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Herald Sun
07-07-2025
- Health
- Herald Sun
Tradies among the rise of Gen Zs opting not to drink alcohol
Gen Z guys are ditching drinking and embracing a sober, healthy lifestyle at a higher rate than girls, experts say, with some unlikely suspects taking on the teetotal life by the reins. Young apprentice tradies are among those leading the charge of youths staying away from booze, saying they prefer to have protein shakes at the gym over afternoon beers at the pub or to go on hikes at the weekend rather than party at a bar or nightclub. It comes as this masthead can exclusively reveal new research that found one in five 18-24-year-olds went longer than six months without alcohol last year. The survey of 1454 people last year by not-for-profit Dry July – which is encouraging people to abstain from alcohol this month to raise money for cancer support organisations – also found younger adults were more likely than the general population to say they were drinking much less (23 per cent compared to 17 per cent). Within Gen Z, a significant 63 per cent said they were motivated by their desire to save money while 35 per cent said wanting to fit in with their peers were top motivators for not drinking. Additionally, two in five said taking a break has become a social norm (40 per cent) and 30 per cent noted it as 'cool'. Statistics from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022–2023 found that risky drinking males have been slowly declining since 2019, from 47 to 45 per cent. National Drug Research Institute Associate Professor Dr Michael Livingston said the drop in risky drinking for young men had been more evident compared to young females. 'Both men and women in their 20s were drinking less than previous generations, but the drop for men was steeper,' he said. 'This was partly because they had further to fall, but it may also reflect that reductions in risk taking had more of an impact on men's drinking.' Apprentice landscaper Spencer Broda, 18 said his friends' drinking behaviours made him want to stay sober. 'My friends and I would much rather go out and do an activity together, where we don't have to drink and we can drive home' he said. 'I think it would feel weird if I was the only one drinking in a group.' Playing basketball on the weekends, he wanted to make sure his body was ready for games. 'If I drank and played the next day, I noticed I felt almost weaker,' he said. 'When I stopped drinking on the weekends, my game was so strong.' Apprentice carpenter at Ace Davies Carpentry, Nick Armstrong, said he made the decision to stop drinking to gain back control. 'For me, I had some bad experiences and I wanted that damage control,' the 27-year-old said. 'My friends will still drink but it's all in moderation now.' Apprentice carpenter at Kingsford Carpentry, Jorgan Tapau, said his strong commitment to fitness and the gym made him less likely to go out drinking. 'When I didn't drink, I would find myself going to the gym more regularly, which I really enjoyed,' the 19-year-old said. 'I have a really strong interest in the gym and just bettering my overall health.' Apprentice plumber Zander Te Brugge, 22, from Our Local Services said when he stopped drinking, he had a clearer mindset. 'When I stopped drinking, I felt more productive and had more interest in my hobbies,' he said. 'I'd would much rather splurge on camping or work on my cars than spend money on alcohol.' These changes surrounding alcohol culture aren't just noticed by friends, but by bosses too. Founder of North Shore Carpentry and Renovations, Alex Nejman, 30, said there had been a significant shift in the workplace since he was an apprentice. 'It's not the same culture that it used to be,' he said. 'When I was doing my apprenticeship, we would go to the pub almost every day, have a couple schooners and go back to work, but that's not the situation anymore.' For Mr Nejman, end of year celebrations are now more inclusive for those who choose not to drink. 'We go out camping, or go on hikes, it's healthier and more fun,' he said. At Boss Carpentry WA, Michael McCracken said his apprentices were drawn more to fitness than the pub. 'We have five apprentices and we've seen really strong sports dedication,' he said. At Brisbane City Landscapes, young mindsets have also shifted, according to managing director, Jack Blair-Swannell. 'Our younger labourers are less interested in alcohol than we were,' he said. 'A lot of our guys are really focused on fitness and sports.' Stephen Lawrence, founder of Australia's first non-alcoholic bar Brunswick Aces, said Gen Zs, alongside other demographics, had increased their purchasing of non-alcoholic beverages at his bar. 'We get everyone from the 18-year-old that wants to go out but doesn't want to drink, to the 80-year-old who was told to cut back,' he said. Research fellow at the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction, Gianluca Di Censo, said that although the trend was promising, it's essential for young people to be aware of the dangers of risky drinking. 'Youth is a period characterised by high-risk episodic drinking so we still need to make sure young people are aware of the harms of binge drinking,' he said.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Concerning roadside find reveals dangerous trend landing Aussies in hospital
