Latest news with #soberCurious
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Young men are binge drinking less than young women for the 1st time. What's going on?
Gen Z has been hailed as the 'sober-curious' generation, with rates of risky behaviors such as drinking alcohol, as well as having sex and using drugs, falling to historically low rates. But one study recently put an even finer point on the trend: Young men in particular are the ones giving up binge drinking, defined as having five or more alcoholic beverages in one sitting for men, or four or more for women. Fewer Gen Z men than women reported binge drinking in the last month between 2021 and 2023, according to the April 2025 study in JAMA. Though the gap between men's and women's drinking rates has been narrowing over the past several decades, in recent years women's alcohol use has outpaced men's for the first time ever. The findings have raised alarm bells over women's high binge-drinking rates. But a closer look shows that the closing gender gap is driven as much, if not more so, by falling bingeing rates among men, especially young adult males. So what's inspiring young men to drink less or not at all? We looked into it. All young adults were drinking less between 2021 and 2023, compared with the 2017-19 period, according to the study. Young women were binge drinking 13% less, but young men saw an even bigger drop — nearly 21%. So it's not that more women are necessarily binge drinking now — it's that fewer men are, and that shift has made women's rates seem higher in comparison. Why young men are drinking less is still up for debate, notes study author and University of Pittsburgh internist Dr. Bryant Shuey. Though he sees the declining rates of binge drinking among young men as a 'public health success,' Shuey wonders if it's more complicated than a pure win. 'Are young people happy, socially connected and drinking less, or is it that middle-aged and young men are more lonely, less social and less willing to call up a friend for drinks,' he says. 'There's potential that there is a tradeoff here: Less alcohol and more loneliness, and we need to think about addressing both.' There's no shortage of theories behind Gen Z's relative sobriety: Young people are big on prioritizing their health, and there's a booming health and wellness industry to meet the demand; the loneliness epidemic that Shuey noted; rising rates of young people choosing cannabis over alcohol; and Gen Z-ers choosing to scroll on a smartphone rather than partying with friends. A recent Dutch study suggested it may be simpler than all that: Young people are just too broke to buy drinks (and costs are rising). Dry January and "sober-curious" posts on social media may also play a role, experts and men who have gotten sober suggest. Brandan Saho, a sports journalist and host of the podcast The Mental Game, says both trends have inspired a lot of young people to not drink. 'And once they see that their personal life is better and their physical health is better and that no one cares that they don't drink,' then picturing a sober life becomes that much easier, says Saho. 'It's not a defining thing like it would've been 10 or 15 years ago, when you weren't cool if you didn't drink.' Fellow podcaster Shane Ramer says there was a 'lack of the cool element' to sobriety when he quit drinking. A decade later, he's hosting the That Sober Guy podcast and thinks that 'people are waking up to the fact that … it's so much cooler and respectable and how many more opportunities there are,' when you don't drink, he says. Ramer, 43, and Saho, 31, are recovering alcoholics. Both grew up in households where drinking — often heavy drinking — was the norm, but it wasn't talked about. While they're not part of Gen Z, Ramer and Saho suspect that some of the younger generation had similar experiences. 'It took me hitting my rock bottom and almost not being alive for me to tell my dad,' says Saho, referring to his drinking. 'You should be able to talk to the men in your life, but until the past five or 10 years, no one did.' That's changing with social media, podcasts and vodcasts, especially given that many influential (and, in some cases, controversial) male podcasters with large followings of young men are sober and vocal about it: Joe Rogan, Theo Von and Andrew Huberman, for example, have all quit drinking. On Reddit, several people said that Huberman's episode on the effects of alcohol have gotten them to quit drinking. Hearing some of them talk about giving up alcohol to focus on the work they enjoy doing resonated with Saho. As he says in one TikTok, it helped inspire him to stay sober. While social media certainly has its downsides and dangers, Ramer describes a 'cultural shift' around drinking that's having a positive effect on young men. 'You have a lot of media and podcasts and celebrity people who are sober and open about it,' he says, adding that this openness provides a sense of community and a path forward for people, including young men, who are considering drinking less — or not at all.
