Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Americans Are Drinking Less After COVID, Led By Gen Z
Americans are drinking less alcohol than they did before.
This is the first reported decline in alcohol use since COVID.
Young adults in Gen Z showed the biggest drop in overall drinking.
Their alcohol use fell by more than 5% from 2022 to 2024.
Millennials had the largest decrease in heavy drinking, at 17%.
Men reduced their overall alcohol use more than women did.
Women reduced heavy drinking more than men did.
Researchers think changing opinions about alcohol and greater interest in moderation might be factors.
However, the study did not prove why people are drinking less.
Alcohol use among Americans declined for the first time since COVID.
Gen Z adults aged 18 to 29 had the largest drop in any alcohol use.
Gen Z alcohol use fell by more than 5% between 2022 and 2024.
Millennials recorded a 17% decline in heavy drinking over the same period.
Researchers said changing attitudes and interest in moderation may help explain the shift, but the study did not establish a cause.
- Who
- Americans, especially Gen Z adults aged 18 to 29 and millennials.
- What
- Alcohol use declined, including a more than 5% drop in Gen Z drinking and a 17% drop in millennials’ heavy drinking.
- When
- Between 2022 and 2024; the decline was described as the first since COVID.
- Where
- Among Americans in the United States.
- Why
- The study did not establish a definite cause; changing attitudes toward alcohol and interest in moderation were suggested as possible explanations.
- Overall trend
- Americans’ alcohol use declined for the first time since COVID.
- Largest decline in any alcohol use
- Gen Z adults aged 18 to 29 experienced a drop of more than 5% between 2022 and 2024.
- Largest decline in heavy drinking
- Millennials recorded a 17% decline between 2022 and 2024.
- Difference by sex
- Men had a larger decline in any alcohol use than women.
- Heavy drinking by sex
- Women had a greater decline in heavy alcohol use than men.
- Possible explanations
- Researchers cited changing attitudes toward alcohol and broader interest in moderation or reduced drinking.
- Study limitation
- The study did not establish exactly why younger adults are drinking less.