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Australians Ditch Booze: Alcohol Consumption Plummets to Decade Low
11 Nov
Summary
- Alcohol supply in Australia drops 3.7% in 2023-24, biggest decline since 1960s
- Sober coach says health risks, productivity, and 'wellness' culture drive sobriety
- Gen Z nearly 20 times more likely to abstain from alcohol than Baby Boomers
As of November 2025, Australians are consuming less alcohol than they have in nearly a decade. According to new data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the total amount of alcohol available for purchase in the country dropped by 3.7% in 2023-24, marking the biggest yearly decline since records began in the 1960s.
This sustained shift in drinking behavior is being driven by a growing focus on health and wellness, particularly among younger generations. Sober coach Sarah Rusbatch, who gave up drinking in 2019 after a drunken incident, says Australians are now more aware of the risks of alcohol, including its link to breast cancer. The rise of sober influencers and celebrities has also helped normalize an alcohol-free lifestyle, with many high-profile figures openly discussing the benefits of sobriety.
The trend is most pronounced among Gen Z Australians, who are nearly 20 times more likely to abstain from alcohol altogether compared to Baby Boomers, according to a Flinders University study. Millennials are also moderating their intake, with lower overall weekly consumption despite still engaging in binge drinking on occasion. The Silent Generation, those born before 1946, remain the nation's heaviest drinkers, even more so than Boomers.
