Latest news with #generationalshift
Yahoo
27-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
"My Parents Didn't Really Want To Be Parents": People Are Sharing Why This Generation Of Grandparents 'Sucks,' And It's Pretty Nuanced If I'm Being Honest
Parenting styles have changed over time, but so have the ways that grandparents involve themselves in the lives of their grandchildren. This certainly isn't every grandparent —most would love to be part of their grandchildren's lives, yet it seems that there are a lot of grandparents these days who simply do not want to carry that responsibility. One person shared their feelings in the r/Parenting subreddit with a post titled, "This generation of grandparents sucks." In it, they pointed out how their own grandparents were so much more involved in their lives vs. how their parents seem to approach grandparenthood. The post reads: "You shouldn't expect anything from your parents in terms of babysitting (even in a pinch). They raised their kids. They owe you nothing. I've heard it all, and it doesn't sit well with me for one reason: In general, the previous generation of grandparents helped with their grandkids so much." The user continued, "Basically, our parents had lots of help, but they didn't have to help us at all. Generation A) helped Generation B) with their grandchildren whenever they could. Generation B became grandparents themselves, but tells Generation C) to go screw; they owe us nothing. They can be healthy and retired and spend all day watching The View. Can someone please explain to me how/when this cultural shift took place and why it's justified?" In another entirely different post, titled "Boomer Grandparents are Useless," another user spelled out their grievances with their parents. "I know people have ranted about this before, but I need to vent about my typical boomer parents. Growing up, I have so many memories with my grandmother (my grandfather died young). She taught me to sew, bake, garden, and spend endless hours in her yard playing. So many sleepovers. And my mom didn't work. She took me shopping and to visit her cottage. Now that I have my children, my parents don't even visit. They have visited probably 5 times in 3 years, and they live 20 minutes away. And it's just sitting on the couch, being bored. No help at all. They do not work and are retired. They claim this time is for them only, and they have already put their work in. I honestly despise the boomer generation." Both posts sparked plenty of dialogue between users. Some felt the sentiment and related heavily to the seemingly strained relationship that they and their kids have with their parents. But at the same time, many people didn't believe this was a "boomer vs. younger generations" conversation, but a case-by-case situation. I've rounded up 16 of the responses, and I must say, there's plenty of eye-opening commentary regarding what many feel is a generational difference: Note: these responses have been edited and condensed for clarity. 1."In my case, my parents didn't really want to be parents. They had kids because that's just what you did: graduated high school, got married, had kids — in that order. We were always at my grandparents' houses because they didn't wanna deal with us, so for parents that didn't want to be parents, they surely do not want to be grandparents." "On the other hand, my in-laws, who loved being parents, are always wanting to see their grandson. They always offer to take him for a few hours, bought a stroller because they love going on walks together, and eagerly talk about when he's old enough for sleepovers. They even check in on our son's fave foods so they have it on hand when he's going to come over (like fruits and veggies)." —u/there_but_not_then 2."Because in the past, the grandparents lived very near to their kids, and some even shared the same house. Now, many people move to bigger cities for opportunities. Also, a lot of grandparents still work." —u/Polite_user "This. I'm 53, and my daughter is turning 27 next month, so I could easily be a grandmother at this point. I have 13 more years of working a full-time job before I can retire. My husband and I are also doing a lot of traveling, which we put off for years until our kid was out of the house and living independently. I would be up for the occasional evening or overnight, but I can't provide anything resembling childcare until after 5 p.m." —u/formercotsachick 3."It seems to be a big divide. For example, my mother lives seven minutes away, and we never see her. My ex-husband's grandparents (who raised him) live close by too, and they have the kids at least one night a week unless they have a trip planned." "It seems to me that those who were good parents tend to be good grandparents, and those who were not good parents tend to be bad grandparents. We shouldn't expect different, but the child in us probably will always hope for better." —u/ThrowRAsleeplessmama 4."Also, our generation is having kids way later in life (30+). My grandmother raised me, but she was 50 when I was born. My parents are in their late 60s/early 70s, and having young toddlers is really tiring for them." —u/FrenchynNorthAmerica 5."Yeah, I came to