Why Gen Z Is Choosing Weed Over Booze
Gen Z, or the Generation Z that was born between the early 1990’s through the early 2000’s - are making waves and changing the way we see the world today.
Despite being just a few years away from so called Millennials, this generation of young adults are authentic digital natives, outspoken on justice and social issues, and are informed shoppers too. They are known to be more pragmatic and conscious - most especially when it comes to health. Unlike generations before them, Gen Z individuals are more open about their healthy but also veer towards a healthier, more holistic approach.
These choices are evident in their choice of recreational substances, too, since this younger generation avoids alcohol but leans towards cannabis.
According to a 2022 study from New Frontier Data, approximately 69% of young adults between the ages of 18 to 24 reported a preference for cannabis over alcohol. Meanwhile, more than half said that they already replaced their alcohol consumption with marijuana instead. There are several strong studies to back up these claims, too: According to the NIAAA Surveillance Report #116, underage drinking among kids aged 12-20 has steadily declined between 1991 through 2019, which is great news!
Additionally, according to a Gallup Poll, drinking among 18 to 34 year olds has declined from 72% down to 62% from 2001 to 2023. The report also states that young adults generally report drinking far less in the last week, or excessively in general. Meanwhile, a recent poll conducted by Drug Rehab USA assessed the recreational choices of a thousand employed adults. They found that 66% acknowledged that they’ve experimented with booze alternatives in the last 6 months while 24% said that they were “at least partially” trying to find a substitute for booze using cannabis-infused drinks or non-alcoholic drinks.
Why Are Gen Z Drinking Less And Choosing Weed?
We’re now seeing more reports of people across all ages drinking much less alcohol than used to in the previous decades. People have decided to pick up a weed habit instead, and it looks like this isn’t just a trend - it’s here to stay.
Here are the reasons driving these changes.
Health Consciousness
While there has been medical and scientific data linking alcohol consumption with illnesses since the 1920s, including heart and liver conditions, it wasn’t until the 2020s through present day that various esteemed health organizations have declared that there is no safe amount of alcohol to drink.
The knowledge that alcohol is ‘poison’ quickly spread especially on social media. And when cannabis legalization began spreading in North America, even before the 2020s, more young people began to get high instead of drunk - and this was the beginning of California sober. Other similar movements, such as mindful drinking and sober-curious, started to grow in popularity especially among young kids and Generation Z.
More young people began to see the benefits of smoking weed instead of getting high, especially when it comes to wellness. There are no rude hangovers, less calories, and even several medical benefits when you get high. In fact, according to a 2022 Civic Science poll conducted among Gen Zers, over a quarter said they were ‘very concerned’ about alcohol’s potential health risks; it also stated that for many Gen Z adults, alcohol as a pastime is viewed as on its way out, just like cigarettes.
Cultural Shift
That said, when one’s peers are much more mindful about their health, you’re seeing a significant cultural shift. It’s no longer ‘cool’ to drink and smoke cigarettes; what’s considered cool these days is to take care of one’s health and engage in mindful consumption.
Of course, there are still many Gen Z’s that experiment with partial sobriety. They may choose to drink less without abstaining completely, though they still use weed to relax in social occasions or as a means of winding down from stress.
Access and Legalization
With cannabis being legal in most of North America, either for medical, recreational, or both, access to cannabis is much simpler and easier than ever. This has greatly shifted perceptions of weed, since seeing cannabis dispensaries is nearly as commonplace as a conventional pharmacy or cafe.
Gen Z adults who lives in states with medical or recreational cannabis laws certainly enjoy better access to marijuana, and the risk of using it is much lower too. Naturally, Gen Z communities who live in these areas tend to perceive weed as safer and more acceptable, as well as a viable alternative to alcohol.
Furthermore, individuals who live in areas where cannabis is legal in some form have shifted perceptions: cannabis is seen as a mainstream substance. The attitudes of one’s peers, pop culture, and media all contribute, too.
Better Social Alternative
Many young people also don’t see the appeal of the messiness associated with getting drunk on alcohol. Regretful decisions and embarassing behavior, especially in a world that’s highly infiltrated by cameras and social media, don’t contribute to one’s reputation. For this reason, it can be easy to see why Gen Z communities see cannabis as a better choice; there’s no need to worry about doing stupid things that you’ll regret tomorrow.
Conclusion
Gen Z, among other age groups, are certainly drinking less alcohol and turning to weed. Whether for health, cultural, or social reasons, it’s clear that health and wellness have become the priority; people are more conscious than ever when it comes to mental and physical health.
It’s for the best. After all, we’ve known for a long time that drinking alcohol benefits no one. The hangovers are cruel, and it only contributes to disease. Cannabis fits into wellness culture better, and provides a clean alternative to recreation without compromising one’s self-control.
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