Alcohol use seems cyclical to some degree. Much like other kinds of drugs, it can go in and out of style. While some drugs seem to be in vogue for a time, their prevalence might fade, only for the substance’s use to spike again later.
Alcohol addiction treatment in Pasadena is available if you live there and feel you need help with your consumption. If you do, you’ll be in good company, since many individuals struggle with it.
However, you might wonder whether alcohol use can be observed to wax and wane along generational lines. For instance, if you’re a member of Gen Z, might you be more or less inclined to overuse alcohol as compared to previous generations?
Let’s take a look at what the numbers say.
Gen Z is Drinking Less Than Older Generations
First, let’s make a blanket statement, as backed up by scientific research: Gen Z seems to be drinking less than previous generations. Many in this group are now of legal age, and those who aren’t will soon be able to purchase alcohol legally. Fewer of them seem to be taking advantage of their legal status to visit bars and liquor stores, though.
If you look at Gen Z’s alcohol usage versus Millennials, there seems to be a drop-off of about 20%. If you want to dig deeper into this difference, you’ll see that a large number of Gen Z members who are of legal age don’t drink at all. The Cleveland Clinic puts this number at about 28%-30%.
Why is This Happening?
If you’re curious about why this is happening, many scientists who study these generational trends point to Gen Z being more well versed on the potential health risks of alcohol. Others seem to feel that a change in socialization behavior is playing a role in this drop off.
Gen Z is more inclined to spend time with one another online versus in person. If they’re interacting more via social media and less through in-person hangouts, it follows that they’re less likely to consume alcohol, not to mention other drugs.
Drug use is often a social thing. Those who use substances on their own are more likely to be scorned or humiliated by anyone from their generation who might find out about it.
Will This Trend Continue?
After Gen Z comes Gen Alpha. This younger generation was born between 2010 and 2024, meaning that none of them are currently old enough to drink alcohol legally. The first of them will become legal drinkers in about six years.
It’s far from certain whether the number of legal drinkers in Gen Alpha will continue dropping off. Again, some drugs, including alcohol, seem to wax and wane in popularity.
It will be interesting to see if the use of alcohol will continue its dramatic drop off as the younger generations come of age. Because alcohol use comes with so many health risks, though, less use of it can probably be seen as a positive.
