Espresso martinis are a popular cocktail these days, however, fewer younger people are drinking them. Those under 35 are drinking less frequently.

Just in the past year, a few of my friends with whom I have had countless memories of drinking uttered this same phrase.

When I asked them — all Millennials and most of them with young kids — what made them stop drinking, none of them could give a precise answer. They simply shrugged and said, “I don’t know. I just don’t feel like it.”

Data show that my friends are not unique. In 2023, 62% of young people ages 18 to 35 said they drank, down from 72% two decades prior, according to research from Gallup. Moreover, even those who occasionally drink tend to drink less frequently than before.

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One possible reason for this change is that younger Americans, who increasingly prioritize mental and physical health, are simply responding to updated research on alcohol. Recent studies contradict the long-held perception that drinking in moderation may be safe, or even beneficial for health.

A recent Massachusetts General Hospital study concluded that the linkage between mild to moderate drinking and better heart health is more likely to be a mere correlation than causation; those who drink in moderation tend to live a healthier lifestyle........

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