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The Star
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Coffee and beats: Sober clubbing is a fresh brew for Gen Z in Singapore
A barrista preparing coffee drinks at an alcohol-free clubbing event in Singapore. Swaying to dance music and TikTok-fuelled pop under a disco ball, young punters are packed shoulder to shoulder while sipping on coffee, their energy powered by pour-overs rather than pints. — Photo by Roslan RAHMAN / AFP Swaying to dance music and TikTok-fuelled pop under a disco ball, young punters are packed shoulder to shoulder while sipping on coffee, their energy powered by pour-overs rather than pints. This is no underground rave, nor a brunch gone wild. It's a caffeine-powered daytime clubbing sesh – part of a growing wave of alcohol-free, Gen Z-driven events gaining traction in Singapore and elsewhere in the world. At a recent event in Singapore's trendy Duxton district, the space was jammed by 4:00 pm, with baristas churning out fancy coffees and DJs spinning back-to-back sets. The crowd grooved with energy, even without the usual liquid courage. Attendees listening to music while drinking coffee at an alcohol-free clubbing event in Singapore. "A lot of people think alcohol gives you the high, but caffeine sometimes can do that too," said Aden Low, 21, co-founder of Beans and Beats which organises coffee raves at different venues. "That's why the atmosphere at our events tends to be quite energetic." The parties blend curated music with specialty coffee served in white paper cups. The vibe is light, friendly and very Gen Z. "It's also the idea that this is a safe space," said Esther Low, 31, who was at the event in Duxton. "When you go to a club setting, there's usually this underlying intention to hook up. So, for me, that's personally why I would prefer this." People mingling over coffee drinks at an alcohol-free clubbing event in Singapore. Several reports say Gen Z is chugging fewer pints than previous generations, with the sober curious movement gaining popularity on social media. Sober curious people cut back on drinking or abstain altogether, often citing health reasons and better mental acuity. "Changes in alcohol use have been observed in population surveys and cohort studies. Generally, alcohol use among young adults has decreased," the World Health Organization said in a 2024 report. Club culture update From London to Los Angeles and Melbourne, similar coffee raves have swept up the social scene, appealing to young partygoers who also want to avoid hangovers. Ashley Chean, a Singaporean student who has been alcohol-free for a year, said she appreciates these sober gatherings. "When I lived in Paris, I realised I had a lot of alcoholic tendencies and I didn't want that to be my lifestyle," the 20-year-old told AFP. "More and more of my friends are sober or sober curious." The coffee clubbing events are usually held in cafes and other spaces such as rooftop bars – as long as there's room for DJs and baristas to do their thing while people dance. The parties typically end by late afternoon, just in time for golden hour selfies. People mingling over coffee drinks at an alcohol-free clubbing event in Singapore. Besides the health benefits of avoiding alcohol, the events appeal to cost-conscious youth in Singapore, one of the most expensive cities in the world. The excess drinking and hard-partying ways of Gen X – fuelled by anthems like the Beastie Boys' "Fight for Your Right (to Party)" and hip-hop videos glamorising club culture – are fading for members of Gen Z. While organisers don't see Singapore's glitzy nightlife and clubbing being replaced, they hope their combination of beats and brews will keep the dance floor buzzing. "As long as we bring the vibes, we'll be OK," said Ashley. – Satish Cheney/AFP
The Star
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Singapore says its growth forecast may need further adjustment amid uncertainty
