Bye-Bye Booze? Why More People Are Choosing Weed After Work

Is Happy Hour Over? Why More People Are Unwinding with Weed After Work

For years, the after-work happy hour was a given. You clock out, grab a drink, and let the day's stress disappear.

But for a growing number of people, that routine is changing. Instead of heading to the bar, they're heading home and sparking up.

The biggest reason? The morning after.

Alcohol might take the edge off in the moment, but it also brings dehydration, sluggishness, and that dreaded "hangxiety"—the anxious, uneasy feeling that creeps in after a night of drinking.

It’s that weird mix of regret, overanalyzing everything you said the night before, and just feeling generally off, even if you didn’t drink much

For some, it’s worse than the actual hangover.

On the other hand, weed lets people relax without paying for it the next day. No pounding headache, no regrets—just a good night's sleep and a clear head in the morning.

Then There's the Mental Health Factor

Alcohol has a sneaky way of making anxiety worse for many, even if it seems like it's helping at the moment. It numbs things temporarily but can make people even more anxious the next day.

When used responsibly, cannabis offers a smoother way to unwind. Not every strain works for everyone, and some people don’t love how it makes them feel, but for those who find the right balance, it’s a game-changer.

The Biggest Challenge? The Social Aspect

Drinking culture is still everywhere, and bars remain the default place to meet up. But as weed becomes more accepted (and legal), that’s starting to shift.

Unfortunately, there’s no public place to smoke like there is for drinking in a bar.

That makes people look even harder for social alternatives that don't revolve around alcohol—whether it’s outdoor activities, game nights, or just hanging out without the pressure to drink.

Happy hour isn't dead, but it's no longer the only way to decompress. For many, a joint has officially replaced the gin and tonic.