New research indicates that Britons over the age of 40 are the last generation of regular drinkers, with significantly higher rates of alcohol consumption compared to younger adults. Data from nearly 1.7 million individuals reveals a sharp divergence in drinking habits around the age of 40, with mid-life individuals drinking more frequently and in larger quantities.
Analysis shows that people in their 40s were 52 percent more likely than those under 40 to exceed government-recommended guidelines, which suggest consuming no more than 14 units of alcohol per week. Specifically, only 12.6 percent of individuals aged 18 to 39 drank above the recommended limit, compared to 19 percent of those in their 40s and 28 percent of individuals aged 60 and above.
This finding adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that young people in Britain are drinking less than in previous generations. Government data released in January indicated that nearly a quarter of adults in England now abstain from alcohol entirely. Furthermore, figures from the Office for National Statistics published in May showed a decline in alcohol-related deaths to their lowest level since 2021, coinciding with a surge in sales of zero-alcohol beverages.
The research, conducted by the firm Our Future Health, also suggests that affluence plays a role in drinking habits. Adults earning more than £100,000 were more likely to exceed recommended alcohol limits across all age brackets, with 25 percent reporting they regularly do so. More than nine in 10 of the highest earners consumed alcohol, in contrast to fewer than eight in 10 of those earning £18,000 or less.
Generational differences extend beyond abstinence to the frequency and quantity of consumption. Nearly a quarter of adults under 40 reported drinking only on special occasions, compared to 13 percent of those in their 60s. Among younger age groups, fewer than 2 percent of individuals in their 20s drank daily or almost daily, a figure that rises to almost 6 percent among those in their 40s and nearly 14 percent among those in their 60s. For individuals aged 80 and above, one in four admitted to drinking every day or almost every day.
Ros Blackall, director of population health at Our Future Health, stated that the data provides insights into drinking habits on an unprecedented scale. Overall, nearly nine in 10 adults aged 18 to 39 consumed alcohol within recommended weekly limits. Health officials define this as 'low risk' rather than safe, as no level of alcohol consumption is considered risk-free.
Younger Britons were also more likely to be teetotal, with 12 percent of those in their 20s abstaining completely, compared to 8 percent of those in their 60s.
Jem Roberts from the Institute of Alcohol Studies welcomed the decline in drinking among younger generations but expressed concern over rising alcohol-related deaths among older individuals. He advocated for evidence-based public health measures to support all individuals drinking at harmful levels, particularly through action on cheap supermarket alcohol and rapid home delivery services that enable heavy drinking in isolation.
Dr. Richard Piper, chief executive of Alcohol Change UK, described the findings as encouraging evidence of cultural shifts around alcohol. He noted that while younger generations are drinking less often and at lower levels, middle-aged and older adults are consuming more frequently and at more harmful levels. This trend is likely influenced by decades of alcohol advertising that has normalized consumption and suggested it is essential to daily life. He suggested that older age groups could learn from the habits of younger generations.
The data emerges as industry figures show pubs in Britain closing at a rate of two per day. The British Beer and Pub Association reported that 161 pubs closed across England, Scotland, and Wales in the first three months of the year, resulting in approximately 2,400 job losses. Concurrently, sales of no- and low-alcohol beer, wines, and spirits have increased by 870 percent since 2013, with nine in 10 pubs now offering at least one zero-percent option.