Why Australia's Sober Teens are Our Most Radical Generation Yet
For decades, Australians have treated alcohol as a social passport. To refuse a drink was to risk ridicule. “C’mon, just one” was as much a part of adolescence as acne and awkward school photos. But something is shifting, and it’s happening in the very demographic most marketers assumed would keep the grog flowing: our young people.
For decades, Australians have treated alcohol as a social passport. To refuse a drink was to risk ridicule. “C’mon, just one” was as much a part of adolescence as acne and awkward school photos. But something is shifting, and it’s happening in the very demographic most marketers assumed would keep the grog flowing: our young people.
Across Adelaide — and increasingly across the nation — Gen Z is turning its back on booze. They are gathering for matcha raves instead of beer barns, swapping shots for sober socials, and asking a revolutionary question: do we actually need alcohol to connect, belong, and have fun?
As a psychologist who has spent decades working with young Australians, I find this trend nothing short of thrilling. In an era where anxiety, depression, and self-harm rates among young people remain unacceptably high, the fact that more teenagers and twenty-somethings are making conscious, health-positive decisions about alcohol is a story worth celebrating.
Why the change? For one, this generation has grown up watching their parents drink — and not always in healthy ways. They’ve seen the fallout: family fights, risky behaviour, the emotional toll of dependency. Unlike previous generations, they’re prepared to say, “No thanks.”
They’re also more health-savvy than any cohort before them. These are young people raised on wellness apps, brain science TikToks, and a cultural shift that frames alcohol not as a rite of passage but as a carcinogen, a depressant, and a sleep-wrecking agent.
And then there’s the economic reality. With cost-of-living pressures biting, the price of a night out on alcohol looks increasingly absurd. Why fork out $18 for a cocktail when you can buy a green tea, feel sharp the next morning, and still make it to uni tutorials or work shifts on time?
The benefits for mental health are obvious. Alcohol is a depressant. It amplifies anxiety, lowers mood, impairs judgment, and increases impulsivity — a dangerous mix in a cohort already navigating intense academic, social, and digital pressures. Removing alcohol from the equation makes space for genuine connections and healthier coping strategies.
As one young Adelaidean put it, “Drinking is inconvenient. You can’t drive, you can’t do things, you’re kind of confused.” That kind of clarity is gold for young people trying to hold down jobs, pass exams, and manage friendships in an increasingly demanding world.
What’s fascinating is how quickly culture is adapting. Venues now stock sophisticated alcohol-free beers and mocktails. Daytime parties powered by tea or kombucha are no longer niche but mainstream. In fact, businesses ignoring this shift risk losing an entire generation of customers who simply don’t see intoxication as entertainment.
Compare this to 10 years ago, when choosing soda water over sauvignon blanc was seen as suspicious. Now, it’s a sign of maturity. We’ve gone from “prove you can hold your drink” to “prove you can hold a conversation without one.” That’s real progress.
Of course, we must be careful not to romanticise this completely. Some young people will still misuse alcohol, and binge drinking remains a stubborn part of our culture. But for the first time in my professional life, I can see a real cultural tipping point.
If we want to support it, parents should resist the urge to pressure kids into drinking “like everyone else.” Schools should include sober socialising as a legitimate and positive lifestyle choice in health education. And policymakers must keep investing in public health campaigns that reinforce the benefits of moderation or abstinence.
There’s something deeply hopeful about this story. For years we have labelled Gen Z the most anxious generation in history. And yet, in their rejection of alcohol, they are showing extraordinary resilience and clarity. They’re rewriting what it means to be young in Australia: less about hangovers and regret, more about agency, authenticity, and mental health. That’s not boring. That’s brave. So let’s drop the outdated stereotypes about “kids these days” and recognise what’s really happening. A generation is quietly staging one of the most radical health revolutions of our time. They’re not losing out on fun. They’re gaining freedom. And for once, it’s the adults who could stand to follow their lead.
Definitely Don't Ditch Dinner
It’s a statistic that might make you pause mid-bite. New findings from the University of Sydney show more than 40% of young Aussies are lonely. It’s a growing crisis in Australia, but modern life is eroding our ability to connect. And, while loneliness has many causes, experts are pointing to a quiet culprit hiding in plain sight – the decline of family dinner time.
Hello Fresh Partnership!
It’s a statistic that might make you pause mid-bite. New findings from the University of Sydney show more than 40% of young Aussies are lonely. It’s a growing crisis in Australia, but modern life is eroding our ability to connect. And, while loneliness has many causes, experts are pointing to a quiet culprit hiding in plain sight – the decline of family dinner time.
Dinner time has long done more than just fuel up the family – it sparks storytelling, settles arguments, and strengthens family bonds each night.. But according to HelloFresh’s new State of Dinner time report, that ritual is under threat. Only a third of Aussie families now sit down together for dinner each night, while 5% don’t have dinner together at all.
“Even in households with strict rules, phones and devices sneak onto the table,” says Dr. Michael Carr-Gregg, a leading Australian psychologist who works with HelloFresh to explore the impacts of modern life on family connections. “It’s not just about food. Dinner time is an opportunity for families to talk, to listen, and to truly engage with one another. Losing that time chips away at our emotional health.”
The report shows that modern life has turned dinner into a functional task rather than a family ritual. Busy work schedules and late nights at the office are the biggest barriers to shared meals (51%), closely followed by after-school commitments (49%), screen distractions (33%), and sheer exhaustion (29%).Meanwhile, over half of parents (51%) spend more time planning and prepping dinner than they do actually spending time with the family.
Screens are the top disruptor, with 34% of parents admitting to watching TV over dinner most nights. Even in households where 42% of parents ban devices at the table,22% of family members sneak them in anyway. Other interruptions range from arguments over disliked meals (28%) and sports on TV (27%) to sudden new food aversions from the kids (27%).
Despite the challenges, parents understand the true value of dinner together.
The HelloFresh report reveals:
79% of Aussie parents see dinner time as the most important family touchpoint of the day
89% say it’s a chance to reconnect after a busy day
57% agree that the best, “real” conversations happen at the dinner table
45% say without dinner, they’d struggle to find other time to connect
66% worry that a lack of connection at dinner affects their children’s routine, rhythm, and structure
Nostalgia also plays a role. Six out of ten parents agree dinner felt more meaningful when they were kids. Today, 59% of families describe dinner as a rushed, “tickbox” activity, and 54% feel it’s become more about convenience than connection. Repeating the same meals week after week doesn’t help – 35% of parents say they have only up to five dinners in rotation, while 43% admit that the daily “what’s for dinner?” struggle has stripped the joy from mealtime.
Clearly, something’s cooking – and it’s not just dinner. Aussie families say more fun and variety are key. 60% want to bring new and inspiring meals into the irrotation, while 26% suggest inviting friends and family over mid-week, and another 26% think using the “good plates” can make the meal feel special. HelloFresh’s meal solutions aim to take the stress out of planning and prep, helping families reclaim that lost joy – and the deeper connections that come with it.
“Dinner time is where empathy, communication, and belonging are built,” says Dr Carr-Gregg. By keeping families at the table, even a few nights a week, we nourish not just our bodies but our relationships. And in a world where loneliness is on the rise, that simple act can make all the difference.”
Loneliness may feel like a complex societal problem, but sometimes the solution is simple– found around the dining table, plate by plate, story by story. After all, a family that eats together doesn’t just feed the body – it feeds the soul
Tune in to The Today Show on Sunday morning at 8:40am (ish) to see Michael’s latest tips.