Younger people are drinking less alcohol in Australia, with Gen Z leading a cultural change that could be long-lasting, a new study has claimed.
A survey involving over 23,000 Australians revealed an increase in both alcohol abstinence and weekly alcohol consumption, particularly among Gen Z and Millennials.
Researchers from Flinders University in Melbourne suggest this trend may not be temporary, indicating a potential long-term change that could persist into the future.
“This isn’t just a phase; it appears to be a sustained change in behaviour,” Dr Gianluca Di Censo said.
“Our findings indicate that Gen Z individuals are almost 20 times more likely to opt out of drinking alcohol compared to Baby Boomers throughout their lifetimes.”
The authors suggested multiple reasons for the changing attitudes, and say part of it is the changing world younger people are now a part of.
“For decades, alcohol has been deeply embedded in social life, but that’s changing,” Dr Kirrilly Thompson said.
“Digital socialising, rising living costs, and health awareness are reshaping how people spend their time and money.”
The study also found Millennials and Gen X people drink more per occasion than Baby Boomers, but overall consumption is lower.
Whilst this indicates potential problems with binge drinking, regular drinking itself may be on the decline.
Thompson also believes it could be used as a reflection on society as a whole.
“Generation Z are redefining what it means to socialise and celebrate, and they’re doing it with less alcohol,” she said.
“That’s something we should be paying attention to, not just as researchers, but as a society.”