say something similar. People are having kids later and later in age. My parents were in their mid/late 60s when I had my first, and now my dad is early 70s with my second. They can't be running around, bending over to pick up a 20lb baby. They nap more than the kids do! So partially, I blame myself for not having kids younger, but I needed to wait until I was ready. My parents probably would have been more willing and able to take care of the kids if they were younger. When you're talking about baking/sewing/sleepovers, etc., that would mean my youngest would be at least like 5, and my dad would be 78. Not gonna happen!" —u/177stuff 6."In my case, my mother is retired and lives close by. And people still say, 'Oh well, she owes you nothing." —u/ThinParamedic7859 7."It's a bigger cultural thing than just child-raising. I consider my parents and my in-laws an extension of my family. I am the highest earner in our extended family. I consider it my responsibility to take care of all of them. If anyone runs out of money in retirement, what's mine is theirs. I am prepared to buy a home with an in-law suite available in case someone needs to move in with us. When my father-in-law was sick and eventually passed, we took hours multiple times each week to help care for him and take care of the house. We help my mother-in-law at least once a week with chores, etc." "In return, our parents help us with our kids. We always have babysitting available. They stay with our kids if we want to take a vacation. They take the kids if we're sick and need a break. They have helped pay for extracurricular activities when we didn't have much money of our own." —u/kyamh 8."As much as it irritates me when everyone blames my generation (millennial) for all the world's worst, I find it irritating when all boomers are blamed for things too. Shifts in social expectations have occurred because of circumstances. Boomers tend to be older grandparents. They tend to still be working." "My in-laws were very hands-on when my stepdaughter was a baby, but not with my son. But they were 55-year-old grandparents the first time. They're 70 with their second. And my parents aren't yet retired, though they are pushing 70. That's very different than where my grandparents were when I was little. But I do agree with the comment that this isn't a generational thing, this is a situation with your particular parents." —u/lizardjustice 9."Yes, I agree! My parents are winter birds and they will be traveling back 'home' through my state in April, but it's the exact time we're on vacation. They keep complaining that they can't see us during that time. I have three kids, and this vacation has been planned for months and months (during spring break). When I asked them if they could just leave Florida the week before (they own a condo there) and come visit us, all they said was that they don't want to. *Eye roll*" —u/hungry_babypro 10."I don't know, my mom is a boomer and she would LOVE to have a closer relationship with her grandkids, but she's terrified of her daughters-in-law thinking she's being intrusive, so she waits to be asked." "Could it be that boomers are all individuals with their own thoughts and feelings, just like Gen X, millennials, and whatever other generations you could think of?" —u/whysweetpea 11."I mean, it's their time and is totally up to them what they do with it. My in-laws have visited maybe four or five times in two years, none of our kids have a relationship with them, and honestly, I doubt they'd recognise them on the street. But that's fine, because that's their choice. If they don't want to, they just don't want to." "I understand your frustration, it does feel like our parents had a ton more help than we do with our kids from family, hell, even friends. But I think we, as a generation, need to just kind of accept that things have changed now and figure out how to build our own communities with our friends." —u/Arugula-Current 12."We recently moved closer to my parents (a boomer and a Gen X stepmom), and we were told beforehand that my folks would help sometimes, but they would not be available to babysit all that much. Which, okay, they've got their own lives and stuff and we didn't use them for babysitting before we moved, either (we used to live 12+ hours apart)." "The kids and I see them a few times a week for 20-30 minutes to say hi and catch them up on school, but then we go home. My husband works quite a bit during the week, so he sees them less. My kids have a good relationship with their grandparents, and they enjoy spending time together, but the raising part is on us. My husband and I do not really ever go out on dates or out by ourselves, and this confuses them, because we could ask them to watch the kids so we could go out. But we were pretty explicitly told that the grandparents wouldn't be available, and they are surprised we believed them, I guess? It does make things a bit awkward, but they set the tone and we just followed what they said." —u/crknits 13."They can choose how to spend their time, but grandparents who choose not to have relationships with their grandchildren because they see them as 'work' and not as people they want to get to know are shitty