[United States] Amid the "youth distancing from alcohol," there's an increase in heavy drinking among those aged 50-64 — Japan cannot overlook the changes in evening drinking habits either.

"Young people these days don't drink." When you hear such stories, it seems natural that health problems related to alcohol consumption would also diminish.

However, even if the overall societal numbers are improving, there are people moving in a different direction within.

A study on drinking introduced by The Washington Post on September 23, 2026, highlighted this easily overlooked issue. From Japan's perspective, it's not just about how much less young people are drinking. It's also about the evening drinks that have become thoroughly integrated into the daily lives of middle-aged people.

Overall decline, yet not back to pre-COVID levels

The study was published in the medical journal "Annals of Internal Medicine." Researchers from Keck Medicine of USC and others analyzed data from 114,352 adults who participated in the U.S. National Health Interview Survey from 2018 to 2024.

According to the American College of Physicians, the proportion of people who drink and those who qualify as heavy drinkers both decreased in 2024 compared to 2022. While the decline was notable among the younger generation, many groups remained at levels equivalent to or exceeding pre-COVID levels.

This is not a longitudinal study that tracked the same individuals to measure the effects of abstinence but a cross-sectional study examining group trends from survey data at each point in time. It does not indicate "how many drinks each person reduced."

Noteworthy "exception" is ages 50-64

According to the university's announcement, the overall drinking rate decreased by about 2% and the heavy drinking rate by over 8% from 2022 to 2024. Meanwhile, for those aged 50-64, the drinking rate increased by about 4% and the heavy drinking rate by over 36% from 2018 to 2024.

It's important to note the difference in comparison periods here. The overall decrease is compared over two years from 2022, while the increase among the middle-aged is compared over six years from 2018. Also, the figure of over 36% is an increase rate and does not mean "36% of those aged 50-64 are heavy drinkers."

The study did not examine the reasons why young people reduced their alcohol consumption. Although changes in health consciousness and values towards drinking may be considered, the cause cannot be determined solely from the current results.

Reducing it to generational arguments like "young people are healthy, and middle-aged lack self-control" would miss the necessary questions. It's important to see in what kind of life drinking increases and who finds it difficult to connect with support.

Middle-aged concerns in Japan as well

A clue to consider Japan's situation is the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's 2024 "National Health and Nutrition Survey."

The proportion of people drinking amounts that increase the risk of lifestyle-related diseases is 13.9% for men and 9.3% for women. By age group, the highest was 21.6% for men in their 60s and 18.4% for women in their 50s.

This is not evidence that the same increase occurred in Japan as in the U.S. These figures are the distribution as of 2024 in Japan, and the criteria for determining drinking and age divisions differ from the U.S. study. You cannot judge which country is more serious by comparing the numbers.

Still, the view that "drinking problems can be addressed by paying attention to young people's reckless drinking" fails to capture the challenges of the middle-aged group.

Continuing to work while caring for parents. Considering life after retirement. Changes in household roles. The relationship between such situations and drinking is not proven by the current U.S. study, but it is a lifestyle background to confirm when considering support in Japan.

Even if it's the same "drinking every night," whether it's to enjoy a meal, switch moods, or get through a sleepless night, the necessary response will differ.

Voices on social media about "wanting to cherish the next day"

What experiences are being shared on social media regarding the movement to reduce drinking?

In a 2024 thread on Reddit with publicly viewable posts, millennial posters cited long-term health concerns and the discomfort of hangovers as reasons for reducing their drinking. Replies included voices concerned about feeling unwell the next day even after a small amount and not wanting to waste the day, as well as concerns about the impact on sleep.

There are also personal stories of not wanting to follow the same path after witnessing parents' or family members' drinking problems. On the other hand, there are posts from people who are drinking more than before to cope with difficult situations.

These are not direct reactions to the current paper or The Washington Post article but part of an ongoing discussion about "reasons to reduce drinking." They are self-reported experiences and do not represent an entire generation.

However, this difference in perspective is worth considering. For some, not drinking is a choice to greet the next morning pleasantly. For others, it may feel like losing a means to get through the night. For the latter, in addition to providing health information, it might be necessary to have someone or a place to talk about what is troubling them.

Rethinking "one can" in terms of quantity and alcohol content

When Japanese readers reflect on their drinking habits, a concrete clue is the amount of pure alcohol.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare explains that attention should be paid not only to the amount of liquid consumed but also to the weight of the alcohol contained. The calculation is "drinking amount ml × alcohol content ÷ 100 × 0.8." Using this formula, even the same 500ml would be 20g if the alcohol content is 5% and 36g if it's 9%.

The perception of "only drinking one can" makes it difficult to grasp the difference in intake.

Also, the risk indicator used in Japan of "40g or more per day for men, 20g or more for women" is not a permissible amount. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's guidelines also clarify this point.

The same guidelines suggest avoiding drinking to alleviate anxiety or insomnia and consulting a doctor about drinking while on medication. It's important to focus not only on the quantity but also on the purpose of drinking and the state of one's body.

To increase the number of people who can reduce their drinking, options for choosing not to drink are also necessary

When considering how to apply this study to Japanese life, the question is broader than "how can we get young people to drink more?"

Are there dinner gatherings where non-drinkers can participate without hesitation? Are there places where people can spend time together after work or on holidays without focusing on alcohol? Can conversations be had with family members who have increased their drinking, other than scolding them?

For example, before blaming someone with "You're drinking again," try asking, "Have you been sleeping well lately?" or "Has anything been adding to your burden?" This is not an introduction of measures proven effective by research but a suggestion to understand the lives of people behind the numbers.

Celebrating changes in the younger generation and paying attention to middle-aged drinking can coexist. Can we avoid turning the overall societal shift away from alcohol into a source of personal or family reassurance? The opportunity to reassess the usual drink lies there.

Source URL

1. The Washington Post (September 23, 2026): Refer to the provided article excerpt, supplemented by research institution and academic conference presentations.
   https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/09/23/americans-are-drinking-less-since-pandemic-began-one-group-bucks-trend/

2. Keck Medicine of USC (September 21, 2026): Confirmed university announcement on changes in drinking rates, results for ages 50-64, comparison periods, and the point that the study did not examine causes.
   https://news.keckmedicine.org/us-alcohol-use-falls-for-first-time-since-the-covid-19-pandemic-but-remains-above-pre-pandemic-levels/

3. American College of Physicians/Newswise (September 21, 2026): Confirmed academic presentation on 114,352 survey participants, cross-sectional study format, and trends by age group.
   https://www.newswise.com/articles/gen-z-and-millennials-drove-recent-drop-in-alcohol-use-study-shows

4. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare "Summary of the 2024 National Health and Nutrition Survey": Refer to page 21 for the gender and age distribution of people drinking amounts that increase risk.
   https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/10900000/001603146.pdf

5. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare "Guidelines on Drinking with Health Considerations": Refer to the point that the indicator of drinking amount is not a permissible amount, drinking to cope with anxiety or insomnia, and precautions when taking medication.
   https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/12200000/001211974.pdf

6. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare "About Guidelines on Drinking with Health Considerations": Refer to the calculation method for pure alcohol amount. The figures for 9% and 500ml are calculated using the same formula.
   https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_38541.html

7. Reddit/r/Millennials (2024 public thread): Refer to posts and replies about reasons to reduce drinking. Introduced as personal voices concerning health, next day's life, and family experiences, not direct reactions to the current report.
   https://www.reddit.com/r/Millennials/comments/1clb0a8/millennials_are_drinking_less_i_know_i_am_what/