Generation Z is reshaping America’s drinking culture, showing that a good time does not have to include a cocktail.
Often called the “sober generation,” today’s young adults are increasingly stepping away from heavy drinking in favor of better health, more money in their wallets and mornings without hangovers.
A survey of 766 Gen Z adults ages 21 to 29 by Skyline Recovery Center found that nearly one in four—24%—do not drink alcohol at all.
Alcohol consumption remains highest among Millennials, with 81% drinking, according to a new survey from market research firm IWSR. Gen X follows at 77%, while Baby Boomers’ consumption has fallen to 71% for the first time, partly because of the financial realities of retirement.
Among Zoomers, 21% intentionally moderate their alcohol intake, while another 6% identify as “sober curious” and are actively cutting back.
“Life is so much more fun without alcohol,” Sheldon Cohen, clinical director at Skyline, told The Post. “You get to have dinner with friends. You laugh and have conversations. You remember things. The next morning, you don’t have to worry about how you embarrassed yourself or regret the things you said and did.”
For many Zoomers, personal wellness is the main reason to reduce or eliminate alcohol.
Physical health and fitness motivate 46% of those drinking less, while 37% point to saving money, 29% cite better mental health and 20% say a family history of addiction influenced their decision.
Among Gen Z adults who have cut back, 46% say they are saving money. They report putting away an average of $1,200 per year while spending about $800 annually on alcohol.
Dating is also taking on a more sober tone.
A striking 69% of Gen Z adults who date prefer outings that involve little or no alcohol.
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Only 6% would rather have cocktails during a date.
The remaining respondents said they do not like combining drinking and dating at all.
“Dating without a drink can be uncomfortable at first, especially if you’ve always had one to settle your nerves,” Cohen said. “But there’s something reassuring about going home knowing you liked someone without wondering how much the drinks had to do with it.”
The survey found that single Zoomers are more likely to be completely sober—30%—than those in a relationship or living with a partner, at 17%.
Daytime events are another setting where alcohol is often skipped: 35% of respondents are most likely to avoid drinking at brunches, parties and other gatherings held during the day.
At the same time, 36% admit they have blamed their health for turning down a drink when the real reason was simply that they did not want one.
Gen Z is not abandoning alcohol altogether, but many Zoomers are making a deliberate effort to keep their consumption under control.
Among those who drink, average consumption is 4.4 drinks per week. Some 65% say they never binge drink, and 83% limit alcohol to weekends.
Overall, nearly four in five Gen Z adults surveyed—79%—use at least one strategy to maintain their drinking moderation.
The strategies include drinking slowly, setting drink limits and scheduling “alcohol-free days.”
One in five has tried “damp drinking,” the growing practice of cutting back without quitting completely.
The survey revealed men drank more than women, averaging 5.1 drinks a week against women’s 3.9. More than half of male drinkers like beer, while gals are more likely to choose a cocktail.