For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, alcohol consumption among younger adults has declined, although overall drinking rates remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.
These findings come from a study led by Dr. Brian P. Lee of Keck Medicine of USC.
Published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the study showed that national survey data on drinking began to decline between 2022 and 2024.
Researchers analyzed cross-sectional data from more than 114,000 respondents in the National Health Interview Survey collected from 2018 to 2024.
The findings showed that the percentage of adults who consumed alcohol over a 12-month period dropped by nearly 2%, while heavy drinking declined by more than 8% between 2022 and 2024.
The study found that the downward trend was largely driven by younger demographics. Generation Z (ages 18 to 29) recorded the biggest drop in alcohol consumption, at more than 5%, while Millennials (ages 30 to 49) saw a 17% decline over the same period.
While the study did not determine exact causes, researchers cited possible factors such as the growing influence of the “sober-curious” movement, changing social norms, increased awareness of the long-term health risks of alcohol, and a shift toward alternative substances like cannabis.
“It’s encouraging to see alcohol use decline for the first time since the start of the pandemic,” Lee told Medical Xpress. “However, use remains above pre-pandemic levels and certain groups continue to have concerning trends.”
In contrast, drinking rates among older adults—particularly those in Generation X and younger Baby Boomers aged 50 to 64—remained elevated above pre-pandemic levels.
From 2018 to 2024, heavy drinking in this group increased by more than 36%, while overall alcohol use rose by 4%.
Experts urged caution despite the overall decline. Dr. Jagpreet Chhatwal of Massachusetts General Hospital told CNN that while the trend is encouraging, he would not consider it a “big victory” given that rates remain higher than before the pandemic.
Lee and Chhatwal also warned that older age groups remain at higher risk of serious health conditions, including liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and alcohol-related cancers.