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Why this 26-year-old will never give us booze like her boring fellow Gen Zers
I recently invited an old school friend round for alfresco Aperol spritzes. Even if we don't see each other for the rest of the year, reuniting for outdoor cocktails as soon as the warm weather comes is an annual tradition. I went all out with the preparations: enough chips and dips to sustain an entire family for a week and bottles upon bottles of the Italian apéritif that is summer's go-to tipple. My friend arrived and we exchanged the cursory questions: I asked her, 'How's your boyfriend?', she asked me, 'How's your cat?' That indignity alone was enough to have me reaching for the bottle. But as I went to pour, out came the sentence no 20something wants to hear: 'None for me, thanks. I've stopped drinking.' As she explained how her newfangled soberdom had led to such improvements in her half-marathon training plan, my flatmate Pia and I exchanged a secret look of sympathy, as if she'd just told us she had kidney failure or hadn't got tickets for Sabrina Carpenter's tour. But my sober friend is not alone. A recent poll found 39 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds never drink, compared to just eight per cent of over 55s. Then there are the 60 per cent of Gen Zers who are 'sober curious' or interested in reducing their alcohol intake and 'mindfully' drinking. I would also describe myself as 'sober curious', in that I'm curious why anyone with a functioning liver would choose to ditch booze. Between everything this generation has to worry about – catastrophic climate change, AI taking our jobs, never being able to afford a house – the torture of going teetotal is surely a battle we needn't fight. Excessive alcohol consumption has been linked to plenty of nasties, from cancer to heart disease and mental health issues. But that's years of excessive drinking, not a cheeky couple after a hellish workday when you're not even 30. My main gripe is how smug the non-drinker is. If you've ever met a partner you felt attracted to while sober, good for you. (Apparently, 65 per cent of Gen Zers prefer a 'dry' first date. Reader, 65 per cent of Gen Z are delusional.) Because there is nothing more uncomfortable than sitting stone-cold sober with a stranger, while asking each other questions that sound like the patchy French from your GCSE oral exam ('Yes, I have two siblings, and at the weekend we go to the cinema together'). My friend Pia once went on a Hinge date with a sober guy who a) refused to pay for a round because her alcoholic beverages were more expensive, b) kept pointing at her gin and lemonade and whispering, 'That stuff's lethal', and c) spoke for 90 minutes about his play, which involved talking animals trying to convert the audience to veganism. Another time she told a 'mindful' drinker she was dating that she'd finished work at lunchtime and gone for a G&T in the sunshine. When she later made up some rubbishy excuse to never see him again, he sympathetically asked: 'Is it because you're going to rehab?' We now pay money for an upgraded dating app to filter out non-drinkers from our feeds, a move we've christened pro-boozer prejudice. I'm not gagging for a drink the second I clock off on a Monday. My drinking practices are much more sophisticated. When Pia and I were 18, we'd take water bottles full of straight vodka in the taxi on the way into town and swig from them in the queue for the club. Now, we stick to two-for-one cocktails or the handy supply of aeroplane minis (perfect for sneaking into a bar for G&Ts) we stock up on every holiday. I'm also relatively healthy, given my love of alcohol is matched by my love of spin classes, which acts as a counterbalance. But however sad it sounds, there is no better feeling than being tipsy. Take Glastonbury, one of the funnest places on earth. Imagine wading through mud and navigating loos covered in strangers' wee sober. It stops being cool in a Kate Moss way and starts being about survival, like some Bear Grylls documentary. In my opinion Gen Zers have given up on booze because they are fixated on being in control, whether it's their protein intake, carbon footprint or extensive array of named houseplants. I, meanwhile, am desperate to relinquish control for a while, which sometimes ends with chatting to strangers in a kebab shop. My old school friend might now have a renewed liver, the radiant skin of a newborn and a half-marathon time to impress Paula Radcliffe. But what I have is better: the ability to endure a first date without clawing my own eyes out, the skill to survive a festival without thinking too hard about embracing a Portaloo, and the joy of the first Aperol spritz of summer. Besides, I'm going to see Oasis in July – and there is no way the band that sings 'Cigarettes & Alcohol' is going to be playing Wembley to a crowd of kombucha drinkers.
