SENSE AND SENSIBILITY –
June 13, 2025 – More young people are skipping alcohol—not as a restriction, but as a preference. We explore the sociological and psychological reasons behind this cultural shift. More and more young adults are choosing to skip the booze, not because of strict rules or financial struggles, but simply because “they don’t feel like it”.
Unlike previous generations, for whom drinking has been a rite of passage, Gen Z is not just rejecting alcohol; they’re also rewriting social norms. Having said that, sobriety is not about making a bold statement for many of them, but rather just another lifestyle choice. Data backs up this shift. The Conversation has even called Gen Z “the soberest generation.” In 2023, only 18-20 per cent of Americans under 28 said they regularly drank alcohol, according to Statista.