grandparents." "Parents have a right to be hurt by this mentality. It's heartbreaking to have parents who put no effort in when it comes to their grandchildren. They also almost always get upset that their grandchildren treat them as strangers, when that's what they are. Blood doesn't create a relationship, time together does." —u/sierramist1011 14."I have kids who have never even met their grandparents. The only reason is that said grandparents are 100% capable of traveling to meet and visit, but refuse to do so. They expect my husband and me to bring the babies 5,500 miles to them. My sister-in-law and her husband have been visiting twice a year since the first one was born. Hell, even my friend who lives 3,000 miles away and isn't genetically related to my kids has come every year." "Only half my kids' grandparents are part of the boomer generation. My husband's mother was a teen mother and is only a few years older than me, and squarely Gen X. I don't think it's a generational issue. It's a shitty family members issue." —u/coyote_zs 15."Because our parents had so much help from our grandparents, our parents really struggle with the kid stuff/grandparenting/parenting in general, especially now that they're older. My guess is our generation (millennials) will be more like our grandparents when our kids have kids. At least I hope." "There was a reason why our grandparents were called upon to help our parents so much." —u/losmonroe1 "One time, I asked my mom if she could keep an eye on my toddler so I could shower. She laughed and told me it was my job, not hers." "The lady dropped me off at my grandma's several times for years at a time. I didn't really start living with her until I was 10. Maybe a couple of years in between that. I will never understand her." —u/Actuallygetsomesleep Where do you stand on this? Do you think grandparents should be more involved in other grandchildren's lives, or is it a matter of choice? Does age play a factor? Share all your thoughts in the comments. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
With the national party in crisis, CT Democrats can't agree on whether it's time for change
With Democrats struggling nationally over their future direction, the party in Connecticut is facing some similar questions of ideological and generational lines as younger liberals challenge the 'Old Guard' that has held office for years. The generational shift includes a challenge by state Rep. Josh Elliott, 40, against Gov. Ned Lamont, 71, with liberals saying that Lamont has not been progressive enough on the taxation of the wealthy and disagree with his recent vetoes of key bills on affordable housing and awarding unemployment compensation for workers on strike for more than 14 days. Lamont supporters counter that the latest polling by Morning Consult shows Lamont among the most popular governors in the country with an approval rate of 63% and a disapproval rating of 29%. In another race, former Hartford mayor Luke Bronin, 46, is seriously considering challenging longtime U.S. Rep. John B. Larson, who turns 77 on July 22. Larson has won 14 consecutive elections, but has suffered two public episodes in which he temporarily 'froze' in the middle of speeches. In a nationally televised speech in February on C-SPAN, Larson suffered a 'complex partial seizure' on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives as he was making remarks. Larson underwent tests and said later that he had previously had a heart valve replacement years earlier. He suffered a second incident in April during a press conference at the Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, where he paused again during an answer before recovering and soon after having his picture taken with other attendees. Liberal Democrats are angry at CT's governor and no longer hiding it. 'There will be a challenger' Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves, who was installed as the new state Democratic chairman earlier this year after being endorsed by Lamont, is managing the wide-ranging ideologies and is not trying to deter anyone from forcing a primary. Instead, he follows the mantra of Lamont, who welcomed Elliott to the race. 'We're the big tent party,' Alves told The Courant in an interview. 'Personally, I think we need to be the bigger tent party. With the divisiveness in Washington, D.C., they all have a strategy on what they think they can do better. In Connecticut, it's tough because people see what's going on nationally and they want the Democrats to do more. I look at everything we've done already — we hold every office. We have super majorities in our state Senate and our state House for the first time since 2008. That's because Democrats have been delivering and our message has been resonating with people.' Concerning primaries, Alves added, 'This is democracy. This is a right that people have, and we won't get in the way of democracy. What the governor said is 'Welcome to the race.'' At the same time, younger Democrats are looking for leadership roles while others have held office for decades and have reached higher ages. Besides Larson, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro is 82 years old, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal is 79, U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney is 72, and Lamont is 71. 