CNET
12-05-2025
- Health
- CNET
THC Drinks vs. Alcohol: We Ask an Expert Which Is Healthier
Editor's note This article is for informational purposes only and doesn't constitute medical advice. Readers should talk to their doctor before trying THC products, especially if they're taking certain medications or have underlying health conditions. During a recent trip to Total Wine, I was surprised to see an entire aisle filled with THC-infused drinks instead of just a shelf or two. Nowadays, you can find cannabis beverages everywhere and even at your local brewery. "There's no shortage of options," says Dr. Staci Gruber, director of the MIND Program at McLean Hospital and associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. "We just need to do a better job explaining what they are and what they aren't." As sobriety and the sober curious movement become increasingly popular amid concerns about the health impacts of alcohol, you may be tempted to swap your alcoholic or even nonalcoholic drink for one infused with THC. But is it actually healthier for you? What are THC drinks? PortlandTHC beverages are infused with tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive compound in cannabis that causes a high and intoxication. These drinks come in a variety of forms, such as zero-calorie seltzers and tropical lemonades. They're often marketed as a way to get a buzz without the booze. Some contain only THC, while others blend in cannabidiol, or CBD, a non-intoxicating compound, to help balance the effects. THC beverages vs alcohol Alcohol -- specifically ethanol -- is a single molecule, not a mixture of many. After you learn your alcohol drinking habits, you typically know more about your limits. However, other ingredients like sugar and additives can impact your intoxication and hangovers. Also, they vary by person. While I might be buzzed after three alcoholic seltzers, my friend needs only one to feel the same way. San Francisco Chronicle/THC drinks are different. They come in many strengths and combinations so predicting and standardizing the effects is harder. "Cannabis is not one thing," says Gruber. "A product that has equal amounts of THC and CBD is not likely to have the same impact as a product that has 15 milligrams of THC alone." Your body also processes THC differently. Alcohol goes into your bloodstream quickly through your stomach. THC takes longer to absorb. Once it reaches your liver, it becomes another compound that can feel even stronger. "You may feel more high as time marches on. It's the gift that keeps on giving," says Gruber. Plus, once it's in your system, you can't get rid of it like you can with alcohol. "You can always take more but you can never take less. Once it's in, you can't throw it up or sweat it out," Gruber says. "You're stuck on the ride until it ends." That's why she advises you to start low and go slow if you decide to try out cannabis drinks. Are they legal? It can depend on where you live but most THC drinks you find in stores or online are made from hemp, not marijuana. Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp-derived products (such as products with Delta-8 THC, created through a chemical conversion of CBD) are legal at the federal level if they contain no more than 0.3% of THC. With this rule, cannabis drinks can be sold in states where marijuana is still illegal. "That's how you can walk into a Total Wine and buy these off the shelf," says Gruber. "It's not part of the Controlled Substances Act." However, that doesn't mean they're available everywhere. Each state may have limits on how much THC a drink can contain or where it can be sold. "Each state has varying regulations regarding cannabis-infused drinks," says Dr. Doug Roehler, an epidemiologist at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. There's no consistent national framework like there is with alcohol. For example, Georgia is tightening restrictions on consumable hemp products. House Bill 265 proposes limiting THC and other intoxicating cannabinoids to 5 mg per serving. Meanwhile, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control in California banned hemp product sales in the same places as alcoholic beverages. Not enough research on THC andEven though THC and CBD drinks are gaining popularity, the science behind them is still catching up. While alcohol has been studied for decades, there's limited data on the long-term health effects of cannabis drinks. Unlike medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration, THC