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It’s being reported that Escape Rooms, Dreamworld and other non-alcoholic activities are at full capacity for the first time this schoolies.
Escape room operators around the country have called for any help they can get as they try to accommodate hoards of pandemic raised 18 year old’s that don’t really like drinking or partying in crowds.
“We’ve never seen anything like this before, tens of thousands of kids have been lining up all day to family friendly activities during schoolies” Said Gianluca Braga (54), a licensed escape room operator.
The shift in student behavior has left many wondering what happened to the once-typical chaos of drunken beach parties and late-night clubbing that defined schoolies for generations.
For many young people, the pandemic altered their social habits, leaving them craving more low-key, structured entertainment that doesn’t revolve around alcohol.
As a result, businesses that offer non-alcoholic, group-based activities have seen unprecedented demand.
“The kids are loving the idea of working together to solve puzzles and beat the clock instead of spending their time getting drunk,” Gianluca added.
It’s a surprising trend, given the decades-long tradition of schoolies as an alcohol-fueled rite of passage.
Yet, for these teens, the focus is shifting towards creating memorable, wholesome experiences with friends—activities that don’t come with the usual risks of overindulgence.
This new wave of schoolies is embracing options like theme parks, escape rooms, bowling alleys, and laser tag, where they can bond without the pressure of excessive partying.
Parents of this year’s schoolies have become more than concerned about the behavior of their kids.
“I’m pretty disappointed that my son doesn’t even plan on drinking at schoolies” Said one parent.
“Is he some kind of loser?”
While some are calling it a “new era” of schoolies, others are questioning if this is the beginning of the end of an iconic Australian tradition.
