Baby boomers drink more alcohol than any other generation, data finds

A poll has shown how many standard alcoholic drinks Daily Telegraph readers drink each week.

The majority of Australians are drinking less than seven standard drinks a week but almost 30 per cent are downing more than 21 drinks a week, a survey conducted by The Daily Telegraph has found.

The poll found that 34 per cent of readers drank less than seven drinks a week followed by 29 per cent who drank in excess of 21 drinks a week.

It comes as a new report found that Baby Boomers are hitting the booze more frequently than any other generation while their younger counterparts increasingly cut back on alcohol, tobacco and drugs.

A new study has found Generation Z are cutting back on alcohol, tobacco and drugs.

People aged 65-74 are the biggest consumers of alcohol across the country, drinking more than double the intake of Generation Z, new data from alcohol awareness group Hello Sunday Morning has found.

Boomers are drinking 9.5 standard drinks on average per week, more than double the number of drinks consumed by 18-24-year-olds in the same period.

A startling 15 per cent of Boomers fell into the “very high risk” drinking category, guzzling down more than 31 standard drinks every seven days.

The study also found that men in their 60s and 70s were found to be drinking three times as much as young women aged 18-24.

Shunning their party generation image, Australians aged 18-24 had the lowest weekly alcohol intake of all age groups.

Additional data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that tobacco smoking and the use of illicit drugs had also consistently declined since 2001.

Hello Sunday Morning chief Andy Moore said more awareness about the pitfalls of alcohol was causing a decline in drinking among young people – but it is much harder for older Aussies to break lifelong habits.

“Young people are changing their behaviours to alcohol because people are more aware of the dangers of drinking. We are learning more and more about the negative effects of alcohol on our physical and mental health,” he said.

“But when these behaviours are entrenched in society, it is very hard to change that. That’s why older generations are a tougher nut to crack.”

Mr Moore said loneliness and cultural acceptance of alcohol could be a driver for the rise in older people drinking.

Sheridan Johnston drank daily for many years before giving up alcohol two years ago. Picture: Supplied

“There are several reasons why Boomers are drinking more. On one hand it could be loneliness and financial stress and more time to drink,” he said.

“On the other hand, some Boomers could have more disposable income to spend on drinking. The combination of those things makes it easier for people to look at drinking as a coping mechanism.”

Coffs Harbour woman Sheridan Johnston drank daily for many years before giving up alcohol two years ago.

“For me, the cost was a big (driver for quitting). I had also gotten into a new relationship with someone who wasn’t used to somebody drinking every day,” she said.

“It made me realise that drinking daily isn’t OK. I feel totally clear headed all the time now. You don’t realise the positive impact it has until you quit.”