drinks are not evaluated for safety, effectiveness or consistency before hitting the market. "I think we'll have to stay tuned for the next decade or so to see what we can glean from these products," says Gruber. Part of the challenge is how THC beverages can vary in potency, cannabinoid content and added ingredients, like sugar. Until more research is available, experts recommend using caution, starting with low doses and waiting an hour or two before having a second cannabis drink. Potential health benefits of CBD and THCEven though we don't know the exact health effects of THC drinks, some parts of cannabis have been studied for medical use. A 2017 study from the National Library of Medicine found evidence that cannabis can help with chronic pain, muscle spasms from multiple sclerosis and nausea caused by chemotherapy. These findings are based on cannabis in general rather than beverages specifically but they show that certain cannabinoids may offer real benefits. Many people reach for THC drinks as a way to cut back on alcohol. "Some people decide that they would like to drink less because we know there are significant health concerns with people who drink too much," Gruber says. "The Surgeon General's recent note on the association between alcohol use and cancer lit a fire under lots of people to not drink." The Surgeon General's advisory linked alcohol consumption to an increased risk of seven types of cancer, including mouth, breast, liver and colon cancer. While the long-term effects of THC drinks are still unknown, the health risks of alcohol are well-researched. Other nonalcoholic alternatives "Mocktail" no longer means fruit juice or soda. Instead, bartenders at sober bars (and regular bars that have a dedicated nonalcoholic menu) put as much creative intention into mocktails as they do cocktails. Getty Images THC drinks aren't the only option to turn to. You can find several other drinks to help you unwind and feel a little something special without the buzz or the high. Here are a few options to consider: Adaptogen drinks: These drinks use herbs and natural compounds (like ashwagandha, rhodiola or reishi mushrooms) that may help your body manage stress and support mental clarity. Some popular brands include Kin Euphorics, Hiyo and Recess. These drinks use herbs and natural compounds (like ashwagandha, rhodiola or reishi mushrooms) that may help your body manage stress and support mental clarity. Some popular brands include Kin Euphorics, Hiyo and Recess. Mocktails: These are nonalcoholic cocktails designed to mimic the flavor and experience of traditional mixed drinks. They sometimes include functional ingredients for added benefits or use nonalcoholic spirits. These are nonalcoholic cocktails designed to mimic the flavor and experience of traditional mixed drinks. They sometimes include functional ingredients for added benefits or use nonalcoholic spirits. Nonalcoholic dupes: These are drinks that look and taste like alcoholic beverages but without the alcohol. Companies such as Athletic Brewing, Corona and Samuel Adams offer the same flavor and feel as the original but without the same negative effects. These are drinks that look and taste like alcoholic beverages but without the alcohol. Companies such as Athletic Brewing, Corona and Samuel Adams offer the same flavor and feel as the original but without the same negative effects. Functional sparkling water: These drinks add ingredients like magnesium, electrolytes or calming botanicals to sparkling water to help ease stress and improve focus. Some popular brands include Good Idea and Soulboost. The bottom line THC drinks are becoming a popular alternative to alcohol. They're showing up in liquor stores, bars and even breweries. While some people say these drinks help them relax without a hangover, experts say we still don't know enough about their long-term health effects. "If you're interested in checking out THC-infused beverages, you should be mindful of what you're buying and using," says Gruber. "Start with a small amount and give yourself time to see how it affects you." The CDC also recommends knowing how much THC is in the drink and not driving a vehicle or operating heavy machinery after having a glass. When considering a THC drink, read the label, start slow and wait before going in for seconds. If cannabis beverages don't feel like the right fit, there are plenty of other nonalcoholic options to help you unwind without the effects of alcohol or THC.