'Are younger folks upset with what they're seeing elsewhere and it's maybe permeating into some local stuff? Perhaps,' Alves said. 'Look, I'm a 41-year-old mayor in Danbury and the first Democratic mayor in 22 years. I'm much younger than my opponent that we beat to get here and actually my opponent now.' On the national level, Democrats have been frustrated as they try to find their way in the ongoing battle against President Donald Trump, who has consolidated power with Republicans controlling the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Deputy House Speaker pro tempore Bob Godfrey of Danbury said that the national leaders, such as Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York, need to do more. He said they missed their chance when President Joe Biden was in the White House and the Democrats controlled both chambers of Congress in 2021 and 2022. 'Where's the Democratic platform? I don't see any,' Godfrey said in an interview. 'So far, your platform has one plank, and it's 'We're not Trump.' Not enough. We lost working-class voters. What are you doing to get them back? Crickets.' Kevin Rennie: The smarts of this CT candidate are what people are talking about Noting that he was an elector for Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2016, Godfrey said the party needs to get back on its feet after Trump defeated former Vice President Kamala Harris of California. 'Concentrating on marginal issues instead of working class family issues has hurt the party nationally,' Godfrey said. 'Happily, we've retained the working class vote here in Connecticut, and we've worked at it.' Democrats differ sharply over the lessons learned from the stunning primary victory of Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and others. Mamdani came out of nowhere after Cuomo led by wide margins in the early polls based largely on his name recognition as the former governor. Liberals and young Democrats have been highly energized by Mamdani's victory, and he is now facing Cuomo and current mayor Eric Adams in the general election in November. Liberals said the win showed that the 33-year-old Democratic socialist could take out the 67-year-old former governor from the Old Guard. But others say there are no widespread lessons to be learned from Mamdani. 'That's such a New York City parochial thing,' said Godfrey, who graduated from Fordham University in The Bronx. 'It doesn't translate into Westchester County or Long Island, for crying out loud. Or northern New Jersey. … I have no qualms about saying New York City's issues and voting don't translate outside of the city.' Alves agreed, saying that New York is 'unique' with its own issues and problems. 'The lesson we can learn is that relentless campaigning, engaging younger voters, talking to people about kitchen-table issues are important,' Alves said. 'Grassroots campaigns still work. It's not about money and the last name. It's about engaging your voters and talking about things that are on their mind. That's what wins elections.' State Republican chairman Ben Proto agreed with Democratic counterparts, saying, 'I think New York City is reflective of New York City. Ultimately, I don't think it's reflective of Connecticut as a whole or upstate New York or Long Island in that regard. New York City is kind of an entity unto itself.' For frustrated Connecticut Democrats, Alves is encouraging activists to help the national push to recapture the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026. 'If what is going on in Washington is really bothering you, we need to flip four Congressional seats,' Alves said, referring to the House. 'Let's ensure that our Democratic delegation wins here, but then let's help with resources to other folks. Let's find those four Congressional seats and support them by making calls, donating, knocking doors, being a part of their campaigns as well and finding things that we can do. … Be part of the solution. Be part of that strategy, that fight and that team that can help change these things in two years and four years.' Asked by The Courant about the turmoil in the Democratic Party nationally, Lamont responded, 'I think the Democrats know where they stand. I don't know where the Republicans stand. I don't think there's a Republican in this building or down in Washington who would have voted for that budget-busting deficit bill that Trump put forward say 10, 15 years ago. This time around, they all saluted. Not one of them has the right to ever use the words fiscal conservative again.' Lamont added, 'I'm surprised there is no unrest amongst the Republicans. They voted for a budget they would have said no — hell no — to just 10 years ago. I have no idea where they stand now. I don't think they do, either.' One of the defining issues in the governor's race is that liberals oppose Lamont's stance on blocking any tax increases on the state's wealthiest residents beyond the current highest rate of 6.99%. Democrats have called for a surcharge on capital gains, which generate huge amounts of money for the wealthiest investors. Lamont, a Greenwich multimillionaire who funds his owns campaigns, has opposed tax increases for the past seven years as the state has rolled up large budget surpluses. 