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Gen Z Australians Are Nearly 20 Times More Likely to Abstain From Alcohol, Study Finds

A Flinders University longitudinal analysis finds the decline holds even when sociodemographic factors are controlled.

Overview

  • The peer-reviewed paper, published October 7 in Addiction, analyzes more than two decades of data on 23,368 Australians.
  • The study isolates cohort effects using longitudinal methods, showing sustained generational differences beyond age or socioeconomic status.
  • Millennials and Generation X report higher amounts per drinking occasion than Baby Boomers but lower weekly totals, pointing to more binge-pattern episodes.
  • The Silent Generation records the highest weekly consumption, underscoring persistent risk among older Australians.
  • Researchers note possible influences such as digital socialising, cost pressures, and health awareness but do not identify a single cause.