Once upon a time, alcohol was the centrepiece of every social gathering, be it a night on the town or a university house party.
About three-quarters of adult Canadians reported drinking at least one alcoholic drink in 2023. The odds are that you are one of them, especially if you are older.
Historically, baby boomers drank the most alcohol, a fact that remains true today. Can you blame them?
Baby boomers, aged between 59 and 77 years old, have been through the wringer. For many, alcohol was a crutch to deal with the realities of World War II.
Baby boomers also grew up watching their parents drink and adopted the same habits.
In Alberta, the Greatest Generation, those born between 1901 and 1927, drank like fish. Not even prohibition in 1916 could stop our bootleggers from keeping the booze flowing.
Not much has changed. In 2013, Alberta was the province with the second-highest alcohol consumption by volume behind Quebec.
Generation Z Versus Baby Boomers
The cycle of drinking continued until future generations started realizing that alcohol isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.
There are many short-term and long-term health risks associated with alcohol consumption. Over 200 according to the World Health Organization.
If you are no stranger to alcohol, you already know the short-term effects, including drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, slurred speech, impulsive behaviour, and lots of regrets the following morning.
Long-term risks associated with frequent alcohol consumption are often far worse and include organ damage, increased risk of cancer, high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression.
Drinking became less popular as more people learned about the negative effects of alcohol consumption.
Young people, specifically Generation Z, are now drinking less than ever, which might be a sobering truth for anyone who grew up with alcohol.
Generation Z doesn’t just drink less; they drink the least. This bold claim is supported by recent data from Gallup, a global analytics firm.
Get With the Times
The data collected between 2001 and 2023 shows that just over 60 percent of adults under 35 said they drank, marking a 10 percent decline compared to 20 years ago.
Generation Z is well educated on the health risks associated with drinking, thanks to the countless studies available online.
Generation Z is also focused on health and wellness. A 2019 American Heart Association survey found that Gen Z is the most likely generation to prioritize eating healthy, exercising regularly, managing stress, and prioritizing mental health. Drinking might decline, but Generation Z still has its issues.
Back in Meemaw’s day, they were just starting to experiment with recreational drug use. Still, recreational drug use is now more popular than ever, leading to a rise in drug abuse among Generation Z.
Between 2011 and 2021, marijuana use in young adults increased by over 13 percent and hallucinogen use increased by almost 5 percent. LSD, MDMA, mushrooms, and PCP were the most used hallucinogens.
The number of young adults vaping also tripled between 2017 and 2020. There are several reasons why drug use and abuse is increasing among the younger generation.
Social Media Shapes Gen Z
An increased supply of illicit drugs makes drugs more accessible. Generation Z also has the highest rates of mental health issues, pushing people to find ways to cope. Let’s not forget modern media.
Back in the day, icons like James Bond made drinking seem cool. Today, social media influencers and celebrities portray drug use as part of their lavish lifestyles.
A meta-analysis of over 70 studies, including 1.4 million adolescents from 1997 to 2022, shows overwhelming evidence of the links between social media and health.
“Our review found the various aspects of social media use…was associated with a number of health risk behaviours in adolescents, including increased alcohol use, drug use, tobacco use, electronic nicotine delivery system use, gambling, sexual risk behaviours, anti-social behaviours, unhealthy dietary behaviours and multiple risk behaviours,” wrote Amrit Kaur Purba, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Glasgow, in an email exchange with the Toronto Star.
It isn’t all doom and gloom. Platforms like social media can also be used to influence positive change. On TikTok, the hashtags #soberlife and #sobrietyjourney are used to encourage people to start or continue their sober journeys.
If you struggle with substance abuse, remember that it doesn’t matter when or where your journey starts. What matters most is taking that first step and reaching your destination: Sobriety.
