Generation Z is drinking less alcohol than any previous generation in Australia, signaling a cultural shift that could lead to significant public health benefits.
Younger Australians, particularly Generation Z, are choosing to abstain from alcohol at rates never seen before, according to a new study by Flinders University. This trend could fundamentally reshape Australia’s drinking culture and bring extensive public health benefits if it continues.
The study, which tracked over 23,000 Australians across multiple generations using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, reveals a significant decline in alcohol consumption, especially among younger cohorts.
This makes it the first study in Australia to use longitudinal data to distinguish between age effects and generational shifts.
“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,” lead author Gianluca Di Censo, a senior research fellow in the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University and the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA), said in a news release.
“This isn’t just a phase; it appears to be a sustained change in behaviour that could have long-term public health benefits,” Di Censo added.
The study, published in the journal Addiction, categorizes participants into five generational groups: the Silent Generation (born 1928–1945), Baby Boomers (1946–1964), Generation X (1965–1980), Millennials (1981–1996) and Generation Z (1997–2012).
It found that Generation Z not only exhibits higher rates of abstinence but also consumes less alcohol weekly compared to older generations. Millennials are also drinking less than Baby Boomers, indicating a broader societal shift.
This research challenges “long-held assumptions about Australian drinking culture,” according to co-author Kirrilly Thompson, a senior research fellow in the College of Medicine and Public Health and NCETA.
“For decades, alcohol has been deeply embedded in social life, but that’s changing,” she added. “Younger Australians are growing up in a different world — one where abstaining from alcohol is increasingly normal, and where digital socialising, rising living costs, and health awareness are reshaping how people spend their time and money.”
Although Millennials and Generation X tend to drink more per occasion compared to Baby Boomers, their overall weekly consumption is lower, suggesting that while binge drinking remains an issue, regular heavy drinking is decreasing.
The study also uncovers that the Silent Generation consumes the most alcohol on a weekly basis, even surpassing Baby Boomers, indicating that older Australians might still be at risk of alcohol-related harm.
These generational trends could help guide the development of future public health strategies, according to the researchers.
“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 behaviours across all age groups,” De Censo added.
The researchers believe that policies such as minimum alcohol pricing, advertising restrictions and targeted health campaigns could amplify these positive trends. They also stress the importance of continuing to focus on high-risk groups, including adolescents who binge drink and middle-aged adults with high weekly consumption levels.
“This research shows that change is possible,” concluded Thompson. “This research shows that change is possible. Generation Z are redefining what it means to socialise 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,”
Source: Flinders University