Egg-heads fear the idea that today’s youth are frequently sober could now be a myth as they turn back to booze in their droves
Gen Z’s squeaky-clean image has gone up in smoke after a major study found young Brits love getting smashed on drink and drugs.
Egg-heads fear the idea that today’s youth are frequently sober could now be a myth as they turn back to booze in their droves.
Boffs studied 10,000 young people born between 2000 and 2002 and found heavy drinking tripled as the group moved from their teens into their early 20s.
It has sparked worries of a new ‘Trainspotting generation’.
The major study, by University College London, found nearly a third of Gen Z regularly down six or more drinks in one sitting.
Lead author Dr Aase Villadsen said: “Recent reports have suggested that young people are increasingly turning their backs on alcohol compared to earlier-born generations.
“However, our new study appears to show that this might not be the case for some members of Gen Z as they reach their early 20s.
“Although late adolescence and early adulthood is a time when young people tend to experiment, increased binge drinking and drug use does give cause for concern, especially if these behaviours become more ingrained during their 20s.”
Almost half of 23-year-olds have tried cannabis, while nearly a third admitted using harder drugs such as cocaine, ketamine or ecstasy.
Other risky behaviours are also on the rise.
Daily vaping rocketed from 3% to 19%, while 32% of 23-year-olds reported gambling in the past year.
Overall, men were more likely than women to indulge in drink and drugs.
Dr Villadsen called on politicians to take note of the study and pay “attention to substance use and addictive behaviours in young adults.”
Last month, Jeremy Clarkson said the Government should stop taxing beer to lure G-Zedders off weed. The Clarkson’s Farm host said work sickness rates would plummet if folk had a pint with their pals rather than getting stoned.
Clarkson, 65, said cost was the main reason folk were ditching booze for weed. “Beer at £6-a-pint is the main problem,” he said
“Because £6 may as well be £6m if you have a student loan to pay off. These kids say they haven’t lost the desire to get a bit of a buzz on with their mates – they’ve simply worked out that weed costs a hell of a lot less than going to the pub and they have a point.
“One round of drinks for four is £24. A gram of weed is about half that. And remember they have been told this drug comes from a plant which means it snuggles nicely in the warm underbelly of the socialist, woke, anti-meat agenda.”