One in four Seoul citizens abstained from alcohol last year; vegetarianism rises

A recent survey indicates a significant shift in the lifestyle habits of Seoul citizens, with nearly one in four reporting abstaining from alcohol in the past year. The '2025 Seoul Citizen Food Survey' found that 23.7% of respondents did not consume alcohol over the last 12 months, an increase of 2.1 percentage points from the previous year.

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The response rate for not drinking alcohol at all in the past year was 23.7%, an increase of 2.1 percentage points compared to last year.

Beyond complete abstinence, the frequency of alcohol consumption has also declined. The proportion of respondents who reported drinking two to four times a month or more decreased by 8.5 percentage points to 23%. Similarly, those drinking two to three times a week dropped from 13.4% to 12.5%. Conversely, the number of individuals drinking less than once a month rose to 17.3%, suggesting a general trend toward lower alcohol consumption among the city's residents.

The survey also highlighted a notable rise in vegetarianism, tripling since 2022 to 17.3%. However, the nature of this dietary change leans towards 'flexible vegetarianism,' often termed 'flexitarianism,' rather than strict veganism. The number of flexitarians, who occasionally consume meat, increased significantly, while adherents to strict veganism, lacto-ovo vegetarianism (consuming dairy and eggs but no meat or fish), and pollo-pescatarianism (avoiding red meat but eating poultry and fish) all saw decreases.

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The proportion of those who drink two to four times a month or more decreased by 8.5 percentage points to 23%.

The primary drivers for adopting vegetarian diets appear to be health and weight management, with 65% citing weight control and 61.6% mentioning health concerns as reasons, both substantially higher than in the previous year. This indicates a growing preference for dietary patterns that reduce meat intake as needed, rather than complete elimination. Despite these trends, the survey noted a worsening food accessibility, with fewer respondents able to afford sufficient quantities and varieties of food. 'Lack of time for shopping or cooking' was the most cited reason, but financial constraints were particularly pronounced among lower-income households.

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The number of people who said they are vegetarian increased by about three times compared to 2022, to 17.3%.