Recent statistics reveal that Generation Z drinks less alcohol compared to older generations, and this trend isn’t solely because many are under the legal drinking age of 21.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the rates of lifetime, past year, and past month drinking among high school students have been on the decline since around 2000. This is striking considering that overall alcohol consumption has increased in recent decades, based on data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

A 2023 survey indicated that the percentage of adults under 35 who reported ever drinking fell from 72% in 2001-2003 to 62% in 2021-2023.

It’s clear that younger generations, especially millennials and zoomers, are less drawn to alcohol than older generations were at the same age.

What’s Behind Gen Z’s Low Interest in Drinking?

On the surface, Gen Z’s reduced alcohol consumption appears to be a positive development. It could indicate a greater awareness of the negative health impacts of drinking or a desire to avoid the uncharacteristic and often reckless behavior that comes with it.

However, what if our choice to abstain signals not social advancement but a retreat? What if the main reason for our reduced alcohol intake—widely known as a social lubricant—is due to rising loneliness and isolation?

As someone born in 2000 and a member of Gen Z, I’ve noticed that many of my peers prefer staying in on Saturday nights watching Netflix instead of hitting up clubs and bars.

Initially, I suspected this behavior was unique to my circle, especially given that I attended a university labeled as “where fun goes to die,” notorious for its lack of social activities.

Yet, seeing a growing number of young women discussing their “grandma era” online, I started questioning whether today’s youth are indeed more abstinent and if this reflects a fundamental shift in our lifestyles that could adversely affect our overall wellness.

While it’s important to recognize that alcohol can harm our health—responsible for approximately 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 related deaths in the U.S. annually, according to U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy—this isn’t the only concern. Excessive drinking can lead to serious damage to vital organs, including the heart, liver, and pancreas.

Gen Z: Confronting Loneliness

Raised in a digital era where health information is readily available, Gen Z is likely cutting back on drinking due to a heightened awareness of its long-term dangers. If this is indeed the case, we should commend our generation for being vigilant and taking care of our health.

Moreover, it seems that our reluctance to drink also connects to a growing emphasis on mental health. Today’s youth tend to openly address their mental health struggles and are more likely to tackle issues like anxiety and depression by seeking therapy rather than resorting to drinking and partying—another positive trend.

Nonetheless, the surgeon general’s recent observations point to another concerning trend affecting young Americans: an alarming rise in loneliness and social isolation.

In a report published in 2023, Murthy emphasized that “loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling—it actually harms individual and societal health,” linking it to heightened risks of cardiovascular disease, dementia, depression, and even premature death.

The surgeon general reiterated that Americans, especially young individuals, are becoming increasingly socially disconnected, which negatively impacts their well-being.

Isolation and Sobriety Among Young Americans

Young adults are feeling the loneliness epidemic more acutely than older generations. The surgeon general’s report indicates that young adults are nearly twice as likely to report feelings of loneliness compared to those over 65, with that loneliness steadily increasing from 1976 to 2019.

A 2021 report from The Cigna Group highlighted that 79% of adults aged 18-24 expressed experiences of loneliness, juxtaposed with only 41% of those older than 65.

While it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact reasons, it seems Generation Z’s choice to abstain from drinking is less about health consciousness and more about a lack of meaningful social connections, including friends or family to share a drink with.

Excessive drinking, bingeing, and enduring punishing hangovers aren’t good for our health, but neither is a lifestyle spent confined at home endlessly scrolling through social media. Many of us recognize how this behavior negatively affects both our mental and physical health, yet we continue it due to a lack of social opportunities, including the chance to go out and enjoy drinks with others.

Being knowledgeable about the risks associated with addictive substances and making responsible choices is certainly commendable. However, if our sober lifestyle is the result of our increasing antisocial behavior, we may be inadvertently harming ourselves.

As Dry January comes to an end, many people will have experienced the effects of a prolonged period without alcohol. They might appreciate the mental clarity and productivity that sobriety can offer and perhaps learn how to avoid relying on alcohol for social interactions.

For Generation Z, however, it may be worthwhile to drink a little more often—not so much for the physical benefits of alcohol, but for the social connections that can enhance our happiness and overall well-being.

Surya Gowda is a fact-checking fellow with News Opinion.