Health and Me

Ishita Roy

Gen-Zs Are Drinking More And Challenging Their Reputation Of 'Generation Sensible': Study

Rates of binge drinking have raised among <span>gen Z</span> since their teenage years. As per a recent research by the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS), data from nearly 10,000 people born across the UK in 2000-02 who are taking part in the Millennium Cohort <span>Study</span> was analyzed. The research found that the gen Z is challenging their reputation as the "generation sensible". 

The study found that 7 in 10, which is 63 per cent of 23-year-olds report binge drinking in the past year. 

Nearly a third or around 29 per cent also said they did so at least monthly, which is up from 10 per cent at age 17. 

The study also found that while drug use is relatively limited in the teenage years, by 20, almost half of them, or 49 per cent have used cannabis and a third, around 32 per cent have tried harder drugs like cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy. 

Researchers compared substance use in the same group at ages 17 and 23. By 23, the share reporting binge drinking at least once in the past year rose by 15 percentage points, from 53% at 17 to 68%. Binge drinking refers to consuming six or more alcoholic drinks in one sitting.

<h2>Drug Use Among Gen Z Sees Sharp Rise</h2>

Drug use among Gen Z has increased substantially as they move from their teenage years into their early 20s. The share of young people who said they had tried cannabis rose by 18 percentage points between ages 17 and 23, climbing from 31 per cent to 49 per cent.

Use of harder drugs showed an even steeper rise. The proportion of young people who said they had experimented with harder substances more than tripled, increasing from 10 per cent at 17 to 32 per cent by the age of 23. Meanwhile, the number who reported using these drugs at least 10 times in the past year went up from 3 percent to 8 percent.

<h2>Gambling and Vaping Also Increasing</h2>

The study also examined other potentially addictive behaviors. Nearly a third of the group, about 32 per cent, reported gambling by the age of 23. However, only 4 percent described their gambling as problematic.

Vaping saw one of the most noticeable increases. Daily vaping rose sharply from 3 percent at age 17 to 19 per cent by age 23. In comparison, cigarette smoking remained relatively stable, increasing slightly from 8 per cent to 9 percent.

<h2>Study Questions the Idea That Gen Z Drinks Less</h2>

Lead author Dr Aase Villadsen said the findings challenge the common belief that younger generations are moving away from alcohol.

She explained that while recent reports have suggested Gen Z drinks less than earlier generations, the new study indicates that this may not hold true once some members of this generation reach their early 20s.

Although late adolescence and early adulthood are often periods of experimentation, Villadsen said the rise in binge drinking and drug use during the early 20s is concerning, especially if these behaviors begin to become long-term habits.

She noted that the sharp increase in these behaviors between adolescence and early adulthood highlights how risks can intensify during this stage of life.

Villadsen also stressed that prevention strategies should focus on groups that appear to be more vulnerable. For instance, young men were found to be about seven times more likely than women to report gambling problems and were also more likely to use harder drugs.

<h2>Experts Warn About Alcohol’s Impact on Young Brains</h2>

Dr Katherine Severi, chief executive of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, as reported by <em>The Guardian,</em> said young people are particularly vulnerable to alcohol’s effects because the brain continues to develop until the mid-20s.

She said it is worrying that despite frequent claims that younger generations drink less, the findings suggest that Gen Z drinkers in their early 20s may be consuming alcohol at similar or even higher levels than millennials did at the same age.

Severi also pointed to higher rates of heavy drinking among university students as a major concern. According to her, this reflects the influence of the broader alcohol environment rather than individual choices alone.

She explained that affordability, easy availability and heavy promotion of alcohol are major drivers of alcohol-related harm, and students are often exposed to all three.

Severi added that universities have a responsibility to ensure students can study and live in a safe environment. She also said commercial ties with alcohol companies, such as sponsorships of sports clubs or campus events, should not take priority over student health and wellbeing.

