Federal surveys show young Americans are drinking less alcohol, but binge drinking remains common, and new industry research complicates the idea of a dry generation.
For decades, alcohol was almost a fixture of American social life. College parties, happy hours, Friday nights at bars, and celebrations with friends often revolved around drinking. For generations, having a beer or ordering a cocktail was considered a normal part of becoming an adult.
But that relationship appears to be changing. Younger Americans are drinking less frequently than previous generations did, raising questions about the future of an industry that has long depended on young consumers becoming lifelong customers.
Generation Z, generally defined as people born between 1997 and 2012, is approaching alcohol differently. Some are choosing not to drink, others are reducing their consumption, and many are exploring alternatives such as nonalcoholic beer, mocktails, and cannabis products where legal.
The shift has generated headlines about a so-called dry generation. But the numbers tell a more complicated story. Young Americans may be drinking less, but alcohol has hardly disappeared from their lives.
According to the 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, published by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in July 2026, 46.2 percent of Americans ages 18 to 25 reported consuming alcohol during the previous month. That compares with 50.9 percent in 2021.
The decline represents millions of young adults changing their drinking habits. In 2025, approximately 16.7 million people between 18 and 25 reported drinking during the previous month, compared with 17 million in 2021.
The difference becomes more interesting when compared with older adults. Among Americans 26 and older, 48.4 percent reported drinking in the previous month in 2025. That means young adults were somewhat less likely to drink than their older counterparts.
The numbers suggest a generational shift, although not a complete rejection of alcohol.
Less drinking does not mean no binge drinking
One of the most important distinctions in the data is the difference between drinking occasionally and consuming large quantities of alcohol in a single sitting.
Young adults continue to report relatively high levels of binge drinking.
In 2025, 26.7 percent of Americans ages 18 to 25 reported binge drinking during the previous month, compared with 20.2 percent of adults 26 and older.
Federal researchers define binge drinking as consuming five or more drinks for men or four or more drinks for women on one occasion.
The proportion of young adults reporting binge drinking has declined from 30 percent in 2021, but the behavior remains more common among younger adults than among older ones.
The findings challenge the idea that an entire generation is abandoning alcohol. Instead, they suggest that fewer young adults are drinking, while a significant share of those who do continue to engage in potentially dangerous drinking patterns.
The survey also found that 13.1 percent of young adults ages 18 to 25 met the criteria for alcohol use disorder in 2025. That was down from 15.5 percent in 2021, but it still represented approximately 4.7 million people.
A different relationship with alcohol
The changing habits are not limited to one survey. Gallup’s long-term research has also documented a generational shift.
Between 2001 and 2003, approximately 72 percent of Americans ages 18 to 34 said they drank alcohol. In the 2021 to 2023 period, that proportion had fallen to 62 percent.
The trend moved in the opposite direction among older Americans. The share of adults 55 and older who reported drinking increased from 49 percent to 59 percent over the same period.
This reversal is particularly revealing. Alcohol consumption is becoming less common among younger adults while more older Americans report drinking.
There are several possible explanations for the change, including greater awareness of health risks, financial pressures, changing social habits, and the growing popularity of alternatives to traditional alcoholic beverages.
The COVID-19 pandemic also changed how many young adults socialize. Some became more comfortable spending time at home, while online communities, fitness activities, and other forms of entertainment created alternatives to traditional nightlife.
Cost is another factor. Going out for drinks has become increasingly expensive in many American cities, particularly for young adults facing high rents, student debt, and other living expenses.
Health concerns may also be influencing the shift. Gallup found that 65 percent of Americans ages 18 to 34 believe alcohol negatively affects their health, compared with 37 percent of adults ages 35 to 54 and 39 percent of those 55 and older.
The difference is substantial. Younger Americans appear more likely to question the health benefits of drinking and consider reducing their consumption.
The alcohol industry is not giving up on Gen Z
Despite the declining drinking rates, the alcohol industry has reasons to believe younger consumers will not abandon its products.
A June 2025 report by research firm IWSR challenged the idea that Gen Z is fundamentally different from previous generations when it comes to alcohol.
Its survey found that the percentage of legal drinking age Gen Z consumers in the United States who reported drinking alcohol during the previous six months increased from 46 percent in March 2023 to 70 percent in March 2025.
The findings suggest that some younger consumers may be returning to alcohol after a period of reduced consumption. They also highlight an important distinction between drinking occasionally and drinking regularly.
IWSR argues that economic circumstances, including disposable income and the cost of going out, can influence drinking habits. As younger adults enter the workforce and earn more, their consumption patterns could change.
Meanwhile, companies are expanding their offerings beyond traditional beer, wine and spirits.
Non-alcoholic beer, alcohol free cocktails and other alternatives are gaining visibility in supermarkets, restaurants and bars. The products appeal not only to people who abstain completely but also to consumers who want to participate in social occasions without drinking alcohol.
A January 2025 survey by Circana found that 65 percent of Gen Z respondents planned to drink less alcohol that year. Another 39 percent said they intended to adopt a dry lifestyle throughout the year. These were intentions, however, not measurements of actual consumption.
A generation redefining its relationship with alcohol
The evidence points to a cultural shift, but not necessarily the end of drinking.
For some young Americans, drinking less is about health. For others, it is about money, changing social habits, or simply not finding alcohol as central to their lives as previous generations did.
The latest federal data show that past-month drinking among young adults has declined, and Gallup’s longer-term research confirms that fewer younger Americans identify as drinkers than two decades ago.
But the IWSR findings offer a reminder that consumer behavior can change. A generation that drinks less today may not necessarily maintain those habits throughout adulthood.
America may be witnessing a generation that is more selective about when, why, and how much it drinks. Whether that becomes a permanent cultural change remains an open question.
For now, Gen Z is drinking less than previous generations did at the same age. But calling it America’s first dry generation would be premature.
