Youth Preferences Change: Cannabis Now More Appealing Than Alcohol

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Consumption habits among young people in the United States are changing. Daily cannabis use now exceeds daily alcohol consumption among young Americans.

Citing Visual Capitalist, data published in the journal Addiction shows trends in daily cannabis and alcohol use among US residents aged 19-30 from 1988 to 2024.

The data reveals a significant change. For many years, alcohol was consumed more frequently on a daily basis than cannabis. However, this has changed in recent years.

This shift is due to the increasing acceptance of cannabis use in American society. In addition, the legalization of cannabis in many US states has also made its use more common.

Daily Cannabis Use Surges

Daily cannabis use among US residents aged 19-30 has increased sharply over the past three decades.

In 1988, daily cannabis use was recorded at 3.3%. It fell to 2.4% in 1992. However, after that, its use continued to increase.

The increase became more noticeable after 2010. In 2014, daily cannabis use reached 7.1%. This figure continued to rise, reaching 11.2% in 2021 and 2022.

In 2023 and 2024, the figures fell slightly but remained high at 10.8%. This means that about 1 in 10 young Americans in this age group use cannabis every day.

The study found that daily or near-daily cannabis use increased 15-fold between 1992 and 2022. In contrast, daily alcohol consumption remained relatively stable during the same period.

One of the driving factors is legalization. Recreational cannabis is now legal in many US states. Meanwhile, medical cannabis programs are also expanding.

The change in regulations has made cannabis more accepted by society. The legal cannabis industry in the US has also grown and become a multi-billion dollar business.

Daily Alcohol Consumption Declines

In contrast to cannabis, daily alcohol consumption among young Americans tends to decline in recent years.

In 1988, daily alcohol consumption among US residents aged 19-30 was recorded at 6.6%. This figure fluctuated for several decades.

Daily alcohol consumption peaked at 6.3% in 2009. However, after that, it began to decline, especially after 2020.

In 2024, daily alcohol consumption fell to 3.1%. This is the lowest level in the 1988-2024 data.

Although alcohol is still consumed more overall, this data shows a different pattern. Cannabis users are now more likely to consume it every day or almost every day, especially among those under 30.

Cannabis is becoming a more regular consumption for some young Americans, while daily alcohol consumption is weakening.

Young People Increasingly See Cannabis as Safer

The views of young people on cannabis have also changed significantly. An article in UC San Diego Today states that teenagers are increasingly seeing cannabis as less harmful than alcohol, cigarettes, or nicotine vapes.

Researchers note that the perception of risk for cannabis tends to decrease as students get older. This decline is most noticeable in 12th-grade students.

This also helps explain why cannabis use is becoming more common among young Americans. Its consumption pattern is even starting to resemble smoking habits, rather than alcohol, which is usually consumed occasionally.

According to Carnegie Mellon researcher Jonathan Caulkins, about 40% of current cannabis users consume it every day or almost every day.

Health Risks Remain

Although increasingly accepted, cannabis still has health risks.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that regular cannabis use can lead to dependence, impaired cognitive function, and increased risk of mental health problems in some users.

Meanwhile, heavy alcohol consumption is still strongly associated with liver disease, heart problems, and death from drunk driving accidents.

Some experts believe that cannabis may have lower overdose and accident risks compared to alcohol. However, researchers emphasize that comparing the two is not easy because cannabis and alcohol work differently in the body.

Clearly, American society’s relationship with cannabis has changed significantly. Daily cannabis use is no longer a fringe habit, especially among young people.

CNBC INDONESIA RESEARCH

(evw/evw)