Gen Z Are Hitting Up ‘Barmacies’, Where Happy Hour Comes With a Health Diagnosis |
Get unlimited access to everything VICE has to offer.
Turn off all ads on VICE.com
Exclusive New VICE Documentaries
Member Exclusive Features & Columns
Turn off all ads on VICE.com
Exclusive New VICE Documentaries
Member Exclusive Features & Columns
Turn off all ads on VICE.com
Exclusive New VICE Documentaries
Member Exclusive Features & Columns
4 Magazines Delivered to Your Door
Gen Z Are Hitting Up ‘Barmacies’, Where Happy Hour Comes With a Health Diagnosis
I don’t know about you, but I’ve never left a bar feeling healthier than I’d arrived.
Share on X (Opens in new window)X
Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook
Share using Native toolsShareCopied to clipboard
Imagine walking into a bar with your friends after a long week at work, only to receive a medical diagnosis and a customized herbal remedy to sip on while unwinding after work. For some, this might sound off-putting. For others, like myself, it’s a dream that feels too good to be true.
In China, that dream is a reality for many, as cities across the country have begun embracing the idea of a “barmacy”—or bar/pharmacy. Also known as a Traditional Chinese Medicine bar, these venues offer pulse testing, medical consultations, diagnostics, and herbal remedies to their customers.
What Even Is a ‘Barmacy’?
According to an article on the independent media platform RADII, “barmacy” refers to “Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) bars, a booming nightlife trend currently sweeping across cities in China.”
Essentially,........