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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.
Perth Now
09-05-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Perth teens using common baking ingredient to get drunk
Perth teens are buying vanilla extract in bulk from supermarkets — and it's not for baking. They're drinking it to get drunk due to its high alcohol content. The alarming admission came about when GP Andrew Leech was talking to a 16-year-old patient, who nonchalantly divulged: 'heaps of teens do it'. Dr Leech was dumbfounded. 'I was shocked because I never knew it contained alcohol,' he said. An online search revealed a common brand of vanilla extract clearly stated on its label: 'Organic Alcohol 35 per cent by vol. (volume)'. Dr Leech, who runs the Garden Family Medical Clinic, said his patient's mother worked out what was going on after the vanilla extract kept disappearing from the family pantry. 'These social things that teens get up to I hear first hand in general practice, and I get very concerned about what's trending,' he said. 'Under-18 teenagers will do what they can to access alcohol, even if it means using fake IDs or getting their mates who are 18 to buy (alcohol) for them.' But vanilla extract was a new one, even for Dr Leech. The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code stipulates any food or beverage containing more than 1.15 per cent alcohol by volume must be labelled as such. Not only does vanilla extract contain alcohol, it has a higher alcohol content than other, more commonly abused supermarket items, like mouthwash which can have an alcohol content of between 20 and 27 per cent. Dr Leech said he was shocked to learn such an accessible, everyday item was being so easily abused — and that young people buying a large number of bottles at the supermarket didn't seem to be raising any red flags. 'It's highly risky behaviour because it's very concentrated alcohol, it's unregulated in a way, and they're drinking it without any other people being aware of it,' he said. 'I would be very concerned if they are using that, because it is dangerous for your health and mental health.' It's the latest in a list of legal, everyday products that are prone to misuse, often with little regulatory oversight. Mouthwash, hand sanitiser, cologne, cough syrup, and now vanilla extract, all have some level of alcohol in them. Dr Leech is advising parents to not only keep an eye on their pantries, but also have an open conversation with their kids about underage drinking. While there was a substantial drop in teens aged 14-17 consuming alcohol between 2001 and 2016, underage drinking has remained static since then. About one in three teens aged 14-17 admitted consuming alcohol in the past 12 months, according to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022-2023. 'Teenagers do silly things, they're going to take these sorts of risks,' Dr Leech said. 'It's about having those open conversations with your young person, and tell us (medical professionals) if you need help navigating this.' National Alcohol and Other Drugs Hotline 1800 250 015 Headspace 1800 650 890
