Media release

From: Flinders University

Younger generations are turning away from alcohol at unprecedented rates, with Generation Z driving a cultural shift that could reshape Australia’s drinking landscape and deliver major public health gains if the trend continues, say researchers.

A new study by Flinders University analysed over two decades of data from more than 23,000 Australians, finding that abstention from alcohol is on the rise, and weekly alcohol consumption is declining, particularly among younger cohorts.

The study used data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey to track drinking habits across five generational groups: the Silent Generation (1928–1945), Baby Boomers (1946–1964), Generation X (1965–1980), Millennials (1981–1996), and Generation Z (1997–2012).

It is the first study in Australia to use longitudinal data to separate the effects of age from generational change, providing robust evidence that the decline in alcohol use among young people is more than just a passing trend.

Lead author Dr Gianluca Di Censo from Flinders’ College of Medicine and Public Health and the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) says the findings show a clear generational shift.

“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,” he says.

“This isn’t just a phase; it appears to be a sustained change in behaviour that could have long-term public health benefits.”

The study shows that, although alcohol abstinence is generally lowest in early adulthood, Generation Z shows a higher likelihood of abstaining compared to previous generations.

Not only are they more likely to abstain, but they also consume significantly less alcohol per week than older generations.

Millennials, too, are drinking less than Baby Boomers, suggesting a broader cultural shift away from alcohol.

Interestingly, while Millennials and Generation X reported drinking more per occasion than Baby Boomers, their overall weekly consumption was lower, indicating that binge drinking may still be a concern, but regular heavy drinking is declining.

Co-author Dr Kirrilly Thompson says that the findings challenge long-held assumptions about Australian drinking culture.

“For decades, alcohol has been deeply embedded in social life, but that’s changing,” she says.

“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.”

The study also found that the Silent Generation—those born before 1946—had the highest levels of weekly alcohol consumption, even more than Baby Boomers, suggesting that while younger generations are drinking less, older Australians may still be at risk of alcohol-related harm.

The researchers say these generational trends could help inform future public health strategies.

“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,” says Dr Di Censo.

The study’s authors suggest that policies such as minimum alcohol pricing, restrictions on advertising, and targeted health campaigns could help reinforce these positive trends. They also emphasise the importance of continuing to focus on high-risk groups, such as adolescents who engage in binge drinking and middle-aged adults who consume large quantities weekly.

Dr Thompson adds that the findings offer a hopeful outlook.

“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,” she says.

The paper, ‘OK Boomer: A longitudinal analysis unravelling generational cohort differences in alcohol consumption among Australians’, by Gianluca Di Censo, Kirrilly Thompson, Murthy N. Mittinty and Jacqueline Bowden was published in Addiction DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ADD.70201

Acknowledgements: Gianluca Di Censo, Kirrilly Thompson, and Jacqueline Bowden receive funding from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to support research regarding alcohol and other drugs.