Why are young people going out less? New NTIA study shows them being “priced out of nightlife”
New findings by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) have revealed that young people in the UK are going out less than they did a year ago, with financial pressures, safety concerns and transport hindrances all playing a role.
The latest study was conducted by Obsurvant on behalf of the NTIA. and spoke to 2,001 people in the UK aged between 18 and 30.
According to the figures, 61 per cent of participants recalled that they were going out less frequently than in the year prior. On top of that, just 16 per cent stated that they go out more after 10pm. A huge factor for this was shown to be financial pressures, with many finding themselves priced out of live events.
The findings showed that 68 per cent of the young people surveyed said that the current economic climate has reduced their participation in night-time activities, while 53 per cent now spend less on going out compared to 12 months ago.
Other factors that play a factor include safety concerns – with over a third sharing that they are prone to feel fear, anxiety, uneasiness or unsafe when going out at night – and transport barriers, with just under 70 per cent saying better late-night transport options would encourage them to stay out later.
The NTIA also found that there was a strong lack of confidence in the government, as over 50 per cent felt the government would not address their concerns, and 89 per cent of those recalling safety concerns shared a lack of trust in the government’s ability to address these issues.
“The results of this research confirm what we in the industry have been warning about for years—young people are being priced out of nightlife, and safety concerns are keeping them at home,” said Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association. “The UK’s night-time economy is a vital cultural and economic force, yet we are seeing a generation disengage due to systemic issues that must be addressed. If we do not act now to improve safety and transport infrastructure, we risk further decline in the sector and the social and economic benefits it brings.”
“We call on policymakers to prioritise investment in safer streets, improved transport networks, increased policing at night, and financial support for venues to keep nightlife vibrant, accessible, and safe for all.”
Following the findings the NTIA has called for improved nighttime infrastructure across the country. These include enhanced street lighting and safer transport options, extended public transport hours and more frequent services, lower late-night travel costs and increased security presence, and increased policing on the streets at night to enhance public safety.
The new stats –which you can view in full here – come just months after the NTIA warned that UK clubbing could be “extinct” by the end of the decade. In October last year, stats revealed that 37 per cent of all clubs across the country had permanently shut since March 2020 – an average of three clubs a week and 150 per year. If the trend continues, all spaces in the UK will have closed their doors by December 31, 2029.
The following month, NME reported on how the touring circuit across the UK was facing “complete collapse” without urgent help, and highlighted what would need to be done for things to change. Looking at findings from Music Venue Trust, it was confirmed that £7million in new premises taxes will see over 350 grassroots music venues at immediate risk of closure – threatening over 12,000 jobs, £250million in economic activity and the loss of over 75,000 live music events.
Amid the startling figures, MVT called on music fans to urgently write to their MP here to stop the rise in Business Rates.
Going into the start of the new year, NME also explored how the government backing a levy on tickets for gigs at arena level and above could lead to 2025 being the year where real change is seen across the grassroots music sphere.
This is both due to a deadline for the ticket levy being set for March, before the government steps back in to consider making it mandatory by law, and the new Labour government also promising a price cap on touted tickets. You can find out more about the efforts being made in 2025 here.
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Liberty Dunworth
NME
