I think there is a big back lash against alcohol happening

[toepick]

It used to be common place to post pictures of drink but now it seems a bit taboo

More and more public figures on SM denouncing alcohol

It's become almost trendy to be alcohol free
Less of a boozing culture amongst young people

Could alcohol become a thing of the past?

When I was young it was completely acceptable and not really questioned to get wasted every weekend. Now I realise how toxic that is even if it seemed fun at times.

This.

Young people have just switched to drugs, and there are more drugs about than ever before.

It's a huge problem. They aren't using alcohol (a - relatively - safer, legal substance) - instead they are funding the illegal drugs industry, county lines is increasing, and young people are doing more damage to their bodies through taking substances where they don't really have a clue what it is or what it's been cut with.

On the surface the alcohol reduction seems like a good thing, but it's not - it's been replaced with something more sinister. Organised crime is increasing, drugs are increasing - none of this is good.

This. I often used to go out twice a week in sixth form but only spent a few quid each time. It's an expensive business now.

I think this is more issue, the cost of it. I live in London and a pint is seven quid and a decent glass of wine easily over nine quid. If you are young it is probably cheaper to do drugs..

My 18yo and her group prefer to go out for a "nice" drink, so spend a few quid on a cocktail or a craft beer, rather than a load of cheap alcohol.

Sounds a bit like the 1990s to me. Then there were massive campaigns to make sure young people took up alcohol instead of drinking water and taking Es.

Must have missed that campaign.

I don't think it will be a 'big backlash' but a gradual move towards reduced alcohol.

Similarly to drink driving, many years ago people laughed if you said you were driving and so drank soft drinks, now people would be aghast if you didn't.

Yes agree! I think it's all drugs with young people now, this scares me having young kids growing up.

It's always been cheaper to do drugs even pre pandemic. Abd most know not to drink whilst taking drugs so you go tonan event and see people with water or soft drink think they are being sensible 9 out of 10 are high and they know to keep hydrated.

You go to creamfields event and last day people just take all their drugs mixing them and are completely fucked up

Same here

My experience is probably nit typical but my dbro died very suddenly from liver failure. He drank every day and socially.
I really haven't drunk since.

If the empty prosecco bottle in the communal hall and the half eaten kebab on the staircase was anything to go by not everyone has got the memo!

My three nieces are growing up watching their parents get shit faced with their friends on a regular basis. They’ve got no interest in alcohol and their opinions on their parents drinking would shock their parents (who see it as acceptable because they both work high powered jobs). Thing is they can afford a babysitter, they just don’t see the issue with being that drunk in front of children. If their attitudes are typical it’s no wonder the younger generations are giving alcohol a swerve.

In the summers I work at and teach a hobby with mixed ages from university to past retirement age. It's definitely older people who drink more (I include myself in that as early 40s). By comparison there's barely any drinkers amongst the young people, and no heavy drinkers. That's been much more noticeable since Covid, but probably a downward trend before that.

There's different entertainment put on each evening to help socialising, none based on alcohol anymore, but you can BYOB if you want.
In the past there would be parties and drinking games in a way that would definitely not happen today.

There's the cost, accessibility, the photo evidence and the fact that it's just not cool which goes to some way to explaining it.

These days I don't drink as much as I used to, but I've never been a heavy drinker. I like the odd drink in a social situation to help me relax/warm up though.

My daughter and her friends have shown zero interest in alcohol at all so far. They’re 16. By that point I was regularly in the pub on a Saturday. Although I’m not a heavy drinker at all - rarely at home and only in some social situations.

The kids my daughter hangs out with on the whole are conservative with a small c - they study hard and just enjoy hanging out with each other, shopping and arts based activities like nail art. A very very different mindset to me as a teenager (who was still academic and did well).

I drank a fair bit as a teenager and student but haven't really touched any for years.

Two of my grandparents were alcoholics and a few years ago I had a client who died due to her drink - I was her dog walker and often walked into her in various states and had to ring ambulances.

Sadly the last time that happened she never made it out of hospital.

Given the health threats from fatty liver disease due to massive increases in obesity, growing numbers of young people vaping industrial quantities (of illegal vapes), and a big rise in use of cocaine and other drugs, it’s certainly a good thing if fewer of them drink alcohol than used to be the case, as their livers and other organs will be damaged enough from other behaviours. There is little evidence of young people in general having more common sense than used to be the case, and zero evidence of young people today having better physical or mental health, unfortunately.

@HangingOver i have family in Norway. They can only buy wine / spirits in special shops, with limited opening hours. I think it's a great ides. Certainly avoids spontaneously lobbing booze in the trolley when you only intended to buy food. And makes wine feel a bit more special, if you travelled to buy it

There are more Muslim young people and more of those take islam seriously and don't drink so other young people see you don't have to drink.

I’ve not really seen this- seems as popular as ever. In the area I used to live - high levels of Muslims which meant lots of dessert places popping up so getting a sugar overdose was just as popular as drinking. Many young people seem to be taking drugs esp weed

Substituting other drugs for alcohol is not an improvement and reduces the tax take so damages public services too. Time to legalise, tax and control weed.

There may be a back lash against alcohol amongst certain groups of young people. The sad fact is there is definitely a rise in all types of drug use. I've never walked past so many random places where the stench of cannabis fills the air. I've witnessed people walking along the street smoking a joint as if it's as normal as a cigarette, another revolting smell.

Or go to the gym. Gym membership is about £30 with almost unlimited socialising. That would only get you about 5 pints or so.

Would be interested to see if there is any reliable data about increased use of drugs.

If this is true, then good. Heavy drinking has been a part of British culture for far too long. It's terrible for your health, it costs our public services millions every year dealing with drunks and alcoholics, and just look at the disgusting carnage that British people cause abroad every summer, fighting, passing out and vomiting in the streets. This country has a massive problem with alcohol and it's time it was addressed.