New research has found that young people are not as interested in drinking alcohol as the generations that came before them. A study that has just been published in the journal Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research found that teenagers and young adults are increasingly choosing to avoid alcohol. On the other hand, more adults drink excessively than in the past.
The findings are in line with the results of recent research from Gallup which found that the percentages of 18- to 34-year-olds who say they drink are falling. The researchers found that younger adults who say they drink has dropped from 72% to 62% over the past two decades, and only 61% of those surveyed said they had consumed alcohol in the past seven days, a marker that suggests someone is a regular drinker. drinker.
This is not a bad trend given the negative health effects associated with alcohol use. But why do younger Americans drink less, and what habits can older adults who want to reduce their drinking adopt? Experts evaluate.
Why are younger people drinking less?
Medical professionals say there are a few reasons behind this trend, including a shift in social norms. “When I talk to parents, I remind them that it is important not to assume that their children will consume alcohol,” Danielle Dick, director of Rutgers Addiction Research Center, told Yahoo Life. “Our kids are making healthier choices than many of us did at their age.”
But children may also have fewer opportunities to drink, says Dick, noting that there has been a “sea change” over the last generation in the way children are raised. “For many of us parents of emerging adults, we remember playing unsupervised in the neighborhood with friends when we were teenagers,” she says. “This is increasingly rare. Because children spend much more time under the direct supervision and guidance of their parents, they are much less likely to have unsupervised time with peers, which is when most teen drinking occurs.” Dick says there is “robust evidence” that children are less likely to take risks, including alcohol use, when parents keep an eye on them.
At the same time, children have learned more about the dangers and consequences of risky alcohol consumption than in the past. “Younger generations are a little more aware of the health implications of drinking alcohol and perhaps more concerned about it,” says Kelli Parks, a trauma therapist at the addiction treatment center. Sierra Tucson.
“We also now have more effective, evidence-based prevention programs that help teens and emerging adults evaluate their alcohol choices,” says Dick. “’Just Say No’ drug prevention programs, which existed when many of us parents were younger, are now known to be ineffective at preventing substance use in teens. We are providing better information to our children and they are making better choices.”
The legalization of marijuana for recreational use in many states could also play a role, with more children turning to marijuana and edibles than previous generations, says Dr., director of the Addiction Consultation Service at Montefiore Medical Center and assistant professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. “Young people are using cannabis at twice the rate of their parents,” says Forman.
What can older generations learn?
Parks stresses that a decrease in alcohol consumption among younger adults does not necessarily mean they are healthier than older generations; that is, they may be using cannabis instead of alcohol or adopting other unhealthy habits. “I would like to screen them for other compulsive or addictive behaviors that they may be vulnerable to before rooting just yet,” she says. “They still face all the developmental challenges typical of adolescence and young adulthood.”
Still, experts say there are some tips seniors should follow when it comes to alcohol.
Be intentional about your alcohol use.
Although there are many young adults who drink, many consume less alcohol than previous generations. Dick points out that when young adults drink alcohol, they are more intentional. This might mean having a glass of champagne during a special celebration or enjoying a specialty cocktail during a birthday dinner, rather than gathering at a bar and making drinking the main activity of the evening.
Younger people are “finding other ways to socialize that don’t focus on alcohol,” adds Dick. “The internet has made it easier to find and connect with people who share interests and hobbies. This means there are more social outlets than just going to a bar to socialize and meet people.”
Accept colleagues who don’t drink.
Forman says he’s noticed a change in his patients when talking about the reactions they get when they avoid alcohol in social situations. “In the past, if a young woman went to a social event and decided not to drink, she would get comments like, ‘Oh, you must be pregnant’ or ‘You must be recovering,’” he says. With more people choosing not to drink, “that never happens now,” he says.
Think about your values.
Experts point out that having a glass of wine or cocktail in moderation doesn’t make you a bad person. But if you drink too much regularly, you may behave in ways you regret. “Younger generations are being more intentional about making choices that align with their values, with what is important to them in the long term,” says Dick. “In many cases, alcohol does not fit into that value system.”
Consider non-alcoholic drinks.
Between August 2021 and August 2022, sales of so-called mocktails and non-alcoholic drinks in the US grew by almost 21%, according to data Nielsen. The global non-alcoholic beer market also grew by almost 20% during this period. “Bars are catching on and creating interesting mocktail menus so you can try fun new drinks that don’t contain alcohol,” says Dick. Forman agrees: “Our culture has embraced non-alcoholic options.”
If you’re interested in reducing your alcohol use but aren’t sure how, Forman suggests talking to your primary care doctor. “That’s a great place to start,” he says.
