What Are the Dark Sides of Paid Drinking Parties? Here’s How to Get the Most Out of Them

In recent years, “paid drinking parties” have become popular. A paid drinking party involves paying women to attend a drinking gathering.

While “sugar dating” often takes place one-on-one, paid drinking parties typically involve inviting multiple men and women.

“Paid drinking parties” are becoming so mainstream that apps dedicated specifically to them have even appeared on the market.

However, many women have encountered dangerous situations at these events. In this article, we’ll explore the dark side of “paid drinking parties” and explain what you should keep in mind to enjoy them more safely.

What is “Gala-nomi”?

You may have heard the term “gala-nomi,” but surprisingly few people may actually know what it entails.

“Gala-nomi” refers to drinking parties where the host pays participants a fee, and participants receive this “gala” (fee) in return. It originated as events organized primarily for the wealthy through connections in the entertainment industry, allowing models and idols to earn extra money and build networks; participants were paid more than just their taxi fare simply for attending.

Nowadays, their popularity is skyrocketing, particularly among trendsetters and those with a keen sense of what’s hot. The meaning of “gala-nomi” has evolved over time, and the phenomenon has even been featured in special segments on major broadcast television networks.

“Gala-nomi” events are primarily organized through three channels: apps, social media, and private arrangements. Apps dedicated to “gala-nomi” have emerged, allowing hosts to select women they wish to invite as “cast members,” pay them a fee, and host the event.

In addition, some women recruit participants for “gala-nomi” events on social media, and sometimes organizers use LINE groups or similar platforms to recruit women and host these gatherings.

What’s the going rate for “Gala-nomi”?

What is the going rate for paid drinking dates? The rate varies depending on the woman’s attractiveness. Some women can be booked for as low as about 3,000 yen per hour, while others charge around 20,000 yen per hour. On average, the going rate is about 10,000 yen per hour.

If you want to go out for drinks with an attractive woman, it’s a good idea to set aside about 30,000 to 40,000 yen. Also, depending on the situation, things might naturally lead to a second round of drinks, so having a little extra money on hand will let you enjoy yourself even more.

Since there’s a possibility that you might exchange contact information with a woman you meet at a paid drinking event and develop a deeper relationship from there, it might actually feel surprisingly affordable if you think of it as a way to expand your social circle.

Also, if you use a dating app specifically for paid drinking events, you’ll need to pay a fee just to use the app.

Posting on social media to find participants doesn’t incur any app fees, so if you want to keep costs as low as possible, consider using social media as well.

Dangerous Incidents That Actually Occurred at “Gala Drinking” Events

From a woman’s perspective, “paid drinking parties” are a great way to kill two birds with one stone—enjoying a drinking party while receiving compensation. However, dangerous incidents have also occurred at these events.

Here, we’ll take a look at some actual, deeply troubling and dangerous incidents that have taken place.

Tequila Chug

A common scenario at “pay-to-drink” parties is forcing women to chug tequila, getting them drunk, and then taking them home.

Some women end up feeling sick and throwing up partway through, while others are even rushed to the hospital with acute alcohol poisoning.

Chugging high-proof alcohol is extremely dangerous. Not only does it put the woman at serious risk, but it also makes everyone else drinking with her feel uncomfortable, so please refrain from pressuring her to drink.

Drugged and Taken Home

Since “gala drinking” involves drinking alcohol, the alcohol takes effect and the woman gradually becomes drowsy. Taking advantage of this, there have been incidents where sleeping pills or similar substances are slipped into her drink, and she is then taken home.

According to the woman, she woke up to find herself lying in bed. And next to her was a naked man she didn’t know… She says she was taken to a high-rise apartment, and in that moment, she realized she had had a physical relationship with the man sleeping next to her.

The woman explained that she usually has a high tolerance for alcohol and can typically stay conscious and make it home even after drinking a fair amount, but on that particular day, the alcohol seemed to affect her unusually strongly, and she felt drowsy. Unaware that she had been given sleeping pills, she mistakenly assumed that her tolerance for alcohol had simply decreased.

Just when I thought I’d gotten a big bonus…

It’s said that some men even use violence to take women home with them.

It seems Ms. A usually receives a 30,000-yen fee for these “paid drinking parties,” but on that particular day, she was able to earn as much as 100,000 yen.

She told me she thought she was lucky when she received the money. However, after the drinking party had wrapped up, a man approached her and invited her to “go to a second bar.”

Ms. A declined the invitation because she had to get up early the next morning, but the man reportedly said to her in a threatening tone, “You’re getting a bigger gratuity than usual today, aren’t you? You’re coming to the second bar, right?”

Ms. A said, “I’ll give you the money back,” but he forcefully grabbed her arm. Since she didn’t know what he might do if she shook him off, she ended up going with him to his home.

As this example shows, there are men who use money and violence to forcibly take women back to their homes.

Drugs without even realizing it…

Mr. B said that during a paid drinking party, he was drugged without his knowledge.

Mr. B attended a paid drinking party where several businesspeople had gathered. The party was in full swing, and Mr. B himself was having a great time drinking.

She seemed aware that she had drunk more than usual and that the alcohol was really starting to take effect.

Then, just before the party ended, she ordered one last drink. As she was drinking it, she noticed something was wrong. The moment she took a sip, she was struck by a dizzy spell so intense that it clearly couldn’t have been caused by alcohol alone.

After that, her consciousness became hazy, and she told me that when she came to, she was lying naked on a bed.

When she later told a friend she’d met at a “gala-nomi” event about this, the friend asked, “Did someone slip you a drug?” Apparently, being drugged is actually a common occurrence in the Minato Ward area.

Once you’ve dabbled in drugs, it’s hard to stop. B said that this incident made her less resistant to drugs, and she eventually started obtaining and taking them on her own.

He told me that he would attend clubs and members-only parties to get drugs, take them in places like the restroom, and then enjoy the party. He also said that his sense of guilt about using drugs had faded.

He acknowledged that if he were caught, he would be arrested, but he said that was part of the thrill—and part of the fun of taking drugs.

So while “gala drinking” parties may seem like a fun way for men and women to let loose and have a good time at first glance, there are many dark secrets lurking behind the scenes.

At a private-room izakaya…

Sometimes, private-room izakayas are rented out for “pay-to-drink” parties, but because they are private rooms, there are hidden dangers.

There are apparently drinking parties where, under the guise of a “King’s Game,” women are made to undress, subjected to physical contact, or even forced to have sex right there in the private room.

Of course, if you’re caught by the staff, you’ll be arrested for indecent exposure, so you should definitely avoid such behavior.

What kind of women can you meet at a “gala drinking” event?

Although “paid drinking parties” have been linked to some very shady incidents, many of the women who participate are high-caliber. As a result, men can enjoy drinking with attractive women, which is why these events have become quite popular.

So, what kind of women actually participate in these paid drinking parties?

It’s common for women who work as gravure models or idols to participate in “paid drinking parties.” Actresses who are signed to agencies sometimes participate as well.

Although gravure models and idols have their main careers, it’s a line of work where making ends meet can be difficult unless they achieve explosive popularity. Even actresses, despite being signed to agencies, cannot make a living if they don’t have work. For this reason, many women use “paid drinking parties” as a way to earn income outside of their main careers.

Having a title like “idol” or “gravure model” allows them to command higher hourly rates, so they actively participate in paid drinking parties. Conversely, from the men’s perspective, these events offer an opportunity to connect with gravure models and idols.

Idols and gravure models also actively participate in paid drinking parties to build connections with wealthy individuals, often with the goal of entering into a mistress arrangement. Conversely, “paid drinking parties” can be seen as a gateway to entering into a mistress arrangement with an idol or gravure model.

Once you’ve established a connection with a gravure model or idol and won their favor, they may even introduce you to other idols or gravure models who are struggling financially. “Paid drinking parties” can thus be viewed as a place to build connections with such women.

If you’re interested in entering into a mistress arrangement with a cute, well-known woman, why not actively participate in “paid drinking parties”?

The dark underbelly of paid drinking parties ran deep

In this article, we’ve exposed the dark side of “gala-nomu.”

“Paid drinking parties” are events where men pay women a fee to invite them to a drinking gathering so they can drink together.

Because paying this fee allows men to drink with attractive women and the service is easy to use, it has become increasingly popular in recent years. However, it also has a dark side, including instances where women are pressured to drink, drugs are involved, or the gatherings are used as a means to arrange mistress arrangements.

Nevertheless, there’s no denying that it’s an easy way to have fun. Just be sure to avoid getting involved with the darker aspects of paid drinking parties as much as possible, and please enjoy them responsibly.