There’s been a lot of talk about how generation Z is changing its habits and leisure activities compared to previous generations. One of the most important changes is that Gen Z consumes less alcohol than older generations like millennials. It seems that getting drunk is no longer fashionable for young people, unlike millennials or boomers.
Reports reveal not only that they consume less but also that younger people interpret leisure time and life differently. Freer and healthier. At The Blue Dolphin Store non-alcoholic drinks shop, we are delighted with this news. In this article, we tell you why young people drink less alcohol.
Reducing Alcohol Consumption in Generation Z
Generation Z or Zennials are people born between the mid-1990s and the early 2000s. According to a study of drinking habits in the UK, 26% of young people do not drinking alcohol compared to the less likely generation (55-74 year olds), where only 15% do not drink alcohol. Wavemaker agency corroborated this data following another study that confirmed this downward trend in alcohol consumption is a reality. Yes, generation Z are drinking less alcohol than any other generation.
According to the latest data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, alcohol consumption has decreased by 13.3% among people aged 18 to 24 and by 10.15% among those aged 25 to 34 in Spain. Furthermore, a 2023 study on the perception and consumption habits of alcohol among young Spaniards (conducted by 10db) concludes that among young people aged 18 to 30, 53.6% (more than half) report having reduced their alcohol consumption.
Another 2020 study found that the number of college-aged Americans abstinent has increased from 20% to 28% in just one decade.
Reasons for Lower Alcohol Consumption Among Young People
Healthier Habits
The main reason for lower alcohol consumption is the change in habits toward healthier eating and taking care of one’s physical appearance. Young people are more conscious and take into account not only the calories in alcohol, but also its negative effects on health. This is why they prefer to opt for low-alcohol or non-alcoholic beverages.
Sober Curiosity and Mindful Drinking trends
On the one hand, there are many sober curious young people. They choose to question every impulse, invitation and expectation to have a drink, rather than mindlessly following the dominant drinking culture. They have realized that dancing, partying, laughing with friends doesn’t require getting drunk. Everything is just as much fun without alcohol: it’s safer to go home at night and the next day you don’t have any regrets. The term ‘sober curious’ was coined in 2018 by Ruby Warrington to talk about those who don’t embrace abstinence, but do question the impact alcohol abuse has on their body.
On the other hand, there is the “mindful drinker,” who is not a teetotaller but instead drinks in moderation, or who combines an alcoholic beverage with dealcoholized beverages. This allows them to enjoy their favorite drinks without compromising their image or health. If you want to enter the world without alcohol, we recommend trying non-alcoholic beers or our range of non-alcoholic wines for food pairing.
Alcohol is no longer a social lubricant
While bars remain social temples, there are more and more non-alcoholic options. Zennials consume less alcohol, and new, more appealing beverages are appearing. Not just soft drinks, but also de-alcoholised drinks and non-alcoholic cocktails. Our Blue Dolphin Guide includes the venues (Blue Dolphin Friends) that offer our alcohol-free drinks so you can choose and enjoy non-alcoholic alternatives wherever you are.
The importance of social media
It is clear that the younger generations are more health conscious, just look at the rise of fitness. However, the reduction in alcohol consumption and the increase in physical activity could be due to social media and the impact it has on young people’s social lives. As zennials are subject to constant surveillance on social media and as their social lives are continuously documented, excessive alcohol consumption is avoided as much as possible in order not to give an unflattering image.
Data shows that young people prioritize taking care of their health and physical appearance. We hope this alcohol-free trend continues.
