By Movieguide® Contributor
Gen Z is drinking way less than generations before, but are there downsides to their disinterest in going out?
“Alcohol consumption with Generation Z is trending downwards,” a report from The Independent stated, adding that one third of UK Gen Zers don’t drink at all, while 45% of UK Gen Z members over 21 have never even drunk alcohol.
So, why are young people turning away from alcoholic beverages and nights out at bars and clubs? For starters, money.
The Independent reported that an average night out in the UK costs 70-100 pounds. For comparison, that same night out in 2003 cost 20-30 pounds.
Another component are the health risks. The Independent’s report stated that alcohol-related deaths in the UK “have risen by 89% in the last two decades,” and many young people are more focused on staying healthy than having a wild night out.
Others are conscious of family histories with substance abuse.
Emerson Haven, a 26-year-old living in New York City, told Time that, while he sometimes drinks in social settings, he usually opts to go sober.
“There’s a history of alcoholism in my family, so I’m just careful about it,” he explained. “I never drink alcohol if I feel like I’m having a bad day, because I don’t want to create that association. And then sometimes I just don’t enjoy the feeling of being drunk.”
Additionally, many Gen Zers are increasingly living their lives online and at home. Dating apps have taken away the need to go out to meet people, while TikTok and streaming services provide entertainment and DoorDash and UberEats can bring you any meal you want.
The Independent reported that 33% of UK Gen Z members are socializing less. In South Korea, the government has even begun paying young people a monthly stipend to get out of the house and spend time at local businesses.
Related: Young Americans’ Interest In Alcohol on Decline, Study Finds
While it is admirable that so many young people are prioritizing their health and choosing not to drink alcohol, it’s very important that Gen Z stops focusing on online life, as opposed to face-to-face interactions.
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned Americans against the growing “loneliness epidemic” in 2023.
“Loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling — it harms both individual and societal health. It is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death,” he explained, adding that young adults are almost twice as likely to report feeling lonely.
Because of this trend among Gen Zers, low-alcohol and nonalcoholic drinks are getting more popular, and “consumption [of those drinks] is projected to rise by a third by 2026.”
Sybil Marsh, a physician specializing in family medicine and addiction, told Time, “If you look at alcohol marketing [of the 2020s], they’re sort of stopping short of saying it’s healthy to have some drinks, but that drinking can be part of a healthy lifestyle, as opposed to the Gen X type of marketing, which was like, ‘party hard.’”
Celebrities are also being open about their decisions to get sober. SPIDER-MAN actor Tom Holland even recently launched his own line of nonalcoholic beers.
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