late-night suppers, when I’m making a dinner reservation, I opt for the standard 7pm.<\/p>\n

I have long assumed this is the norm \u2013 anything earlier, and I wouldn’t be hungry \u2013 and frankly, eating during the late-afternoon feels a bit…uncool?<\/p>\n

But it turns out, Gen Z<\/a> are switching it up. According to new research from OpenTable, 6pm is an increasingly in-demand time to eat out \u2013 with reservations for this time increasing by 11% in London<\/a> and 6% UK-wide.<\/p>\n

Another 2024 study found that Gen Z were the most likely to make an earlier dinner booking.<\/p>\n

It’s behaviour that saw one Gen Z TikToker dubbed a ‘senior citizen’ by her parents, and has even been branded ‘loser’ behaviour<\/a>. So why the need to eat so early? <\/p>\n

Why are Gen Zs eating dinner earlier?<\/h2>\n

Seeking control<\/h3>\n

The younger generation is famously fond of ‘boundaries’, and an earlier dinner dates represent a fundamental shift in this boundary-setting.<\/p>\n

\u2018Dining at 6pm may reflect a broader change in how people are structuring and managing their time,\u2018 Irene Scopelliti, professor of marketing and behavioural science at Bayes Business School<\/a>, tells Metro<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u2018One key concept here is time affluence \u2013 the feeling of having more time. An early dinner extends the perceived length of the evening and creates a sense of control.’<\/p>\n

According to another 2024 OpenTable<\/a> study, 39% said early booking allowed more free time afterwards to enjoy their evening solo.<\/p>\n

Irene adds that being exposed to uncertainty for a prolonged period of time can sometimes lead people to \u2018seek greater control and predictability in their personal environments.\u2018 And this might extend to Gen Z.<\/p>\n

Irene adds: \u2018This stronger preference for structures and routine among a demographic whose formative years have seen economic disruption, climate anxiety and geopolitical conflict.\u2018<\/p>\n

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@taylordonoghuee<\/a> <\/p>\n

My parents say I\u2019m a senior citizen for this\ud83d\ude02<\/p>\n

\u266c som original – <\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

A new way of working<\/h3>\n

The pandemic having a long-lasting affect on how we work may also have had an impact. As hybrid working patterns blur lines between work and home, Irene says people have \u2018new markers that signal this transition.\u2018 The 6pm dinner marks a clear break between the structured environment of work and the freedom of personal time.<\/p>\n

\u2018A 6pm dinner may serve as a behavioural cue to end the workday,’ she says. ‘It also sets a socially binding deadline to stop working, as once a plan is set, research shows that individuals are more likely to follow through.\u2018<\/p>\n

Penny pinching<\/h3>\n

There’s also the financial aspect to consider. Gen Z come of age during a cost-of-living crisis, and can be more money-conscious than their elder counterparts. One 2024 study from Barclays<\/a> revealing that they’re more likely to take a considered approach to spending, both in terms of how much they spend and what they consume.<\/p>\n

There’s often a gain to be had from booking an earlier dinner slot. For example, the First Table initiative offers diners in London the chance to book the first available table (often as early as 5pm on weekdays) for a 50% discount \u2013 a no-brainer amid a cost-of-living crisis that\u2019s squeezing British diners out of a meal out. For many, it\u2019s a treat \u2013 and a rare one at that.<\/p>\n

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Comment now<\/title><span class=\"metro-comment-cta__text\">What time do you usually eat dinner? Let us know!<\/span><\/span><a class=\"metro-comment-cta__button\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\">Comment Now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fitness fans<\/h3>\n<p>And, health-conscious Gen Z may be weighing up the health benefits too. A 2019 study found that those who eat late at night (within two hours of sleep) are <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC6893547\/#sec7-nutrients-11-02624\">50% more likely<\/a> to be impacted by obesity.<\/p>\n<p>Gen Zers are breaking from binge drinking habits, with research from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drinkaware.co.uk\/research\/alcohol-facts-and-data\/alcohol-consumption-uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Drinkaware <\/a>finding that 16 to 24-year-olds were the most likely cohort to be sober.<\/p>\n<p>Gym memberships among Gen Z have also almost doubled since 2020, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lesmills.com\/uk\/clubs-and-facilities\/research-insights\/fitness-trends\/landmark-report-lifts-the-lid-on-gen-z-fitness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">30% <\/a>are regularly working out at the gym, compared to between 15 and 25% of the total adult population. A 6pm start inevitably means and early night – meaning you can get up for that 6am gym class.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Get in touch by emailing <a href=\"mailto:MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk\">MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<section id=\"share-buttons-bottom-start\" class=\"share-buttons share-buttons-bottom centered\"><\/section>\n<section id=\"share-buttons-bottom-end\" class=\"share-buttons share-buttons-bottom centered\"><a class=\"comment-now metro-button metro-comments-cta\" data-vars-position=\"bottom_cta_question\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span><title>Comment now<\/title><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"comment-now__label\">What time do you usually eat dinner? Let us know!<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t<\/a><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The average time of a table booking has got even earlier in 2025 (Picture: Getty Images) While our friends over in Italy and Spain might be famous for their long, late-night suppers, when I’m making a dinner reservation, I opt for the standard 7pm. I have long assumed this is the norm \u2013 anything earlier, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":846,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.answerla.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/844","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.answerla.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.answerla.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.answerla.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.answerla.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=844"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.answerla.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/844\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":847,"href":"http:\/\/www.answerla.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/844\/revisions\/847"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.answerla.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/846"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.answerla.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=844"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.answerla.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=844"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.answerla.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=844"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}