The findings come from<em> Substance Use and Addictive Behaviours: Initial Findings From the Millennium Cohort Study at age 23</em>, a briefing paper by Aase Villadsen and Emla Fitzsimons that will be published on the CLS website.

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Rates of binge drinking have raised among gen Z since their teenage years. As per a recent research by the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS), data from nearly 10,000 people born across the UK in 2000-02 who are taking part in the Millennium Cohort Study was analyzed. The research found that the gen Z is challenging their reputation as the "generation sensible". What Did The Research Find?The study found that 7 in 10, which is 63 per cent of 23-year-olds report binge drinking in the past year. Nearly a third or around 29 per cent also said they did so at least monthly, which is up from 10 per cent at age 17. The study also found that while drug use is relatively limited in the teenage years, by 20, almost half of them, or 49 per cent have used cannabis and a third, around 32 per cent have tried harder drugs like cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy. Researchers compared substance use in the same group at ages 17 and 23. By 23, the share reporting binge drinking at least once in the past year rose by 15 percentage points, from 53% at 17 to 68%. Binge drinking refers to consuming six or more alcoholic drinks in one sitting.Drug Use Among Gen Z Sees Sharp RiseDrug use among Gen Z has increased substantially as they move from their teenage years into their early 20s. The share of young people who said they had tried cannabis rose by 18 percentage points between ages 17 and 23, climbing from 31 per cent to 49 per cent.Use of harder drugs showed an even steeper rise. The proportion of young people who said they had experimented with harder substances more than tripled, increasing from 10 per cent at 17 to 32 per cent by the age of 23. Meanwhile, the number who reported using these drugs at least 10 times in the past year went up from 3 percent to 8 percent.Gambling and Vaping Also IncreasingThe study also examined other potentially addictive behaviors. Nearly a third of the group, about 32 per cent, reported gambling by the age of 23. However, only 4 percent described their gambling as problematic.Vaping saw one of the most noticeable increases. Daily vaping rose sharply from 3 percent at age 17 to 19 per cent by age 23. In comparison, cigarette smoking remained relatively stable, increasing slightly from 8 per cent to 9 percent.Study Questions the Idea That Gen Z Drinks LessLead author Dr Aase Villadsen said the findings challenge the common belief that younger generations are moving away from alcohol.She explained that while recent reports have suggested Gen Z drinks less than earlier generations, the new study indicates that this may not hold true once some members of this generation reach their early 20s.Although late adolescence and early adulthood are often periods of experimentation, Villadsen said the rise in binge drinking and drug use during the early 20s is concerning, especially if these behaviors begin to become long-term habits.She noted that the sharp increase in these behaviors between adolescence and early adulthood highlights how risks can intensify during this stage of life.Villadsen also stressed that prevention strategies should focus on groups that appear to be more vulnerable. For instance, young men were found to be about seven times more likely than women to report gambling problems and were also more likely to use harder drugs.Experts Warn About Alcohol’s Impact on Young BrainsDr Katherine Severi, chief executive of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, as reported by The Guardian, said young people are particularly vulnerable to alcohol’s effects because the brain continues to develop until the mid-20s.She said it is worrying that despite frequent claims that younger generations drink less, the findings suggest that Gen Z drinkers in their early 20s may be consuming alcohol at similar or even higher levels than millennials did at the same age.Severi also pointed to higher rates of heavy drinking among university students as a major concern. According to her, this reflects the influence of the broader alcohol environment rather than individual choices alone.She explained that affordability, easy availability and heavy promotion of alcohol are major drivers of alcohol-related harm, and students are often exposed to all three.Severi added that universities have a responsibility to ensure students can study and live in a safe environment. She also said commercial ties with alcohol companies, such as sponsorships of sports clubs or campus events, should not take priority over student health and wellbeing.The findings come from Substance Use and Addictive Behaviours: Initial Findings From the Millennium Cohort Study at age 23, a briefing paper by Aase Villadsen and Emla Fitzsimons that will be published on the CLS website.