While younger generations are drinking less, adults aged 50 to 64 are drinking more, causing a shift reshaping the US bar scene
Alcohol consumption has decreased across the United States in recent years, particularly among adults under age 40, but there is one older demographic in which more people are drinking than before the Covid-19 pandemic – and more are doing so heavily, according to a new study.
For the first time since before the pandemic, the percentage of US adults who drink any alcohol decreased between 2022 and 2024, according to the report in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. People from 50 to 64, which roughly corresponds with gen X, were the only age group in which drinking continued to increase.
They are likely hurting their health by imbibing, according to the latest science, but they are also helping keep open bars. Such businesses have struggled as younger generations, the drivers of nightlife, move away from booze.
My wife and I (Gen-X), stopped drinking altogether about two or three years ago. She identified that it was becoming a problem for her since the huge increase during COVID lockdown. I quit for moral support.
My cousin definitely ramped up since COVID, but even he has now cut down to one celebratory “survived the week” Friday night cocktail.
With all that said, my white gen-x friends are drinking like it’s sophomore year greek week, every week. Except they can hold their liquor now. The amount of bottle in the recycling bin is absurd.
I’m 62 and mostly completely stopped drinking. I used to keep a well stocked bar, but now it just sits there empty except for glassware.
Friends who are in their early 50s and used to drink much heavier than me also mostly quit. She gets migraines and I think that’s a big reason (he probably also quit in support).
The only people I see drinking regularly are younger people on the golf course.
It’s funny you say they can hold their liquor better now. I’m in my early 40s and I used to drink excessively in my 20s. Now, I feel like just looking at a glass of wine gives me a hangover 😅
I cut back a lot in my early 30s and now I’m down to a couple of cocktails in the summer months. There are really excellent mocktails in grocery stores nowadays, it makes it so much easier to still enjoy the flavors.
What I mean by that is that it seems less like the sprint till you blackout drinkingof their youth, and more the “I’m always tipsy” ultramarathon.
My boomer dad died of dementia a few years ago. I strongly believe that alcohol was a factor in rapidly advancing his disease. Dementia scares the shit out of me, so I have basically quit drinking. I’m okay having a drink with friends a few times a year, but effectively only on special occasions.
alcohol does cause dementia, how often did he drink?
From my reading ‘cause’ is too strong a word. My mother in law drank a lot until she died in her 90’s. She was sharp until her last week. Dad regularly drank a beer or three after work, but never more than that on a weekday. On the weekends they’d occasionally have parties and he’d get moderately drunk. He was never fall down drunk. I think the long term alcohol use was that contributing factor. My grandfather, his father, died at 96. The last 2 or so years of his life he had dementia. He drank when he was younger, but I think he quit by the time he was 50. I’m hoping to be like him as far as dementia goes.
I’m going through this very thing right now. My dad is 67. In the late stage of dementia. Married an alcoholic and was with her for 10 years. I’d say for a good 6 or 7 of those he drank heavily. Dementia has kicked his ass. It’s so horrific and just last week we got news he’s showing rapid decline. Like overnight he just couldn’t stand or talk, medical tests ruled out a stroke, UTI etc etc. He’s bounced back a little but not much. I’m so mad. And sad.
I’ve been there. I’m so sorry for what you are going through. It is extremely difficult. I developed a set of rules for myself with my dad. I don’t know if any of them will help you, but as I figured them out they helped me.
It’s all hard on everyone.
Thank you for the reply. These rules are ones I learned to follow as well. I had to tell my siblings it’s okay if he’s saying he has to go to work tomorrow, that he’s caught a huge fish yesterday etc … whatever it may be don’t correct him. They finally got the memo and things are smoother.
His primary doctor said he needed a colonoscopy and I said absolutely the hell not. I’ve had a few and they’re rough as fuck even when you’re fully capable of taking care of yourself. I told my siblings that was a non negotiable. No way is my dad being put through that, all the prep, leaving his safe space and being sedated? Insane.
I have a lot more common sense I guess you could say. Things come naturally to me on how to handle him with dignity. My brothers are kinda brash. They’ve learned to ask me how to handle things and it seems dad is happier and smiles more.
Sorry for the rambling. It’s just hard to deal with when it happens so early and you’re still young.
You aren’t rambling. And good on you for saying no to the colonoscopy. You are absolutely correct. My mom never really learned the rules I figured out. She’d challenge him on asking who she was. Because sometimes he’d forget. It really upset her, which I get. The challenge upset him and that would lead to things going downhill. I don’t think he necessarily knew who she was or I was specifically, but he knew that we were important to him. And honestly that’s all that mattered. Stay strong, take breaks, take turns with family. It will be difficult. Don’t wear yourself out.
My friend’s dad has wet brain from drinking. Seems similar to dementia.
alcohol does caused a version of dementia so im not surprised.
I am one of those bridging the generation gap. I have siblings whom are older and part of Gen-X but I am technically a millennial born in 84. Well they are still drinkers but I quit 2 years ago and switched to weed. I have the peer pressure to still drink but I decline.
Your generation is as much about your cohort and where you were born as it is when you are born. Growing up with GenX siblings, especially if you grew up not on the coasts, would put you in the running for being GenX rather than a millennial.
For instance somebody born in 1995 who grew up in San Francisco would be closer to GenZ than somebody who was born in 1998 and grew up in rural Texas. There is always a transition gradient.