Young people back nightlife support but say they’re priced out

Most young people would support political action to protect and invest in the night-time economy, but many say the cost of living is preventing them from going out, according to new research from the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) and data firm Obsurvant. The findings challenge the idea that younger generations are losing interest in nightlife, instead pointing to affordability as the main barrier.

The research shows that one in three lower earners now consider a night out unaffordable, while 68% of young people say economic pressures have reduced how often they go out. More than half report spending less on nightlife than they did a year ago. Rising rents, energy bills, food prices and transport costs are squeezing disposable income, while operators face higher running costs and taxation that ultimately feed into entry prices and drinks costs.

Despite this, support for the sector remains strong. The report found that 85% of 18–24‑year‑olds and 86% of 25–34‑year‑olds would be influenced by political support for the night-time economy and hospitality. Three‑quarters say policy in this area would affect how they vote, yet only 29% believe the sector is currently well supported by policymakers.

NTIA chief executive Michael Kill said the findings “debunk the myth that young people don’t want to go out”, arguing that demand remains high but access is shrinking. He warned that without action, the UK risks alienating a generation and undermining the future of the sector. Obsurvant’s research strategy lead, Theo Dominian, said affordability and transport logistics have become “genuinely prohibitive” for many lower‑income consumers, and that nightlife policy is increasingly shaping electoral behaviour.

The NTIA is calling for measures to ease cost pressures on young people, reduce the tax burden on nightlife and hospitality businesses, improve late‑night transport and safety, and recognise the sector’s wider contribution to economic growth and cultural life. The report concludes that young people “haven’t stopped wanting to go out… they are being priced out of it”, warning that the issue now carries significant political weight.