Stag dos are becoming moments to remember rather than nights to forget, a new survey from leading online fashion retailer Jacamo has found.
The traditional debauched way of marking the end of bachelorhood with heavy drinking and risqué behaviour has lost its allure according to new research.
While spending on stag dos has risen fourfold in the past 10 years, with industry figures showing a total spend topping £500 million a year, the amount going on a booze filled misadventures has fallen.
Less than one in three organised events now involve a pub crawl, the survey for Jacamo revealed, with one in four, 26%, of UK men aged from 18 and above, saying they would enjoy an alcohol-free celebration.
A combination of a fear of embarrassing postings on Instagram and Facebook, a crackdown by airlines and resorts on drunken behaviour and men waiting until their mid 30s before they marry has led to the growth of the restrained bachelor party.
Eight out of ten men believe a stag do should be an experience that should be treasured and shared not an ordeal for survival.
New activities such as treasure hunts, sports events, cookery classes and historical walking tours are making the visit to a strip club and heaving bars a thing of the past. Where alcohol is involved it is often replaced with a distillery or brewery tour or wine tasting.
Much of the change away from the once common laddish culture has come with the average age of men marrying now 33.4 years, up from the mid 20s four decades ago. It means that those marrying often have friends who are already married, some with young children, and have responsible jobs.
Almost four in ten say if planning a stag do they would invite relatives and in-laws while just over one in ten, 11%, didn’t mind if girlfriends and the wives of friends joined the get together.
Men are also more conscious of the damage excess alcohol can with a huge 81% of those questioned feeling that in the past they have felt pressured to drink more alcohol than they were comfortable with. Almost the same number, 79% said they would enjoy a bachelor party more if they knew beforehand that drinking would be “moderate”.
A third also say they would turn down an invite to an old style ‘last night of freedom’ bash for fear of it getting out of hand the survey showed.
Jenni Bamford of Jacamo said: “The message from our survey seems that the emphasis for the new generation of stag-dos is about owning your moment and having fantastic memories which will last a lifetime.
“It is very much about style and good taste rather than falling down and being outrageous. Today’s men still enjoy a night out, but they also want to be able to enjoy all their experiences whether with friends or with their families. After all it’s these moments in our lives that we will want to remember. ”
