They are often called Generation Sensible because of their focus on healthy living and their apparent lack of interest in alcohol.
But according to new research from Drinkaware, under-25s are more likely to binge drink than the rest of the population.
About one in five of this age group, including Generation Z and younger teens, are teetotal, meaning it has the highest percentage of non-drinkers.
But of the rest who do drink, 74 percent are likely to binge eat, compared to just 63 percent of those over 25.
This follows a rise to 78 per cent of young adults binge drinking last year, which experts say could be due to ‘making up for lost time’ after lockdown restrictions ended.
Young people under 25 are more likely to binge drink than the rest of the population, according to new research from Drinkaware
The study surveyed 5,213 young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 over a six-year period. Nearly one in five drink for ‘coping reasons’, such as to forget their problems or to relieve feelings of anxiety or depression.
The Drinkaware report, The Sober Myth: Are Young Adults Real a Generation of Non-Drinkers, shows that under-25s are twice as likely to drink at risky or potentially dependent levels compared to the rest of the population.
Among the youngest drinkers, this percentage is 11 percent, compared to six percent among those over 25.
Compared to older drinkers aged 25 and over, young adult drinkers were more likely to experience memory loss, which affected 40 percent.
About 14 percent said they felt like they needed a drink in the morning, and almost a quarter said alcohol prevented them from meeting their usual responsibilities.
Karen Tyrell, chief executive of the charity Drinkaware, said: ‘It’s really encouraging to see more and more young adults choosing not to drink and those who do drinking less often.
‘These positive trends are welcome, but we must be careful that they do not mask some of the worrying drinking behavior that still exists.
‘Young people are still more likely to binge drink than other age groups and suffer from memory loss and depression linked to their drinking.
‘We need to ensure that young people’s drinking habits are not ignored, and that they are properly addressed as part of any new alcohol strategy.
“We need to ensure that young people’s drinking habits are not ignored,” says Drinkaware CEO Karen Tyrell.
‘We must ensure that young people’s drinking habits are not ignored,
‘We need to normalize conversations about alcohol, making it easier for people to speak up and get help if they are concerned about their own or others’ drinking.’
The research shows that drinkers under the age of 25 are more likely to drink alcohol on a night out with friends and less likely to drink alone at home than older age groups; only 43 percent have done so in the past twelve months.
Younger people were also found to drink less often, with only 46 percent doing so at least once a week, compared to 56 percent of over-25s who drink.
But the report concludes: ‘Abstinence from alcohol among young adults is increasingly being studied academically, with numerous articles examining these trends.
‘However, as the findings in this article demonstrate, there is still a need to recognize the consumption patterns of young adults who also drink.’
Commenting on the new figures, Rebecca Taylor, head of policy and public affairs at the World Cancer Research Fund, said: ‘Based on this report, it is worrying that many younger people are drinking high-risk alcohol and binge drinking.
‘When it comes to cancer, there is strong evidence that drinking alcohol, even in small amounts, increases the risk of a number of cancers, including breast and bowel cancer, and the more you drink, the greater the risk.’