Daily Telegraph
09-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Telegraph
The unexpected way alcohol sabotages your mental health
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. bitly We all love a wine to wind down after a long day. Gen Z is drinking less than previous generations, and the sober-curious movement continues to grow more popular, but a drink is still pretty high on the list of many people trying to restore some sense of calm after a stressful day. Whether it's a beer on the lounge, a wine with dinner or a bar-quality cocktail, your wind-down beverage could actually make your feelings of stress, anxiety and panic worse. Why alcohol makes us feel calm Alcohol is a depressant, so it does work to make us feel calm and relaxed, but it also affects our brain chemistry, which can make our anxiety worse than it was pre-drink. Alcohol boosts our brain's release of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which gives us that feeling of calm, at the same time as inhibiting the release of the neurotransmitter glutamate, which is linked to anxiety. How alcohol triggers anxiety Alcohol-induced anxiety can hit well before the morning after's hangxiety, and there's a fine line between these chemicals giving us that relaxing feeling and bringing on a panic attack mid-night out. Alcohol can also make us dehydrated or affect our sleep, both of which are never great for warding off anxiety. Image: Pexels Clinical psychologist Lexine Stapinski told the ABC, 'the more alcohol someone drinks, the more there's a physiological effect where it actually, paradoxically, increases anxiety levels.' According to Drink Aware, heavy drinking can deplete levels of GABA, increasing feelings of panic and tension. Our central nervous systems can get used to suppressing the effects of alcohol, so our brain is affected by the sudden drop of alcohol in our body. 'You can go straight into 'fight or flight' mode as the alcohol leaves your system – the same reaction as an anxiety disorder.' Alcohol can also make us dehydrated or affect our sleep, both of which are never great for warding off anxiety. We can feel more social and confident than ever after a drink. Image: Getty We can feel more social and confident than ever after a drink, but reliance on alcohol to help us be our most socially apt version of ourselves can actually make our social anxiety worse. If we become reliant on drinking to chat, we can lose confidence in our social abilities without it. Is it hangxiety or a panic attack? Hangxiety is so common that we brush it off as a universal experience to be expected on a Sunday morning. While hangxiety can feel horrible, panic attacks are another beast entirely. Image: Pexels While hangxiety can feel horrible, panic attacks are another beast entirely. People with depression or anxiety are more likely to feel anxious after drinking, and the anxiousness after a night of alcohol-induced calm can actually be worse than their usual baseline level of anxiety. Internal medicine and addiction specialist at Henry Ford Health, Tyler Trahan explained that 'drinking alcohol dumps a flood of dopamine into the pleasure center of the brain. The feel-good chemical swirls through your head, but the rush only lasts for a short while.' 'When dopamine levels dip back down, feelings of anxiety rebound. Researchers think that may be one reason why people who experience hangxiety, especially those who are extremely shy, may have a higher risk of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD).' People with depression or anxiety are more likely to feel anxious after drinking. Image: iStock Symptoms of hangxiety can include: Feelings of shame, guilt or regret Irritability Paranoia Rapid heart rate Shakiness Sweating Trouble focusing Panic attacks however, can feel overwhelming and hard to talk yourself out of. Image: Pexels Panic attacks however, can feel overwhelming and hard to talk yourself out of. Symptoms of a panic attack can include: A feeling of fear or overwhelming panic Rapid heart rate Difficulty breathing Feeling like you're choking Excessive sweating Dizziness or light-headedness Feeling like you're losing control According to Beyond Blue, 'managing your drinking more mindfully can help you feel more balanced, more in control, and more like yourself.' In an emergency please call 000 If you or someone you know needs help, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the 24- hour Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467. Mental health professionals are available 24/7 at the beyondblue Support Service – 1300 22 46 36 or via for online chat (3pm-12am AEST) or email response. Originally published as The unexpected way alcohol sabotages your mental health
