Binge drinking rates among gen Z have risen sharply since their teenage years, according to research that challenges their reputation as “generation sensible”.
Almost seven in 10 (68%) 23-year-olds reported binge drinking in the past year, while nearly a third (29%) said they did so at least monthly, up from 10% at age 17.
While drug use is relatively limited in the teenage years, by their 20s almost half (49%) have used cannabis and a third (32%) have tried harder drugs such as cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy, analysis by University College London (UCL) found.
Bit late, but better than never.
But what do they define as binge drinking? These neo-temperance clowns think any more than two pints is a binge. Two pints is just wetting the whistle before the drinking starts.
Pint of 4% beer is 2.3 units. Double vodka, 2 units.
So half an old Friday luncheon.
I would have thought access to money would be a leading factor in consumption of anything.
It’s not just about money, it’s also what else you can do.
Go to the pubs around here almost every night of the week (except spoons) and they’re about dead. There’s a few old boys nursing a pint. And you’ll pay £5+ per pint for that. Or, you can spend about £25-50 for a month for gym membership. Where you’ll not only get fit, but talk to more people. People have a little chinwag in the pool, changing rooms, around the machines.
Young people go out but almost never any night but Friday and Saturday. They don’t do the thing of meeting up with friends midweek for a couple of drinks and a catch up. They do that on social media now.
Then there’s Tinder for pickups. Again, about £25 a month. Why hang out in bars hoping for someone, and costing £10 a night? You can match, then go for a drink and then a shag.
Lots of guys are doing online multiplayer gaming. You and your pals don’t go to the pub and play pool, you fire up World of Warcraft. £10/month.
Then a lot of kids are doing weed in their teenage years because it’s just as easy to get now and probably cheaper.
What’s “binge drinking” then? Three pints after a rugby match or getting plastered and falling down?
Strewth! Not that much! Don’t the temperance zealots reckon it’s more than twice the official daily limit (which at the moment is 2 units, ie 1 pint) in one session.
In my mind “binge drinking” is what the kids do before ending up sprawled on the pavement in a pool of their own urine and multi-coloured vomit. 🙂
So at 18 they could legally drink
At 5 they could legally drink. 18 is the age at which they could legally PURCHASE.
“Binge drinking is defined as consuming six or more alcoholic drinks in one sitting.”
aka ‘Friday night’.
More like Tuesday lunch
Well of course they said that. They wanted the interviewer to think they are cool. How many of these self-reported binges were verified? 00.
So, should we believe ‘recent reports’ or ‘research?’
Okay. I get it now. This is a cry for research grant money, and has FA to do with Gen Zed.