Generational shifts in attitudes and beliefs about alcohol: An age-period-cohort approach

Livingston, Michael; Callinan, Sarah; Pennay, Amy; Yuen, Wing See; Taylor, Nicholas; Dietze, Paul

doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109755

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…In addition, some of the former functions of drinking (e.g., bonding with friends, meeting new people) are now being fulfilled online, thanks to the affordances of new communication technologies, coupled with the imperatives of neoliberalism (e.g., personal responsibility for one's future and avoidance of health risks). What remains unclear is whether the observed changes in priorities and practices of 14-17 year olds over the past 20 years reflect a unique generation who will maintain 'dry' throughout the life course, or merely a generation that is delaying alcohol use and will 'catch up' with previous generations by early adulthood [48,57,58]. New Zealand evidence suggests that binge drinking remains highly prevalent in early adulthood [59] and further research is needed to understand this transition.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding youth drinking decline: Similarity and change in the function and social meaning of alcohol use (and non‐use) in adolescent cohorts 20 years apart

Ball,

Pettie,

Poasa

et al. 2023

Drug and Alcohol Review

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IntroductionQualitative research aimed at understanding the decline in youth drinking has so far been hampered by a lack of baseline data for comparison. This New Zealand study overcomes this limitation by comparing archival qualitative data collected at the height of youth drinking (1999–2001) with contemporary data collected for this study (June–October 2022). The aim is to explore changes in the function and social meaning of alcohol use (and non‐use) for two cohorts about 20 years apart.MethodsBoth archival and contemporary data were collected from 14 to 17 year old secondary school students (years 10–12) through individual and small‐group/pair interviews in matched suburban co‐ed schools. Interviews explored friendships, lifestyles, romantic relationships and experiences and perceptions of substance use and non‐use.Results and DiscussionComparative analysis highlighted changes that may help to explain the decline in youth drinking, including an increased value placed on personal choice and acceptance of diversity; decreased face‐to‐face socialising and the emergence of social media as a central feature of adolescent social life, perhaps displacing key functions of drinking and partying; increased pervasiveness of risk discourses and increased awareness of health and social risks of alcohol; and increased framing of alcohol use as a coping mechanism by both drinkers and non‐drinkers.ConclusionsCollectively, these changes appear to have shifted the social position of drinking from an almost compulsory component of adolescent social life in 1999–2001, to an optional activity that many contemporary adolescents perceive to have high risks and few benefits.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding youth drinking decline: Similarity and change in the function and social meaning of alcohol use (and non‐use) in adolescent cohorts 20 years apart

Ball,

Pettie,

Poasa

et al. 2023

Drug and Alcohol Review

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“…They suggest that the definitions, understandings and management of risk are always filtered through sociocultural norms and values. This might be why, for example, alcohol is perceived as a risk to contemporary young people worried about their future selfhood and economic security, but not perceived as such by older groups or people in countries less governed by neoliberal logics [31,32].…”

Section: Risk-governance and Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

Risk and restraint—The key to understanding the decreasing use of alcohol for young people in high income countries?

Pennay

Caluzzi

Livingston

et al. 2023

Drug and Alcohol Review

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IntroductionIn this article we seek to understand the changing social position of alcohol use for young people in Australia by identifying how alcohol has become framed as posing a significant risk to their bodies and futures.MethodsForty interviews were conducted with young people aged 18–21 years from Melbourne, Australia, who had previously identified as light drinkers or abstainers. Drawing on insights from contemporary sociologies of risk, we explored how risk was discussed as a governing concept that shaped young people's views of alcohol, and how it encouraged or necessitated risk‐avoidance in daily life.ResultsParticipants drew on a range of risk discourses in framing their abstention or moderate drinking along the lines of health, wellness, wisdom and productivity. They reiterated social constructions of heavy or regular alcohol use as irresponsible, threatening and potentially addictive. The focus on personal responsibility was striking in most accounts. Participants seemed to have routinised ways of practicing risk avoidance and coordinated drinking practices with other practices in their everyday life, with alcohol therefore ‘competing for time’.Discussion and ConclusionsOur findings endorse the idea that discourses of risk and individual responsibility shape the contemporary socio‐cultural value of alcohol for young people. Risk avoidance has become routine and is manifested through the practice of restraint and control. This appears particular to high‐income countries like Australia, where concerns about young people's futures and economic security are increasing, and where neoliberal politics are the foundations of governmental ideology.

