Gen Z adults are reportedly drinking more, while teens are drinking less. While Gen Z has built a reputation for being the clean living generation, new data shows that once they hit the legal age, many are in fact picking up a drink—just on their own terms. A recent IWSR survey found that 73% of 21-27-year-olds drank alcohol in the past six months, up from 66% in 2023. But among teens, drinking is still on the decline, with just 42% of 17-18-year-olds reporting alcohol use in 2024. YPulse data adds more context: although the number of young people who say they neverdrink continues to rise, those who do drink are open to trying new beverages and mainly do it to bond with friends, often preferring to drink at home rather than out at bars. So, while sober curiosity is definitely trending, Gen Z isn’t completely ditching alcohol. (Sherwood)
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