The dangerous and unhealthy boomer habit that many young Aussies are giving up
Australians are drinking less than ever before, with the nation's alcohol supply falling to its lowest level in nearly a decade.
New data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows the total amount of alcohol available to buy dropped 3.7 per cent in 2023–24, the biggest yearly decline since records began in the 1960s.
Sober-coach Sarah Rusbatch gave up drinking in 2019 after a drunken fall at a friend's 40th left her with a bruised face, split lip, and a deep sense of shame.
'There's so much more information now about the health risks of alcohol that we can't ignore, particularly the link to breast cancer,' she told Daily Mail Australia.
'People are far more health-conscious. They care about productivity, sleep and skin. Just one drink can disrupt sleep quality by 40 per cent. You might not feel hungover, but you'll feel tired and unproductive.'
The Perth-based coach said today's 'wellness' culture has made drinking feel out-of-step.
'In today's modern world energy is king, and there simply isn't room for alcohol where energy and productivity are concerned,' she said.
Rusbatch believes the rise of sober influencers and celebrities has helped normalise a life without booze.
'So many leading names, Bradley Cooper, Brad Pitt, Anne Hathaway, Lana Del Rey, and Calvin Harris talk openly about how much better their lives are without alcohol, and that resonates across generations,' she said.
Growing up in England, boozing was part of the culture and Sarah Rusbatch (pictured) was known as a 'party girl'
A Flinders University study of 23,000 Australians has confirmed many young Aussies are drinking less than ever
'Gen Z are drinking less than ever. It's about cost, social media, and not wanting to look drunk online. They're more likely to meet friends at the gym or for a walk than at the pub.'
A Flinders University study of 23,000 Australians has confirmed the trend, with more people giving up alcohol altogether and the biggest rise seen among younger generations.
Lead researcher Dr Gianluca Di Censo said Gen Z are nearly 20 times more likely to skip drinking altogether compared with Baby Boomers.
'This isn't just a phase, it's a sustained change in behaviour that could have long-term public-health benefits,' he said.
Millennials are also moderating their intake.
'While they drink more per occasion than Boomers, their overall weekly consumption is lower,' Dr Di Censo said, meaning binge drinking still happens, but regular heavy drinking is in decline.
The Silent Generation, those born before 1946, were found to drink the most per week, even more than Boomers, suggesting the nation's oldest drinkers remain most at risk of alcohol-related harm.
