Alcohol consumption among people aged 50–64 is rising in the US — TIME
In the United States, the share of people aged 50 to 64 who consume alcohol in large quantities increased by 36% in 2018–2024. At the same time, younger generations — millennials and members of Generation Z — are reducing their alcohol consumption, TIME reports, citing a study in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Survey data
The study’s authors analyzed responses from more than 114,000 adult Americans who participated in the National Health Interview Survey in 2018–2024. This is an annual survey conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In 2022–2024, the overall level of alcohol consumption in the country declined by 2%, while the prevalence of excessive drinking fell by 8%. The largest decrease was recorded among Generation Z — almost 6%. Among millennials, the figure dropped by about 2%. In both groups, the prevalence of excessive alcohol consumption declined by about one-fifth.
By contrast, among Americans aged 50–64, the overall level of alcohol consumption increased by 4% in 2018–2024.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Health risks
In the study, excessive drinking was defined as five or more alcoholic drinks per day or 16 or more per week for men, as well as four or more drinks per day or eight or more per week for women.
The study’s lead researcher, hepatologist and liver transplant specialist at Keck Medicine of USC Brian Lee, noted that the overall decline in alcohol consumption is a positive trend. At the same time, consumption levels still exceed those seen before the pandemic, and worrying trends persist in some groups.
The researchers have not definitively established the reasons for the changes. Among the possible factors behind reduced alcohol consumption among young people, Lee cited greater awareness of alcohol-related health risks, more limited financial means among younger people, and the possible replacement of alcohol with cannabis. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, alcohol is associated with 62 diseases, including liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and various forms of cancer.
