A growing number of younger adults are rethinking their relationship with alcohol, fueling what some are calling a “sober surge.” From cutting back to quitting entirely, many say changing lifestyles, mental health awareness, and wellness trends are driving the shift.
Gen Z is changing its relationship with alcohol.
New reports find younger adults are drinking less than previous generations,
with many choosing to focus more on their mental and physical health.
We talked to people at a Boston gym about the surge in sober lifestyles.
Just steps from Boston's infamous drug corner known as Mass & Cass
Welcome. Thanks for coming in.
is a gym called The Phoenix.
People rise from the ashes, overcome adversity, and you can be part of that solution.
Scott Strode says he rose from the ashes 29 years ago.
The last night of use, I was sure that my addiction would eventually take my life.
And the idea of someone having to tell my mom that broke my heart.
He turned to boxing, climbing mountains, and triathlons to help heal his self-esteem wounds.
Then he decided to bring others along on his journey.
I started leading free events.
They were free to anybody who was 48 hours sober.
But you had to adhere to an ethos that we're here to lift each other up.
And with that simple framing, that's how The Phoenix works.
The Phoenix is a free, sober, active community with gyms all over the country.
Strode says it's open to anyone who can follow its mindset.
And he's noticing a new group that's embracing The Phoenix's culture.
More and more, we're getting people that are sober curious,
people that are just choosing not to drink, trying to lead a more intentional, present life.
23-year-old Paige Scanlon is among the growing trend of Gen Zers
who are choosing periods of sobriety.
I notice a lot of my peers using sobriety as a sort of tool
to help them know more about themselves and their mind and the world around them.
New data shows Americans are drinking less than they have in decades,
with consumption hitting near-historic lows and alcohol sales starting to decline.
Scanlon says while she personally has an experienced addiction,
she has lost family members to substance misuse.
She tells me she's grateful to be a part of a community that focuses on empowering others.
The path of sobriety is not perfect for anyone,
and I think a lot of young people are wanting to reclaim that path,
even if it looks different for every individual.
Scanlon says too much doom-scrolling creates isolation and disconnect,
and her generation is yearning for places that take them off their phones to engage with others.
We're supporting each other. It's not about how we look, what we're posting about,
who we're talking to on our phones.
It's really about just bringing people together, especially around a common goal.
And that's how we create a systems change in our country,
where we look at each other more as people we can help lift each other up,
instead of pull each other down.
And the Phoenix has already reached 1 million people impacted by substance abuse.
Strode co-founded a free app called New Form that connects people to events and resources,
and he hopes that will help him reach his goal of serving 10 million people by 2030.
