Gen-Z No Longer Drinking As Much As Millennials Did When 30 Cans Cost $35 And The Cops Didn’t Give A Shit About Noise Complaints

CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT

You’ve heard the theories about young people not longer getting on the piss with friends, but a new report can confirm it is very much true.

Gen Z is leading a cultural change that sees them drinking vastly less booze than the generations before them.

A study of more than 23,000 Aussies has identified a stark difference between Gen Z and even Millennials, according to a new report by Flinders University.

While this shift in social behaviours comes with health benefits, there is growing concerns that young people are now filling the vacuum of a decreased drinking culture with ultimately more harmful habits such as designer drug use and excessive screentime.

Hospitality operators and the events sector can vouch for this change in behaviour, with music festivals and nightlife precincts struggling to bring young people through the doors.

While researchers scramble to identify the causes of this major departure from Australia’s traditional culture of cold beer and pubs, Gen-Z themselves say that it’s probably a lot more simple than people think.

“I’m not trying to be a health freak” said 20-year-old university student, James (Betoota Heights).

“If I could, I’d probably do exactly what the boomers did and spend my twenties listening to Australia’s most treasured cultural icons singing pub rock ballads in smokey surf clubs before loading up the car and driving across town to another gig”

“But increased road safety measures put an end to that, for good reason I think”

Lana (23, lash tech, Betoota Ponds) echoes a similar sentiment.

“I’d love to have seen what Kings Cross looked like in it’s heyday. I’d actually love to know what a house party looks and feels like”

“Do you just bring your own drinks? Or do they serve it? I don’t really understand nightclubs either because I’ve never really been able to afford them. My rent is $350 a week not including bills. I get paid the exact same wage as someone my age did 15 years ago”

As Lana explains, Gen-Z are not so much drinking less, but are being robbed of opportunities to socialise like generations before them.

Another curly-haired 20-something, Fred, says he had to watch the 2025 NRL Grand Final on mute because his 70-something neighbours moved to his inner-city university enclave for peace and quiet.

“The cops came round during our housewarming. There was 20 people there and they said they’d received 56 complaints”