'For some people, a tax increase is a first resort,' Lamont told reporters recently. 'For me, it's an absolute last resort. We don't need it. We've done well. We're growing the economy. People are moving into the state.' Elliott, 40, represents the other end of the spectrum, saying that the middle class pays too much of a percentage of their income in a variety of taxes, including sales and property. Beyond taxes, Elliott has other concerns. 'I was astonished and horrified that our governor went to D.C. for Trump's inauguration after he had already seen the kind of president that Trump was,' Elliott said. But Lamont, who held fundraisers at his Greenwich home for the Democratic campaigns of both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, said earlier this year that he went to Trump's inauguration out of respect for the office of the presidency. Lamont spent part of the time chatting with fellow governors and did not attend the inaugural balls or participate in the Republican celebrations during a trip that lasted less than 24 hours in Washington, D.C. Proto said, 'If Elliott thinks being the Mamdani of Connecticut is the way to win, then he's living in a fantasyland.' Going forward, Lamont will be working with the legislature in a special session as early as September to plug holes in the federal government's support for Connecticut on issues like Medicaid and food stamps. Top legislators have repeatedly said they do not know how much money will be cut, but the Kaiser Family Foundation estimated that Connecticut could lose as much as $13 billion over 10 years. Godfrey said the governor needs to work closely with the General Assembly during the special session and during the next regular session that starts in February 2026. 'The governor made a big mistake in vetoing the housing bill and vetoing the striking workers bill,' said Godfrey, a liberal Democrat. 'In Connecticut, it's not ideology. The governor just needs to improve his relations with the General Assembly and actually collaborate with us. We'll see how that goes.' While many liberals are backing Elliott, the House moderate caucus is strongly backing Lamont, even after the two vetoes. Overall, 18 House Democrats, including moderates from more upscale communities like Greenwich, Glastonbury and Simsbury, voted against the housing bill, which was crafted by Democratic leaders to address the state's affordable housing crisis. 'With the recent vetoes, Governor Lamont demonstrated the thoughtful, steady leadership Connecticut needs,' the moderates wrote in a statement. 'As proud moderate Democrats, we believe we reflect the views of the majority of Connecticut residents — and we're proud to stand with a governor who does the same.' Concerning various Democratic primaries for Congress and governor, Proto said, 'For years, it's always been said the Republican Party was a dysfunctional party. It looks like the Democrats are taking on that mantle in 2026. It will be fun to watch what they're going to do to each other.' Longtime Democratic strategist Matthew Hennessey of Hartford said Lamont's only threat is in the primary because he believes that Lamont could defeat any Republican in the field, including Sen. Ryan Fazio of Greenwich and Mayor Erin Stewart of New Britain. 'Ned has left the door open on the left side of the party,' Hennessey said. 'That's his only threat. His threat is not in the general election, even though Republicans like to say that. It's just never going to happen. … I don't think Josh can beat him, but there is going to be a lot of people who are going to use Josh's campaign as the vehicle to tell Ned that these things that he's been doing are not where the Democratic Party is today.' With liberals and moderates often at odds on key issues, the state party chairman is the one who plays the role of keeping the party together. 'What Democrats have to understand is Democratic messages don't have to be uniform all the time,' Alves said. 'Everybody has a seat at our table because nobody has the market cornered on good ideas. We might not always agree with each other, but as long as we disagree respectfully and come out with policies that can work. Not everybody is always going to be happy. At the end of the day, it's the Democratic values and the Democratic principles that are important to keep our progress and keep our state moving forward.' Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@
Bloomberg
26-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
French Heiress Behind Botox Rival Quits UK as Succession Looms
One of the billionaire heirs controlling drug maker Ipsen SA changed her residency from the UK to Switzerland, as plans for a generational shift in ownership take shape. Anne Beaufour, 61, granddaughter of the founder of the nearly century-old company, made the change as of mid-March, according to a UK company filing. A few weeks later the company, which Beaufour controls with 60-year-old brother Henri, reiterated in its annual report that she plans to bequeath shares to her three children.
