Heavy-drinking adults under 30 are consuming less alcohol compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study suggests, adding to evidence that found Gen Z’s drinking habits have impacted alcohol brands, causing some to shift into no- and low-alcoholic drinks.Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University followed 234 heavy-drinking young adults between the ages of 21 to 29 from February 2018 to March 2022 to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected their drinking habits.
The researchers also found decreases in alcohol-related problems and negative behaviors, but there were no significant changes in participants using alcohol as a coping mechanism throughout the study period.