1.
a person who prefers alcohol to sweets; a drinker
traditionally, someone who enjoys drinking alcohol rather than eating sweet things
2.
a person who loves spicy food
in modern usage, someone who enjoys spicy or hot-flavored foods
Etymology
辛い + 党 (party, group). Historically, 辛い in this context meant "not sweet" rather than "spicy." The word referred to people who preferred 酒 (sake) over 甘いもの (sweets). This is why 辛党 was the opposite of 甘党.
Usage
Today, many people interpret 辛党 as "spicy food lover" due to the common meaning of 辛い (spicy). Both usages are now common, so the context decides: 辛党 with 晩酌 or 酒 means a drinker, with 激辛 or カレー a lover of spicy food.
Similar words
- 甘党: the opposite in the traditional pairing, someone who prefers sweets to alcohol