Under the yellow bar lights of a university pub, a group of friends trade laughter for the clink of glasses — a scene that, for many in this cohort, masks a wider shift. The new analysis shows that gen z who were once described as cautious are now reporting markedly higher levels of heavy drinking and drug use as they enter their early 20s.
Why is Gen Z binge drinking more in their early 20s?
Short answer: the period between late adolescence and early adulthood sees a sharp rise in risky behaviours, and this cohort is no exception. Researchers at the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies analysed data from nearly 10, 000 people born across the UK in 2000–02 taking part in the Millennium Cohort Study, comparing responses at ages 17 and 23. The proportion of 23-year-olds who reported binge drinking at least once in the past year was 68%, up from 53% at 17. Monthly binge drinking rose from 10% at 17 to 29% at 23. The lead author, Dr Aase Villadsen, said the pattern challenges the idea of a uniformly “generation sensible” youth and warned that higher rates in the early 20s could become entrenched.
How much have substance use and other risky behaviours changed?
The changes are substantial across several measures. Cannabis use among the cohort rose from 31% at 17 to 49% at 23. Use of harder drugs such as cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy increased from 10% to 32%, while those using harder drugs 10 times or more in the past year rose from 3% to 8%. Gambling was 32% of the cohort at 23, though only 4% described it as problematic. Daily vaping climbed from 3% at 17 to 19% at 23, and cigarette smoking stayed largely steady (8% to 9%). These figures underline a broad intensification of risk-taking during the transition to adulthood.
What are experts saying and what is being done?
Voices from the study and public-health organisations express concern and point to different levers for response. Dr Aase Villadsen, lead author at the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies, said, “The sharp rise in many behaviours between adolescence and early adulthood shows how risks intensify during this stage of life. ” She urged that “policy interventions, education and advice should be aimed at the most at-risk groups, such as young males, who are around seven times more likely to report having gambling difficulties than females, and are more likely to use harder drugs. “
Dr Katherine Severi, chief executive of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, warned that young people remain vulnerable as the brain continues developing into the mid-20s and noted a worrying comparison with earlier generations: “Despite frequent claims that young people are drinking less, this study suggests that gen z drinkers in their early 20s may now be drinking as much as – or more than – millennials did at a similar age. ” Severi highlighted the role of the wider alcohol environment, adding that affordability, availability and promotion are key drivers of alcohol harm and that many students are exposed to heavy drinking cultures.
Responses under discussion include targeted education programmes, tailored support for groups identified as higher risk, and measures that address the environmental drivers of alcohol harm. The study authors and public-health experts emphasise the need to focus on prevention during the years when experimentation intensifies.
Back at the pub, the laughter carries a new meaning. For some, nights out are brief rites of passage; for others, they may mark the start of patterns with lasting consequences. The data from the Millennium Cohort Study brings that tension into focus, leaving policymakers, universities, families and young people themselves to weigh whether current responses will be enough to change the trajectory.
