Gen Z Drinking Habits May Profit Their Health More Than the Booze—or Restaurant—Industries 🍽️🚫🍺

Something quietly historic is happening in America.
Young adults are still going out. They’re still socializing. They’re still ordering dessert.
They’re just… not ordering the drink.

For decades, alcohol was practically welded to adulthood: first job → first hangover → first “I’m never drinking again” (followed by another drink). But Gen Z is rewriting the script. And while not everyone loves this trend—hello, restaurant margins—their bodies might be sending thank-you notes.

📉 A 90-Year Low: America Is Drinking Less. Period.

According to Gallup, only 54% of U.S. adults now report drinking alcohol, the lowest reading since the survey began in 1939. That’s not a dip. That’s a trend reversal with commitment issues resolved.

Even more striking:

• Drinking fell from 62% in 2023 → 54% today

• Young adults dropped from 59% → 50%

• Women reduced drinking faster than men

• Republicans cut back sharply (politics does strange things to happy hour)

This isn’t just “Dry January spilled into February.” This is structural.

🧠 “Moderate Drinking Is Bad for You” Is Now the Majority View

For the first time ever, 53% of Americans believe even moderate drinking is bad for health. That’s a seismic shift.

Not long ago, red wine was practically prescribed. 🍷
Now it’s being politely escorted out of the wellness conversation.

Among young adults, concern is even stronger:

• Nearly two-thirds believe moderate drinking is harmful

• They drink less often

• When they do drink, they drink less

Translation: fewer shots, fewer regrets, fewer ER visits.

Health authorities like the CDC and NIH have become increasingly blunt: even “moderate” drinking comes with real health trade-offs — which may explain why Gen Z is choosing Pilates, sleep, and hydration over tequila shots.

👶 Gen Z: Social, Sober-Curious, and Unimpressed by Hangovers

Let’s be clear: Gen Z didn’t stop socializing. They just stopped believing alcohol was mandatory.

They’re still:

• Meeting friends

• Eating out

• Dating

• Dancing

• Posting questionable photos (some traditions remain)

They’re just doing it with mocktails, seltzers, kombucha, or nothing at all.

Why?

• Mental health awareness 🧠

• Fitness culture 🏃♀️

• Better sleep priorities 😴

• Less tolerance for “next-day misery”

Hangovers aren’t a badge of honor anymore. They’re a bug.

🍽️ The Restaurant Industry: “Wait… Where Did the Margins Go?”

Cue the panic in the kitchen.

Alcohol sales often account for a disproportionate share of restaurant profits. A celebrity chef recently called Gen Z’s sobriety trend an “existential threat.”

From his perspective, it makes sense:

• Drinks carry high margins

• Food margins are tighter

• Young diners now close tabs faster (no lingering cocktails)

But from a societal lens? The panic is… complicated.

Restaurants will adapt. They always do.
Alcohol-free menus, premium mocktails, experiential dining, better food—innovation follows demand.

Public health, however, doesn’t get a second chance.

💸 The Hidden Cost of Drinking (It’s Not Just the Bar Tab)

Alcohol’s true price tag doesn’t show up on your receipt.

🧾 Societal Costs (U.S.)

• $220–$270 billion annually

• Healthcare (ER visits, liver disease, cancer)

• Lost productivity (absenteeism, burnout)

• Crime, accidents, property damage

• Premature deaths

👤 Individual Costs

• Thousands per year in spending

• Lost wages

• Medical bills

• Legal issues

• Career stagnation

About 75% of this burden comes from binge drinking—not the occasional toast, but the “how did I get home?” variety.

Less drinking = fewer bills nobody wants to pay.

🍺 Preferences Are Shifting (But Beer Still Clings On)

Among those who still drink:

• 🍺 Beer remains #1 (especially among men)

• 🍷 Wine dominates among women

• 🥃 Liquor has quietly climbed the ranks

But frequency matters more than preference now.
A record-low 24% of drinkers had alcohol in the last 24 hours.

The average weekly intake?
👉 2.8 drinks — the lowest since 1996.

America didn’t quit overnight.
It just… lost interest.

⚖️ Is This Actually a Good Thing?

Short answer: Yes. Mostly.

Longer answer:

• Better physical health

• Improved mental clarity

• Lower accident rates

• Reduced long-term healthcare costs

• Fewer “I regret everything” texts

The trade-off?

• Restaurants must evolve

• Alcohol companies face slower growth

• Social rituals are being rewritten

But progress rarely asks permission from legacy business models.

🧭 The Bigger Picture

This shift mirrors what happened with smoking:

• First, awareness

• Then, skepticism

• Then, behavior change

• Then, normalization

Whether doctors and policymakers reinforce the “no amount is risk-free” message will shape the next decade. But Gen Z may already have made up its mind.

They’re not anti-fun.
They’re just pro-tomorrow.

❓ FAQ

Is Gen Z completely sober?
No. They’re selective, intentional, and less frequent drinkers.

Is marijuana replacing alcohol?
Not meaningfully. Cannabis use has been relatively flat in recent years.

Will restaurants survive?
Yes—but menus and margins may change.

Is moderate drinking officially bad for you?
The scientific consensus is shifting toward “less is better.”

⚡ Quick Take / TL;DR

• 📉 U.S. drinking hits a 90-year low

• 🧠 Majority now believe moderate drinking is unhealthy

• 👶 Young adults lead the decline

• 🍽️ Restaurants feel the pain

• ❤️ Public health likely wins

• 🍹 Mocktails are the new martinis

Less booze. More sleep. Fewer regrets.
Not everyone cheers—but most bodies do.

Don't Sleep on These Rules—Or Even Your Sleep Will Take a Siesta!

✍️ About the Author

Frédéric Marsanne is the founder of FUNanc1al, where smart meets fun, and money meets meaning. A longtime entrepreneur, investor, strategist, and storyteller, he blends serious market analysis with insights on health, tech, culture, and the occasional absurdity of modern life. His work mixes curiosity, clarity, and a sound skepticism of hype — because matters, metrics, and markets should be understood… and occasionally laughed at.

🧾⚠️📢 FUN(NY) Disclosure/Disclaimer 🧾⚠️📢

Fun, not medical advice. If you have conditions or concerns, talk to your clinician before starting a program. 🧏♀️

Invest in your health, not just your portfolio. 🎶🎶

Let's become the smartest possible patients or, even better, increase our chances of never becoming one by preventing disease (whenever possible). Still, consult a professional before experimenting with your body clock. ⏰🧬

Invest at your own risk. Love at any pace. Laugh at every turn. 😄
Be Happy! 😄😄

🧭 Want More Like This?

👉 Head over to our Tech & Innovation Hub or our News & Perspectives with a Different Lens hub 
👉 Browse our Funanc1al Wellness Hub for body insights with a wink and a plank
👉 Explore our Foodies Travel Hub for even more fun!
👉 Check our satirical finance series: “We the Spenders” (Coming soon)
👉 Or explore our Funanc1al Political Humor Roundup (Due anytime, if you dare to go deep)

👀 Want to stay relevant (and entertained)?
Visit Funanc1al.com — because we cover serious ideas with unserious emoji.