Gen Z was hailed as The “sober-lecious” generationWith risky behavior rates such as alcohol consumption, as well as sexual relations and drug use, falling at historically low levels. But a study recently put an even finer point on the trend: young men in particular are those who abandon the excessive consumption of alcohol, defined as having five alcoholic drinks or more in a single session for men, or four or more for women.
Fewer men of generation Z than women declared excessive consumption of alcohol in the last month between 2021 and 2023, according to April 2025 Jama study. Although the gap between the consumption rates of men and women has shrunk in recent decades in recent years Women’s alcohol consumption has exceeded mens for the first time.
The results have raised alarm ringtses on high rates of excessive women’s consumption. But a more in -depth examination shows that the closing gender gap is motivated, if not more, lowering frenzy rates in men, especially young adult men. So what inspires young men to drink less or not at all? We examined it.
What the figures show
All young adults were drinking less between 2021 and 2023, compared to the period 2017-2019, according to the study. Young women drank 13% less, but young men saw an even greater drop – almost 21%. It is therefore not that more women necessarily drink now – it is that fewer men are, and this change has made that the rates of women seem higher in comparison.
Why the young men drink less for the debate, the notes author of the study and internist of the University of Pittsburgh Dr Bryant Shuey. Although he considers the drop in excessive alcohol consumption rates among young men as a “success in public health”, Shuey wonders if it is more complicated than a pure victory. “Are young people happy, Socially connected and drink lessor does Young people and young men are more aloneLess social and less willing to call a friend for drinks, “he said.” There is a potential that there is a compromise here: less alcohol and more solitude, and we must think of approaching both. “”
What motivates change?
There is no shortage of theories behind the relative sobriety of Gen Z: young people are important to prioritize their health, and there is a full boom health and well-being industry to meet demand; the loneliness epidemic that Shuey noted; Rate up to young people Choose cannabis rather than alcohol; And Gen ZZ-ORS who choose to scroll through a smartphone rather than party with friends. A recent Dutch study suggested that it can be simpler than all of this: young people are too mowed to buy drinks (and Costs increase).
Dry January and “Sobre-Curieux” Articles on social networks can also play a role, experts and men who have become sober suggested. Brandan Sahoa sports journalist and host of the podcast The mental gamesaid the two trends have inspired many young people not to drink. “And once they see that their personal life is better and that their physical health is better and that nobody cares that they do not drink”, so imagining a sober life becomes much easier, explains Saho. “It is not a decisive thing as if it would have been 10 or 15 years ago, when you were not cool if you did not drink.”
Pocket comrade Shane row said there was a “coolness” lack of sobriety when he stopped drinking. A decade later, he hosts the This sober guy Podcast and think that “people wake up to the fact that … it’s so much cool and respectable and how many opportunities there are”, when you don’t drink, he said.
Do popular influencers and podcasters make it cool to drink less?
Rowing, 43, and Saho, 31, recover alcoholics. The two grew up in households or drinking – often drinking – was the norm, but we did not speak. Although they are not part of generation Z, rowing and Saho suspect that part of the young generation has had similar experiences. “It had to hit my rock bottom and almost not alive for me to tell my father,” said Saho, referring to his alcohol consumption. “You should be able to talk to men in your life, but up to the last five or 10 years, no one has done.”
This changes with social media, podcasts and vodcasts, especially since many influential male podcasters (and, in some cases, controversial) with large follow -ups of young men are sober and vocal on this subject: Joe Rogan, Theo Von and Andrew Huberman, for example, have all left consumption. On RedditSeveral people said that Huberman’s episode on the effects of alcohol had arrested them to drink. Hear some of them talk about giving up alcohol to focus on the work they like to make Saho resonate. As he says in a TiktokIt helped him inspire him to stay sober.
While social media certainly has its drawbacks and dangers, rowing describes a “cultural change” around alcohol consumption which has a positive effect on young men. “You have a lot of media and podcasts and celebrities that are sober and open on this subject,” he said, adding that this opening offers a feeling of community and a path to follow for people, including young men, who plan to drink less – or not at all.
