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How to handle the breaking news that Gen Z are drinkers, not abstainers – Comment

Charlie Mitchell
Last updated: 29/09/2026 at 12:29 PM
By Charlie Mitchell
29 September 2026
6 Min Read

If we’re being honest, we should admit that we knew all along that Gen Z were drinkers really. Of course, not admitting it made for a handy excuse for slow sales or poor strategic choices.


Gen Z
Credit: Kampus Production/Pexels

Brand owners have started getting to grips with the realities of a world in which, contrary to recently perceived wisdom, the Generation Z demographic is choosing to drink rather than abstain.

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Behold: The time to rejoice is upon us. The end is not nigh after all. For Gen Z actually do drink alcohol! That's the key finding from IWSR’s most recent global 'Bevtrac' announcement, and one that significantly shifts the tone of an industry that has consistently cast the youngest cohort of legal-age drinkers as a generation of abstainers. With this groundbreaking news, let’s spare a thought for the executives who have wasted countless hours in boardrooms plotting a shifting strategy that totally disregards all of those in the LDA to 29-year-old age bracket due to them not touching alcoh

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Charlie Mitchell
ByCharlie Mitchell
Charlie Mitchell is a renowned industry commentator and research expert within the drinks industry, having worked for well over a decade delving into the data that tells the story of how consumers eat and drink out. After having spent 13 years at NielsenIQ (formerly CGA Strategy), where he led the on-trade consumer & bartender research division, Charlie now heads up data, research & insights at Wilde Toast, the specialist drinks agency that helps drinks get chosen, through intelligent activation. Working with bartenders, consumers and trade professionals, Charlie distils what is happening in the sector to build winning strategies for brands. Email him at [email protected]
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