The hill I will die on: Stag and hen dos should be fun, not bankrupting endurance tests | Liam Pape

"A stag or hen do should be a straightforward, fun night celebrating a good friend moving into a new chapter of their life. Instead, thanks to films such as The Hangover and Bridesmaids, as well as the general Americanisation of what a bachelor or bachelorette party should be, we've ended up with too many overindulgent, wildly inconvenient and quite frankly underwhelming send-offs to our friends who are getting married. Somewhere along the way, they've morphed into three-day tests of stamina and disposable income."

"Groomsmen bankrupting themselves on long weekends in Vegas that are billed as obligatory for anyone who wants to keep calling themselves a friend. Injuries sustained during ill-advised human pyramids on Spanish beaches. Weddings called off after drunken lapses of judgments in strip clubs. To add insult to injury, in 2023, a survey by Aviva found the average person spends 779 attending a stag or hen in the UK and that goes up to 1,208 when it's held abroad."

"First, let's address the elephant in the room: are stag and hen dos even necessary in this age of equality and frugality? Some would argue that they are archaic rites rooted in fragile ideas of masculinity and femininity and it's time to do away with such debased ideas of fun. To that I say: boringggg. Now put on the pink cowboy hat, take a sip from the phallic-shaped straw, and embrace the ritual."

Stag and hen parties have shifted from simple celebratory nights into overindulgent, inconvenient multi-day events influenced by films and Americanisation. They often become three-day tests of stamina and disposable income, with groomsmen bankrupting themselves on obligatory Vegas weekends, injuries from ill-advised human pyramids on Spanish beaches, and weddings sometimes called off after drunken lapses in strip clubs. A 2023 Aviva survey found the average person spends £779 attending a stag or hen in the UK, rising to £1,208 when the event is held abroad. Modernising traditions and keeping celebrations to one day or night can preserve fun and reduce harm.

Read at www.theguardian.com