Dozens of brightly coloured canisters found strewn across a dirt path on the side of a suburban road have shone a spotlight on a concerning trend landing Aussies in hospital. The 3.3-litre cylinders featuring eye-catching graphics and the phrase 'experience heaven on earth' horrified a passerby in Melbourne this week, not only because they had been illegally dumped, but due to the danger of their contents. 'So sick of these! What hope do we have of stopping younger people behaving like this?' the frustrated local wrote online. Sadly, it's an all too familiar scene across the country. Nitrous oxide is classed as a dissociative anaesthetic and is an odourless gas used to make whipped cream and put doctors' patients at ease. But it can have devastating – or even deadly – consequences if misused. Despite increasing media coverage of the risks involved, the warnings haven't stopped people from inhaling the gas, often referred to as 'nangs', in search of a quick high. There's an increasing number of case studies documenting people who have presented to emergency departments with severe nerve and spinal cord damage, Dr Jodie Grigg, who has been monitoring the use of illicit substances for the National Drug Research Institute for over 12 years, told Yahoo News. 'It may start off with some tingling and numbness in their fingers and toes, or difficulty keeping their balance, and that can progress to the complete inability to walk… they can lose the brain/body connection and without early intervention, those harms can be permanent,' she said. Use of the gas inactivates vitamin B12, she explained, which can lead to stripping the lining around a person's spinal cord. Psychiatric harms can also occur, such as psychosis and hallucinations. 'There's acute risks as well, like cold burns, damage to the lungs, falls due to lightheadedness and losing consciousness. There was at least one case where a Schoolie fell off a balcony and died.' While the majority of those who land in hospital have been using large amounts for a prolonged period, there are reports of exceptions with harm occurring from a single major binge. 🏥 Teen's tragic diagnosis after getting addicted to nangs: 'I can't walk' 🧍♀️Woman's battle with 'deadly' illness after vaping for less than a year 💰 Record $10 million bust highlights growing scourge in Australia Between 2010 and 2020, researchers have observed a 'steady upward trend' in reports of nitrous oxide use, which spiked 'steeply' in 2019 and continues to 'fluctuate' today, Dr Grigg told Yahoo. Curious about what may have led to the increase, she 'did a bit of a deep dive online', and discovered a plethora of websites across the country offering large nang deliveries in under 30 minutes. 'The increase in use may relate to the increased access at low cost and in bulk, and also the emergence of those 24/7 express delivery services, which have a lot of promotions, social media advertising and bulk-buy incentives. 'They're also increasingly marketed with flavours and appealing packaging… there's also increasing references in pop culture and ongoing perceptions of safety. I think the nitrous market has become a bit of a Wild West at the moment.' Hospitals and health authorities are seeing the 'shift' first-hand, with people now admitting they're using a 3.3-litre tank a day instead of the smaller bulbs. 'The literature suggests many of the more recent severe cases are linked to people using those larger canisters,' Dr Grigg said. While delivery services are 'very popular', research show users are most commonly buying nitrous oxide from convenience stores. 'We performed an analysis which looked at factors that might contribute to people using in high-risk ways, and the delivery services were associated with people using higher amounts per session. But the convenience stores were associated with people using it more frequently,' Dr Grigg told Yahoo. Under Australian Consumer Law, the sale of nitrous oxide for legitimate purposes is legal, however the gas was reclassified as a Schedule 6 poison by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in 2022, requiring all canisters to feature a warning label. But 'most people aren't actually observing and recalling those warnings, which suggests possibly the need for plain packaging', Dr Grigg said. To help curb the problem, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia have introduced new regulations, with the latter banning the sale of larger canisters and restricting purchases of 10 gram canisters to registered food and beverage businesses. Any retailer caught breaking the laws – which were introduced seven months ago – can be hit with an on-the-spot fine of up to $6,000, though none have been issued yet. In SA, it's illegal to sell nitrous oxide to anyone under 18, or between the hours of 10pm and 5am, while in Victoria, a supplier cannot sell it to anyone they suspect is going to inhale it. Individual state regulations may help deter some Aussies from supplying or trying to purchase the gas, but it's likely some retailers will continue to sell illicitly due to profits involved, Dr Grigg explained. 