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“…A noticeable trend worldwide, including in New Zealand, is the rise in the number of people who have chosen to abstain from consuming alcohol. There are a variety of factors apparently influencing this trend such as cultural changes, changing attitudes towards health and wellness, and the growing awareness of the dangers of consuming alcohol (Livingston et al, 2023). Due partly to an increased awareness of alcohol harm, alcohol abstinence is also increasingly promoted by health and wellness movements encouraging individuals to abstain or reduce their drinking for health, life or fitness goals (Carah et al, 2015).…”

Section: The Rise Of Abstainersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The reduction is believed to be due to the growing disapproval of alcohol consumption by young people and changes in parental attitudes towards drinking, which could be seen in all ethnic groups, genders and across all schools that participated in the study (Ball et al, 2020). Similarly, a survey study conducted in Australia with respondents aged 14 and above focused on the trends and attitudes around alcohol over time (Livingston et al, 2023). The researchers found that an increase in disapproval regarding alcohol consumption was attributed to perceived safe drinking levels, disapproval of weekend binge drinking practices, and the change in safe drinking level recommendations in Australia (Livingston et al, 2023).…”

Section: The Rise Of Abstainersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, a survey study conducted in Australia with respondents aged 14 and above focused on the trends and attitudes around alcohol over time (Livingston et al, 2023). The researchers found that an increase in disapproval regarding alcohol consumption was attributed to perceived safe drinking levels, disapproval of weekend binge drinking practices, and the change in safe drinking level recommendations in Australia (Livingston et al, 2023). Changes in the social position of alcohol, including the use of technology and social media, family norms, gender identity, and health and fitness trends, as well as the adverse effects of consumption, have been linked to the decrease in alcohol consumption amongst young people (Kraus et al, 2020).…”

Section: The Rise Of Abstainersmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring Alcohol Abstinence: The experience of middle aged non-drinkers in New Zealand

Power

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<p dir="ltr">There is a growing number of people choosing to abstain from alcohol. The reasons for abstaining can be attributed to a variety of factors, such as the growing awareness of the long-term impact of alcohol consumption, the rise of wellness trends that emphasise self-care, career and economic pressures, and life changes that can contribute to people prioritising different interests.</p><p dir="ltr">This research aimed to explore the lived experiences of middle-aged non-drinking adults navigating social environments in New Zealand, where alcohol is part of the socio-cultural landscape, shedding light on the intricate interplay between culture, health, and individual choices. Going beyond a lifestyle choice, non-drinking in this context signifies a departure from the deeply ingrained cultural norm of alcohol consumption. The qualitative research design with a thematic analysis was informed by a phenomenological framework, with data collected from individual interviews with 11 participants aged 35 to 50, three male participants and eight female participants, all identified as parents. The interviews were then transcribed and subject to thematic analysis, which identified four themes: "Considering abstinence," which depicted the participants’ contemplation period before becoming non-drinkers. "Consolidating the decision- The first steps in becoming a non-drinker" highlighted the early challenges and positive aspects after sobriety. “Developing strategies to navigate their post-drinking lifestyle” depicted the change in social dynamics and participants’ use of masking to manage social occasions. And finally, "Living socially as non-drinkers” highlighted relational changes, including positive parenting and feeling more authentic. These findings contribute to understanding the motivations, challenges, and social repercussions of this lifestyle choice, offering insights into this demographic. By gaining insight into people’s experiences of non-drinking, societal perceptions and stereotypes around abstinence, the research aimed to enrich the understanding of social and cultural dynamics surrounding alcohol consumption. Furthermore, it can help to inform policies supporting alcohol regulation and alcohol-free spaces, as well as informing health professionals in comprehending the multifaceted aspects of drinking and abstinence in New Zealand's normative drinking culture.</p>

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Generational shifts in attitudes and beliefs about alcohol: An age-period-cohort approach

Cited by 5 publications

References 53 publications

Understanding youth drinking decline: Similarity and change in the function and social meaning of alcohol use (and non‐use) in adolescent cohorts 20 years apart

Understanding youth drinking decline: Similarity and change in the function and social meaning of alcohol use (and non‐use) in adolescent cohorts 20 years apart

Risk and restraint—The key to understanding the decreasing use of alcohol for young people in high income countries?

Exploring Alcohol Abstinence: The experience of middle aged non-drinkers in New Zealand

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