After-Work Drinks Are Officially Dead – Here’s Why the Aussie Tradition Is Fading Away

If you’ve been around the block in Australian office culture, you know that after-work drinks were once a big deal. Picture this: 4:00 pm on a Friday, your co-worker cracks open a can of VB and hands you one with a grin. Or maybe you finish up a hectic day and dash to the nearest pub for a round with the team, letting loose and forging connections you never would have made just sitting behind your desk. But guess what? That tradition seems to be on life support.

This issue recently popped up on news.com.au—they ran a piece calling out the “Unexpected sign that a huge part of Aussie culture has died.” And you guessed it, it’s that elusive Friday knock-off drink that we all used to live for. Well, we’re here to chat about why it’s been fading and how the younger generation appears to be swapping pints for morning runs. Let’s break it down.

The Nostalgia Factor: Why After-Work Drinks Were So Iconic

A Ritual You Couldn’t Skip

Back in the day, after-work drinks were a downright ritual. Skipping it felt like you were missing out on half the fun of having a job in the first place. It was the place where managers, interns, and colleagues from different departments could mingle without corporate formalities. You’d bond over footy, share inside jokes, and maybe get a bit cheeky about office politics.

In some workplaces, you didn’t even need to go offsite—there was an in-house “beer fridge” that opened at 4:00 pm on the dot every Friday. You’d chat about the day, your weekend plans, and maybe even toss around a few career tips while sipping on a cheap brew. These little moments created connections, built camaraderie, and often turned co-workers into close mates.

The After-Party Pub Crawl

Once you finished your office drinks, you’d shuffle down to the local pub to keep the momentum going. Conversations got a bit looser, and by the end of the night, you had stories to share for weeks (or, let’s be honest, the next Monday’s office banter). It was networking disguised as fun, a way to build trust and friendships in an informal setting. And for many of us, it helped pave the path to promotions and long-standing professional relationships.

Rising Costs: The $15 Beer Struggle

Sticker Shock at the Bar

Now, here’s one reason after-work drinks are on the decline: the price of alcohol has skyrocketed. These days, you might easily drop $15 on a single beer in city pubs. That’s not exactly the friendliest price tag, especially when you compare it to the $5 pints we remember from yesteryear.

Australia, it turns out, has one of the highest beer taxes in the world. With cost of living biting, many people are unwilling to spend their hard-earned cash on pricey booze. If you’re watching your wallet, that Friday schooner might not feel like the best investment anymore—especially when you can stay home and hang out with friends over a cheaper bottle of wine.

Beer Takes a Back Seat

Given these rising costs, it’s no surprise that younger folks are picking different social activities over bar-hopping. Why fork out $15 for a brew when you can enjoy a jog at sunrise with your mates for free? (Yes, we’ll get to the run clubs soon.)

Work-From-Home Life: No More Water Cooler Chats

Office Ghost Towns

Another major reason is that many offices are running at half capacity—or sometimes less—thanks to work-from-home policies. If your team only comes in on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the spontaneous “Hey, fancy a quick one at the pub?” moment is basically non-existent.

When you’re sitting at your home office, finishing your last email of the day, the thought of hopping on public transport or driving back to the city for a drink might be less than appealing. This shift in work culture means fewer opportunities for those casual, unplanned catch-ups that organically lead to after-work drinks.

Missing Camaraderie

Remember that “water cooler” talk that transitioned into “let’s grab a beer after work”? Well, it’s tough to replicate over Zoom or Teams. Instead of quick hallway chats turning into pub nights, we’re seeing more people sign off at 5:00 pm, switch off their laptops, and spend the evening with family. It’s great for work-life balance, but less ideal if you loved the old-school Friday night banter.

The Social Switch: From Evening Drinks to Morning Runs

Run Clubs Are the New Happy Hour

So where has all that social energy gone? According to the younger crowd on TikTok (or the “Ticky Tokie,” as Jason calls it), they’re meeting up at the crack of dawn for group runs instead of heading to the bar after work. Yes, you read that right. It’s a total reversal in how people socialise, moving the communal vibe from late-night to early-morning.

They’re filming their runs, cheering each other on, and creating a whole new way to connect outside of work. Sure, you won’t get a hangover from a jog, but you might end up with some shin splints if you’re not careful.

Priorities: Health Over Hangovers

A lot of younger Australians say they prefer activities that won’t leave them feeling like a zombie the next day. According to some stats, 76% of young Aussies want to hang out in ways that don’t involve alcohol, and two-thirds of them really don’t want to lose their Saturday to a Friday night bender. So, instead of complaining about a headache on Saturday, they’re out hitting the pavement or sipping on kale smoothies.

Are We Missing Out?

The Power of Face-to-Face Bonding

Don’t get us wrong—ditching hangovers is awesome, and focusing on health is commendable. But there’s a nostalgic piece of us that wonders if the younger generation is missing out on those** in-person connections** formed over a schooner. Many careers have been built on the relationships developed during these casual Friday sessions.

Evolving Culture, Evolving Connections

That said, culture evolves. Maybe run clubs and coffee catch-ups are the new way for teams to bond. You can still forge meaningful connections without the clink of beer glasses—just with fewer embarrassing karaoke renditions at 10:00 pm.

Final Thoughts: The Future of Post-Work Socialising

So, are after-work drinks really dead? In some ways, yes. Rising alcohol costs, work-from-home flexibility, and a health-conscious younger generation have all contributed to the decline of this once-sacred Aussie ritual. But let’s be honest: people will always find ways to connect, whether that’s at the pub, at home on Zoom, out on an early morning run, or over a bottle of wine at a mates house.

At the end of the day, workplace bonding is evolving—and that might not be a bad thing. But if you’re someone who relishes that classic Friday knock-off, don’t worry: there’s still a barstool somewhere with your name on it. Just be prepared to pony up $15 for that schooner.

Click here to watch the full episode where The Wined Up Podcast talk in detail about the death of after-work drinks as part of their discussion on Japanese Wines.

A short video summarising the death of after-work drink is also below: