First Choice & Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) Link Up to Tackle the “Manflew” Epidemic
When you think of a stereotypical lads holiday, there are a few select things you probably think of. Booze, non-stop partying, and mainly getting up to no good. Oh yeah, and a bit more booze. It’s more than likely that if you have attended a lads holiday in the past, months of anticipation leading up to the trip, popping group chats, and full-blooded promises have lead you to be brimming with excitement when the big trip finally comes to fruition. But what can start off as a once in a lifetime trip with friends can unfortunately often end in burnout and regret. Party peer pressure and the all-round angst that comes along with the stereotypes of a lads holiday is a common occurrence, and that’s why First Choice and Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) are here to help.
Coining the term “Manflew Epidemic,” First Choice x CALM have joined forces to counteract the internal pressures men face when on holidays with the “lads,” looking to champion giving men more autonomy when it comes to their choices abroad as well as opening up new gateways for male conversations. Heading over to Prague to live out First Choice and CALM’s wholesome lads holiday, PAUSE got the low down on everything “Manflew” whilst participating in some wholly necessary lad time.
PHOTO CREDIT: Jordan Gray
So, what exactly is the “Manflew epidemic”? Well, it’s not a tangible epidemic for starters, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less dangerous. Moving between unspoken male interactions, it takes shape in many different forms, and most of those forms come to light in the duration of a traditional lads holiday. Without demonising the idea of having a few drinks with the lads, the covert ways in which “taking things too far” transfers between you and your friends can often happen in jovial settings and situations, being the result of a dare or general tomfoolery on a night out. Whilst we all love a night out on the town, striving towards the classic lad archetype can be damaging to young men, and quite frankly, it’s not always every guy’s cup of tea.
The “Manflew” angst isn’t something to be afraid of, and should be spoken about openly with your mates. When there’s time for a night out drinking and partying until the early hours, there’s also time for an early rise and a wholesome day out exploring new places, all the while enjoying heart-to-heart conversations with close friends. First Choice x CALM embraces that mantra wholeheartedly, heading out on a mission to provide men with more choice when it comes to what a lads holiday can look like, championing open conversation, the empowering of men to be themselves, and the eradication of peer pressure and weighty social expectations.
Offering trips for every vibe you could think of, First Choice served up one of those alongside CALM as we hit the city known as the mecca for stag do’s as well as being synonymous with boozing lads holidays: Prague, Czech Republic. While there was no doubt a fair few beers consumed throughout the duration of our trip, the activities themselves centred around the collective, placing focus on a group of young men getting to know each other through wholesome, more laidback plans.
Whether it was a beer crawl along the main Prague strip, hitting medieval restaurants and bars, seeing a classical concert at St. Nicholas’ Church, or going on an historical World War II tour, Prague had so much to offer outside of being a simple party destination. This trip wasn’t about pretentious wellness and pushing the “opposites” of a traditional lads holiday, it was about diversifying the itinerary and reflecting the multifaceted range of what many lads actually want to do in 2025.
Mirroring that, First Choice and Everpress have capitalised on the recent rise of “slogan” apparel and joined forces on a new collection of t- shirts that reframes the traditionally ugly group holiday tee. Every purchase supports the collaborative sentiment to “do you on holiday”, with all proceeds going towards Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) and helping them continue to undertake their vital work supporting mental health.
Take a look at the shirts below, as well as what PAUSE got up to in Prague with First Choice and CALM.
Shop the First Choice x Everpress t-shirts here.