A view after sunset of Marina Bay Sands hotel and resort buildings in Singapore on May 13, 2025. -- Photo by Roslan RAHMAN / AFP SINGAPORE (Reuters): Singapore's economic growth forecast may need to be adjusted further, its trade minister said on Friday, as uncertainty remains despite a recent breakthrough in US-China tariff negotiations. Trade Minister Gan Kim Yong, also deputy prime minister, said the trade-reliant economy is beginning to slow down and while US-China talks are encouraging "we need to exercise caution, because the outlook remains very uncertain." Singapore in April downgraded its gross domestic product forecast for the year to a range of 0% to 2% from 1% to 3%. Despite having a free trade agreement with the United States, the wealthy financial hub was subject to a 10% baseline tariff, though far short of the stiff levies on Southeast Asian neighbours which are among the world's hardest hit. The United States has imposed tariffs of 32% on Indonesia, 36% on Thailand, 46% on Vietnam, 49% on Cambodia and 24% on Malaysia. As one of the world's most open economies, Singapore is often seen as a bellwether for global growth as its international trade dwarfs its domestic economy. That leaves the city-state exposed to global uncertainties and its government has warned the 10% tariff and the global trade war could lead to a recession and job losses. Gan told a press conference the United States was not going to budge on the 10% levy, but it was trying to negotiate for concessions on pharmaceutical tariffs that U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened but not yet announced. "Both Singapore and the US can sit down and discuss some form of a concession for Singapore to have a beneficial or preferential tariff, even to the extent of zero tariff, for pharmaceutical exports to the US. "That will require some efforts on the Singapore side to ensure that the supply chain for pharmaceuticals is secure," said Gan. He did not elaborate on what he meant by a secure supply chain. Gan previously said that pharmaceuticals makes up more than 10% of Singapore's total exports to the U.S. (Reporting by Jun Yuan Yong; Editing by Martin Petty) - Reuters
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fiji and New Zealand seal sevens wins in Singapore
Fiji celebrates after winning the men's cup final against Kenya at the Rugby Sevens in Singapore (Roslan RAHMAN) Fiji won the men's title at the World Sevens Series in Singapore with a 21-12 victory over surprise finalists Kenya on Sunday, while New Zealand lifted the women's trophy after defeating arch-rivals Australia. Advertisement The Black Ferns sealed first place in the women's regular season standings with a 31-7 victory in the final, while Argentina finished top of the men's table after finishing third. Fiji finished runners-up in the men's standings after overcoming Kenya with a strong second-half performance at the National Stadium. Kenya reached a World Sevens Series final for the first time since 2018 with victories over Ireland, France and Spain in their earlier games. They set themselves up for another stunning result when Nygel Amaitsa gave them the lead on the final play of the first half. However, Viwa Naduvalo ran clear for a pair of tries for Fiji after the interval and Rauto Vakadranu added another to seal their victory, before William Indakalu got a late consolation for the Kenyans. Advertisement Argentina took the bronze medal in Singapore after they recovered from a 14-point deficit to beat Spain 33-14 in the third-place play-off. The Pumas topped the men's regular season standings on the back of three tournament wins this season in Perth, Vancouver and Hong Kong. They will be joined in the sevens world championship in Los Angeles next month by Fiji, Spain, South Africa, France, Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain, who completed the top eight in the season standings. Despite their heroics in Singapore, Kenya finished in ninth place and will face Uruguay, Ireland, the United States and four teams from the challenger series in a promotion and relegation play-off to decide the 2025-26 sevens series line-up. Advertisement In the women's tournament, New Zealand and Australia met in a sevens series final for the fourth time in six tournaments this season with the Black Ferns producing a dominant performance to seal first place in the standings. Tries by Michaela Brake and Risi Pouri-Lane put New Zealand in charge early on but Maddison Levi, who scored her landmark 200th try for Australia in sevens rugby earlier in the tournament, narrowed the deficit to 12-7 at half-time. However, the Black Ferns proved too strong after the interval as Jazmin Felix-Hotham and Kelsey Teneti scored further tries before Brake added her second of the game to seal a comprehensive victory. Canada secured third place in Singapore after a 21-5 victory over France in the play-offs. Advertisement Fiji and Great Britain confirmed their places in the top eight with their performances in Singapore and they will be joined in next month's world championship by New Zealand, Australia, France Canada, Japan and the United States. str/dhw
