WEED? –
Dec. 24, 2021- During COVID lockdowns, some surveys indicate this fell even further.
Our research suggests this is unlikely to be due simply to government efforts to cut youth drinking. Wider social, cultural, technological and economic changes seem to be key to these declines.
Researchers conducting interview-based studies with young people in a range of countries have identified four main reasons for declining youth drinking.
These are: uncertainty and worry about the future, concern about health, changes to technology and leisure, and shifting relationships with parents.
Uncertain futures
What it’s like to be young in developed countries is very different today than it was for previous generations. From climate change to planning a career and being able to afford a house, young people are aware their futures are uncertain.
Pressures to perform academically are starting earlier and rates of mental ill health are on the rise.
Many young people are thinking about the future in ways previous generations didn’t need to. They are trying to gain a sense of control over their lives and secure the futures they aspire to.
A couple of decades ago, getting really drunk was widely regarded by many young people as a rite of passage into adulthood and a good way of taking time out from the routines of work and study.