'It's really about striking the right balance, because if you completely prohibit it there are concerns that it could encourage a riskier, underground market to counterfeit substances and encourage riskier use of other inhalants,' she said. 'There are adverse risks that need to be considered so the supply control really needs to be approached with some caution.' Dr Grigg believes that to reduce high-risk patterns of use, "regulatory action should ideally be one component of a broader public health response that also includes demand and harm reduction strategies'. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
The Independent
10-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
What is ‘zebra striping' – and what's behind its rise in young people?
Katinka van de Ven is an alcohol and other drug specialist at UNSW Sydney. Nicole Lee is an adjunct professor at the National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University. A growing number of young Australians are turning away from regular alcohol consumption, mirroring a global trend towards mindful drinking. This shift is evident in the increasing number of young people who drink less frequently, and those who abstain altogether. In 2001, 13.6 per cent of Australians aged 18-24 reported drinking less than once a month. Today, that figure has risen to 20 per cent, signifying a substantial change in drinking habits. Meanwhile, the proportion of young people who have never consumed a full glass of alcohol has more than doubled over the same period, from 7.5 per cent to 16.3 per cent. While complete abstinence isn't necessarily the driving force, a focus on moderation has gained significant traction. Social media platforms are buzzing with trends like 'zebra striping' and 'damp drinking', strategies aimed at reducing alcohol intake. But are these approaches truly innovative, or simply repackaged versions of existing moderation techniques? What is 'zebra striping'? 'Zebra striping' means alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. It effectively halves alcohol consumption for most people. This reduces the risk of intoxication because it gives your body time to process the alcohol. The term is new but the concept of alternating drinks has long been a cornerstone of harm-reduction strategies. A UK study commissioned by a zero-alcohol beer brand found that 25 per cent of pub goers alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer. While commercial research like this requires cautious interpretation, it does highlight a growing appetite for moderation. Is it different to 'damp drinking'? The rise of 'damp drinking' is another shift from all-or-nothing approaches to alcohol. In a recent survey, close to 40 per cent of drinkers want to drink less compared to 6.5 per cent who say they want to quit altogether. Going 'damp' – rather than completely 'dry' – means reducing alcohol without cutting it out altogether. Having a drink is reserved for special occasions, but generally doesn't feature in everyday life. This is also known as being '99 per cent sober'. It's an approach that resonates with many young people who are 'sober curious', but do not want to completely abstain from alcohol. Moderation can be a sustainable strategy for people who are not dependent on alcohol. Sometimes even people who were dependent can achieve moderation, usually after a period of abstinence. In the past, the consensus was that people who were dependent on alcohol should only aim for complete abstinence. Strict sobriety goals can increase risk of relapse. This is referred to as the abstinence violation effect, which can sometimes lead to a cycle of binge drinking and guilt when people feel they've failed. Moderation strategies, such as damp drinking or zebra striping, are more likely to foster self-compassion and gradual change. So what's behind this cultural shift? In part, popular wellness trends have promoted alcohol-free living as a positive and aspirational lifestyle. But health concerns are only part of the answer. Young people especially face increasing social and economic pressures, and may be more focused on professional and personal growth than previous generations. Studies show many view excessive drinking — and accompanying anxiety and hangovers — as incompatible with their ambitions and desire to stay in control.
