Younger generations are turning away from alcohol faster than any before them. The shift could reshape not just social life but long-term public health.
A large study from Flinders University analyzed more than 20 years of data from over 23,000 Australians and found that abstaining from alcohol is on the rise, while weekly drinking is steadily declining, particularly among younger people. The research, published in Addiction, shows that Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, are leading the trend.
“Our research shows that over the course of their lives, Gen Z are nearly 20 times more likely to choose not to drink alcohol compared to Baby Boomers, even after adjusting for sociodemographic factors,” said Dr. Gianluca Di Censo of Flinders University. “This isn’t just a phase; it appears to be a sustained change in behaviour that could have long-term public health benefits.”
The study drew on longitudinal data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey to separate generational differences from age effects, the first time this has been done in an Australian cohort. It found that while alcohol abstinence remains lowest in early adulthood, Gen Z are more likely to avoid drinking than Millennials, Gen X or Baby Boomers were at the same age. Millennials are also drinking less overall than Boomers, suggesting a broader cultural shift.
“For decades, alcohol has been deeply embedded in social life, but that’s changing,” said Dr. Kirrilly Thompson, a co-author of the study. “Younger Australians are growing up in a different world — one where abstaining from alcohol is increasingly normal, and where digital socializing, rising living costs and health awareness are reshaping how people spend their time and money.”
The researchers also found that while younger generations drink less often, binge drinking remains a concern. Millennials and Gen X reported consuming more alcohol per occasion than Boomers, even as their overall weekly intake declined.
Understanding what’s driving this shift, the researchers say, could help shape future prevention efforts.
“If we can understand what’s driving this decline in alcohol use among younger people, whether it’s economic pressures, social norms or policy changes, we can use that knowledge to support healthier behaviors across all age groups,” Dr. Di Censo said.
Dr. Thompson added that the findings reflect a hopeful cultural moment.
“This research shows that change is possible,” she said. “Generation Z are redefining what it means to socialize and celebrate, and they’re doing it with less alcohol. That’s something we should be paying attention to, not just as researchers, but as a society.”
This research was supported by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.