How does Professor Willy Pedersen explain the benefits of alcohol use?

Pedersen suggests alcohol use acts as a "marker of sociality" that comes with certain networking and career benefits, pointing to the example of the Bullingdon Club at Oxford University.

What are the concerns raised by experts about the study's findings on binge drinking?

Experts like Professor Paolo Deluca and psychotherapist Fiona Yassin have warned that the findings likely reflect differences in wealth and opportunity, and that binge drinking remains linked to increased risks of accidents, injuries, and mental health harms.

Home / Health / Binge Drinking in Teens Linked to Higher Earnings Later in Life

Binge Drinking in Teens Linked to Higher Earnings Later in Life

Q: What did the University of Oslo study find about binge drinking and career prospects?

The study found that those who started regularly binge drinking in their late teens and 20s later had higher levels of education and income compared to those who abstained or drank very little.

10 Nov

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Summary

Drinking with friends in late teens boosts career prospects
Binge drinkers in late teens and 20s found to have higher education and income
Alcohol use seen as a "marker of sociality" that brings networking benefits

Binge Drinking in Teens Linked to Higher Earnings Later in Life

According to a study conducted in 2025, drinking with friends in your late teens could actually boost your career prospects, despite the well-known dangers of binge drinking. Researchers at the University of Oslo tracked the drinking habits of over 3,000 Norwegians aged 13 to 31 for 18 years and found that those who started regularly binge drinking in their late teens and 20s later had higher levels of education and income compared to those who abstained or drank very little.

The study's lead author, Professor Willy Pedersen, suggests the "statistical findings are quite strong" and that alcohol use acts as a "marker of sociality" that comes with certain benefits. He points to the example of the Bullingdon Club at Oxford University, known for its excessive drinking but which has also produced several former UK prime ministers.