Compared to the booze-swilling generations before them, Generation Z knows when it’s time to put the glass down. Government statistics show that in less than two decades, Aussies aged between 14 and 23 have decreased risky lifetime drinking by almost half. Today, around 38 per cent of young people choose to abstain from alcohol, a 50 per cent increase since 2001.
This sober phenomenon is occurring throughout the western world, so much so that this age group (those born after 1997) have been dubbed “generation sober”. Beyond Australia, consumption among young people has decreased in the United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand and a substantial portion of Europe. Proof that this is a young person phenomenon is the rate of drinking among the baby boomers, which has held steady for the past two decades.
After many decades of alcohol being an intrinsic part of Australian culture and rite of passage into adulthood, attitudes are changing. In an increasingly online world, young people are worried about losing control and hurting their reputation online, where video footage can remain long after the hangover has worn off.
A change in the way parents have raised their children, concern about the future and financial security, changes in gender identities and societal integration of cultures who abstain from drinking have also impacted Gen Z’s approach to booze. And then, of course, there’s an increased focus on mental and physical health, which has seen young people drop the booze
as they get on-board wellness trends. A decline in mental health and loneliness has also inspired young people to drop depressants, including alcohol.
Regular alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk in injury, domestic violence, premature death and
a host of health issues, according to scientific literature. But even light to moderate drinking can negatively affect health.
According to one 2022 study, even one to two drinks a day can shrink the brain. This large study looked at over 36,000 older adults who live in the United Kingdom. Moderate drinkers were found to have less grey and white brain matter than non-drinkers. It was noted that as consumption increases, brain volume continues to decrease and when cessation of alcohol occurs, the brain starts to recover. Consequently, scientists concluded that alcohol disrupts the communication of networks in the brain, which may result in impaired cognition and coordination as well as mood and behavioural changes.
Last year, a global study proved even moderate alcohol intake increases the risk of seven types of cancer, with cancers of the breast, colon, oral cavities and liver the highest. According to the study, one in four cases of breast cancer and one in five cases of colon cancer is attributed to alcohol consumption. One of the main mechanisms of how alcohol increases cancer risk is through inhibiting the body’s ability to repair DNA.
Unfortunately, studies into alcohol’s effect on heart health also paint a bleak picture. A large cohort study that used genomic analysis on more than 371,000 participants found low to moderate drinking negatively affects cardiometabolic health. The study, published in 2022, found there was a modest risk with light consumption, but the risk increased exponentially with heavier intake.
The genomic study refutes a number of previous observational studies supporting the idea that low to moderate drinking is good for heart health. These studies show that non-drinkers have worse health outcomes than light and moderate drinkers. There are several reasons this could be the case: light and moderate drinkers tend to have higher levels of physical activity and vegetable consumption and are generally better off socio-economically than non-drinkers. Furthermore, resilient drinkers may be more likely to participate in a study about alcohol and people in poor health are less likely to drink.
Observational studies come with a host of biases and confounding variables. These can occur at any stage of the study or simply because of the variables that occur when participants are living their everyday lives. Participants also often have poor recall about what they consumed and there is a placebo effect to muddy the waters even further. As a result, correlation does not necessarily prove causation.
We are all know binge drinking is not healthy, but if you’ve assumed that moderate drinking can have protective health benefits, perhaps now is the time to join the sober generation.
Chrissy Harada is a university-qualified nutritionist who believes nutrients are medicine, health begins in the gut and nature is infinitely wise. Chrissy is passionate about utilising the latest scientific research to optimise health. You can find her on the Sunshine Coast or online at www.sunshinehealthandnutrition.com.au and Instagram: @sunshine.health.nutrition.
