Bumble Study Shows Sober Dating Becoming More Popular in India

Dating app Bumble found that more singles in India are practicing “dry dating” or dating while sober. In fact, the dating app expects this to be the number one dating trend in the country in 2023, thanks to young daters.

A recent poll taken by the app found that 24 percent of single Indians who drink say they don’t plan to do so on dates this year, even past dry January. When asked why, the majority (56 percent) said they wanted to get to know the other person “without being distracted,” according to The Economic Times.

Forty-five percent said they were choosing not to drink on dates to improve their health and wellness by consuming less alcohol.

In fact, 72 percent of Gen Z daters on Tinder said they don’t drink or only drink occasionally on their profiles.

Many singles feel pressure to drink on dates, and now want to consciously avoid this habit. In fact, 47 percent of Millennials surveyed by Bumble said they use alcohol to calm their nerves before dates, and 31 percent of Gen Z singles surveyed said they drink to keep their date company.

However, the pandemic is changing the way a lot of younger daters think, especially when it comes to drinking. Bumble has reported a rise in “sober curiosity” – so much so that the app now offers a “Drinking” badge that users can add to their profiles to show potential matches that they are sober, or at least evaluating their drinking habits.

"Since the pandemic, we have seen a rise in 'sober curiosity' and more people opting for alcohol-free dry dates. Dating while sober may feel more difficult for some, but nothing feels more empowering than living a life true to your needs,” Samarpita Samaddar, India Communications Director, Bumble, said to The Economic Times.

Bumble is advising singles to try different types of outings for a first date that don’t involve drinking at all, just in case one of you wants to abstain. Instead of meeting at a bar, they advise going for a walk or a hike together, or visiting a museum or farmer’s market if it’s a weekend afternoon. If you would rather not commit so much time, agree to meet for a coffee.

Younger daters are also more relaxed about defining a relationship, with the term “situationship” now being used as a relationship definer on many dating app profiles. In fact, dating app Tinder saw a 49 percent increase in members adding that they are seeking a “situationship” to their profiles, which is somewhere between a casual fling and a relationship – with some physical and emotional intimacy without the pressure to define it.

For more on this dating service you can check out our Bumble review.