Irish Times
23-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Ireland is becoming a country of moderate drinkers and voracious cocaine users
A major generational shift has occurred in Irish society without much fanfare. Alcohol consumption in Ireland has collapsed. A report commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland published this month showed the average alcohol consumption per adult in Ireland fell 4.5 per cent in 2024 compared with 2023. The story over the course of two decades is much more profound. Since 2001, alcohol consumption per adult in Ireland fell by 34.3 per cent. Today, people in Ireland are drinking at average European levels (a good argument for reducing excise taxes). The Health Research Board 's 2024 report on alcohol showed Ireland is no longer a high alcohol consumption country by European Union or OECD standards. This is a remarkable shift, great news for public health and will have a positive knock-on effect for decades to come. The reasons suggested for this can come off as anecdotal or vague, but like any behavioural shift, there tend to be multiple factors at once. What we do know is that this is a trend led by younger generations, who are less likely to reach for the bottle compared with their older siblings and parents. The data consistently show this. A report by Red C in April – part of broader polling across 39 countries – showed that 21 per cent of 18- to 24-year olds drink often, compared with 31 per cent of all adults, and 48 per cent of older men. READ MORE Under-25s are more health conscious and therefore more mindful of the damage alcohol and hangovers cause to the body and mind. Alcohol is also as expensive as it has ever been in Ireland. Student life has changed due to the housing and rental crisis, with fewer students living independently as Ireland has regressed to a context more like to the early 20th century, with people living with their parents well into adulthood. Those in their teens and 20s are also more attuned to their mental and emotional wellbeing, and less likely than Generation X adults to hit the bottle to dissociate under the guise of 'relaxing' or reducing stress. There is less peer pressure among younger people to drink compared with the social culture older generations fostered within their peer groups, and less judgment around sobriety. The trend of alcohol-free months can also reduce people's consumption in the short and medium term, and sometimes embed lifelong moderation. Ultimately, younger people are more grown up and responsible when it comes to alcohol. For all the progress made around alcohol, there is a major youth public-health issue regarding cocaine use. This is not being addressed in anything approaching something effective All of this speaks to a sense of maturity, confidence and capacity to be grounded enough and able to exert at least some kind of self-control that was absent among older generations. What has also been happening is that more people are using therapy and other resources to address their mental health needs. According to the most recent St Patrick's Mental Health Stigma and Attitudes Survey, in 2024, 66 per cent of people who were experiencing mental health difficulties sought treatment, an increase of 10 per cent from 2023. A movement from self-medicating to self-care is a sign of collective emotional growth. It demonstrates a capacity for self-reflection and self-examination, as well as a reduction in stigma around seeking help for mental health challenges. But there is something else happening alongside the decline in alcohol consumption, and that's the rise in cocaine use. A 2023 United Nations report showed that Ireland is, remarkably, the joint-fourth highest consumer of cocaine globally. [ Cocaine cited as main drug in almost two-fifths of cases needing treatment Opens in new window ] Demographically, this is a younger person's issue. Among 15 to 34-year-olds, Ireland has the distinction of being home to the biggest consumers of cocaine in Europe. In 2024, the median age for those seeking treatment for powder cocaine use was 32 years old. Thirty-nine per cent were in employment, compared with 7 per cent of crack cocaine users in treatment. Heroin and opioid users in treatment skew older, with an average age of 45, in tune with the 'greying' of heroin and opioid users in Ireland, which has been the case for some time. In 2024, there were more people treated for problem drug use in Ireland than ever before, according to the Health Research Board . Cocaine was the most common drug used by those in treatment, up 7 per cent from 2023. Since 2017, there has been a 426 per cent increase in women receiving cocaine treatment. Figures for 2023 for people contacting the Health Service Executive 's drug and alcohol helpline also showed a record increase. Twenty-one per cent of calls were related to cocaine. In 2009, cocaine was mentioned by 2 per cent of callers. This is a huge jump. For all the progress made around alcohol, there is a major youth public-health issue regarding cocaine use. This is not being addressed in anything approaching an effective way. It demands and requires a non-judgmental public-health response, and education and awareness, all of which appears to be lacking relative to the level of consumption in Ireland. We are in a situation where there are signs that one public-health issue – excessive alcohol consumption – is being at least partly replaced by another. If we have the stats, where's the action?
Irish Times
21-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
We're drinking less and generally more health conscious. So why is cocaine use increasing?
