Young adults in the U.S., specifically those aged 18 to 34, are reducing their alcohol intake. New survey results from Gallup show that over the past two decades, the percentage of these young adults who drink has fallen from 72% to 62%. Meanwhile, cannabis consumption is on the rise.
While young adults who do consume alcohol are doing so less frequently, older adults are showing an uptick in their drinking habits. Furthermore, younger drinkers are less inclined to overindulge, with only 22% admitting to occasionally consuming more than they believe they should, down from 28% in previous decades. The average number of alcoholic beverages young adults consumed weekly has also decreased from 5.2 two decades ago to 3.6 now.
The changing drinking habits can be attributed in part to a rise in cannabis consumption. Since 2013, its consumption among young adults has nearly doubled. There has also been a demographic shift over the years, with the younger age group becoming more racially and ethnically diverse. This is pertinent as non-white Americans typically drink less. Moreover, there’s a growing health consciousness among young adults. A notable 52% now consider even moderate drinking harmful, a significant increase from the 34% five years ago.
This creates an obvious opportunity for cannabis companies. As alcohol becomes less popular and marijuana use increases, this young cohort should be the one to target. More importantly, we are possibly entering a world with fewer headaches and liver damages that alcohol causes. We look forward to seeing less ethanol down people’s throats and more natural plants in their system. Here is for a healthier and greener century.