Today's teens are a more sober, less social generation

Teens today are drinking less than their parents did, with a significant decline in teen drinking starting from the late 90s. The trend has accelerated, with 41% of 12th graders, 24% of 10th graders, and 11% of 8th graders having drank in the past 12 months in 2025. Researchers attribute this shift to various factors, including social isolation, body optimization culture, and economic pressure.