A major generational shift has occurred in Irish society without much fanfare. Alcohol consumption in Ireland has collapsed. A report commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland published this month showed the average alcohol consumption per adult in Ireland fell 4.5 per cent in 2024 compared with 2023. The story over the course of two decades is much more profound. Since 2001, alcohol consumption per adult in Ireland fell by 34.3 per cent. Today, people in Ireland are drinking at average European levels (a good argument for reducing excise taxes). The Health Research Board 's 2024 report on alcohol showed Ireland is no longer a high alcohol consumption country by European Union or OECD standards. This is a remarkable shift, great news for public health, and will have a positive knock-on effect for decades to come. The reasons suggested for this can come off as anecdotal or vague, but like any behavioural shift, there tends to be multiple factors at once. What we do know is that this is a trend led by younger generations, who are less likely to reach for the bottle compared with their older siblings and parents. The data consistently show this. A report by Red C in April – part of broader polling across 39 countries – showed that 21 per cent of 18- to 24-year olds drink often, compared with 31 per cent of all adults, and 48 per cent of older men. READ MORE Younger people are more health conscious and therefore more mindful of the damage alcohol and hangovers cause to the body and mind. Alcohol is also as expensive as it has ever been in Ireland. Student life has changed due to the housing and rental crisis, with fewer younger people living independently as Ireland has regressed to a context more akin to the early 20th century, with people living with their parents well into adulthood. Younger people are also more attuned to their mental and emotional wellbeing, and less likely than Generation X adults to hit the bottle to dissociate under the guise of 'relaxing' or reducing stress. There is less peer pressure among younger people to drink compared with the social culture older generations fostered within their peer groups, and less judgment around sobriety. The trend of alcohol-free months can also reduce people's consumption in the short and medium term, and sometimes embed lifelong moderation. Ultimately, younger people are more grown up and responsible when it comes to alcohol. For all the progress made around alcohol, there is a major youth public-health issue regarding cocaine use. This is not being addressed in anything approaching something effective All of this speaks to a sense of maturity, confidence and capacity to be grounded enough and able to exert at least some kind of self-control that was absent among older generations. What has been happening concurrently is that more people are using therapy and other resources to address their mental health needs. According to the most recent St Patrick's Mental Health Stigma and Attitudes Survey, in 2024, 66 per cent of people who were experiencing mental health difficulties sought treatment, an increase of 10 per cent from 2023. A movement from self-medicating to self-care is a sign of collective emotional growth. It demonstrates a capacity for self-reflection and self-examination, as well as a reduction in stigma around seeking help for mental health challenges. But there is something else happening alongside the decline in alcohol consumption, and that's the rise in cocaine use. A 2023 United Nations report showed that Ireland is, remarkably, the joint-fourth highest consumer of cocaine globally. [ Cocaine cited as main drug in almost two-fifths of cases needing treatment Opens in new window ] Demographically, this is a younger person's issue. Among 15 to 34-year-olds, Ireland has the distinction of being home to the biggest consumers of cocaine in Europe. In 2024, the median age for those seeking treatment for powder cocaine use was 32 years old. Thirty-nine per cent were in employment, compared with 7 per cent of crack cocaine users in treatment. Heroin and opioid users in treatment skew older, with an average age of 45, in tune with the 'greying' of heroin and opioid users in Ireland, which has been the case for some time. In 2024, there were more people treated for problem drug use in Ireland than ever before, according to the Health Research Board . Cocaine was the most common drug used by those in treatment, up 7 per cent from 2023. Since 2017, there has been a 426 per cent increase in women receiving cocaine treatment. Figures for 2023 for people contacting the Health Service Executive 's drug and alcohol helpline also showed record numbers. Twenty-one per cent of calls were related to cocaine. In 2009, cocaine was mentioned by 2 per cent of callers. This is a huge jump. For all the progress made around alcohol, there is a major youth public-health issue regarding cocaine use. This is not being addressed in anything approaching something effective. It demands and requires a non-judgmental public-health response, and education and awareness, all of which appears to be lacking relative to the level of consumption in Ireland. We are in a situation where there are signs that one public-health issue – excessive alcohol consumption – is being at least partly replaced by another. If we have the stats, where's the action?
