Meanwhile, the oldest respondents stick with their trusty beverages, sipping their way to higher DND alcohol rates. And sandwiched between these two groups, middle-aged adults appear to be hedging their bets, splitting their loyalties almost evenly between the two substances.
The study, authored by University of Michigan research professor Megan E. Patrick, draws on data from the Monitoring the Future (MTF) Panel Study, which surveys about 20,000 people annually across three age groups: 19 to 30, 35 to 50, and 55 to 65. Spoiler alert: generational preferences are as clear as a freshly rolled joint or a well-poured glass of wine.
In the youngest group, ages 19 to 30, cannabis use far outpaces alcohol. A striking 10.4 percent of respondents reported DND cannabis consumption, compared to just 3.6 percent who said they regularly imbibe alcohol. That’s nearly a three-to-one ratio—proving that the youth of today are lighting up, not just their social media accounts, but their cannabis habits too.
At the other end of the spectrum, older adults (55 to 65 years old) are sticking with their cocktails. Frequent alcohol use is more than twice as common as cannabis consumption in this age group, with 11.4 percent reporting DND drinking and just 5.2 percent opting for cannabis. Perhaps they’re holding onto the liquid courage that got them through disco, mullets, and Y2K.
For those aged 35 to 50—dubbed “early midlife adults” by the study—there’s a near tie in DND use. About 7.8 percent reported drinking alcohol regularly, while 7.5 percent leaned toward cannabis. It seems this group is keeping things balanced, proving you can nurse a beer and spark up a joint without fully committing to either team.
Over the past decade, cannabis use has seen a meteoric rise among young and early midlife adults, increasing by nearly 75 percent from 2013 to 2023. Meanwhile, alcohol DND use has been on a slow decline, dropping by 35 percent among young adults and 20 percent among early midlife adults.
Interestingly, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, alcohol use saw a brief spike among middle-aged adults. Apparently, even in lockdown, old habits die hard—especially when they come in a bottle.
The report highlights a notable crossover in trends. Among young adults, cannabis has officially dethroned alcohol as the more frequently used substance. Early midlife adults are experiencing a “convergence,” though alcohol still holds a slim lead. Among adults 55 and older, alcohol remains king—for now. If current trends persist, however, those dinner party martinis might one day be replaced by after-dinner edibles.
Supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the study sheds light on changing substance use habits across generations. It complements another report from earlier this year, which found that more Americans now smoke marijuana daily than drink alcohol—and that drinkers are more likely to admit they’d benefit from cutting back.
For now, it seems the older generation prefers to raise a glass, the middle-aged are hedging their bets, and young adults are lighting the way toward a greener future—literally. As one might imagine, this leaves the researchers wondering: will tomorrow’s retirement homes feature cocktail hours or cannabis lounges? Only time—and trends—will tell.
Photo by FatCamera from Getty Images Signature
