Youth alcohol consumption in British Columbia has steadily declined over the past two decades, according to a provincial health officer report.
Per the report, published May 27, only 38 per cent of youth aged 12-19 have tried alcohol beyond a few sips, down from 58 per cent in 2003. Moreover, among youth who tried alcohol, the proportion who reported drinking before age 15 declined from 80 per cent in 2003 to 66 per cent in 2023. While alcohol consumption rates briefly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, they have steadily declined in the post-pandemic years.
The trend is likely driven by cultural trends that result in youth starting to drink later and growing interest in alcohol-free lifestyles, the report says. It's also affecting business — including ones on campus. According to the AMS’s Q3 financial report, several AMS businesses fell short of their projected contributions, with former VP Finance Gagan Parmar citing declining alcohol sales at both the Pit and the Gallery as a contributing factor.
“The people that do come [to these establishments] are also drinking less,” Parmar told The Ubyssey earlier this year.
Dr. Zach Walsh, a professor of psychology at UBC Okanagan and director of the Therapeutic, Recreational & Problematic Substance Use Lab, said the trend aligns with what many researchers have observed.
According to Walsh, there is unlikely to be a single explanation for the decline. “I think people are becoming increasingly aware of some of the negative health consequences of alcohol use,” he said. The provincial report states that alcohol remains a leading cause of preventable death in BC. In 2023, six per cent of all deaths in the province were attributable to alcohol use. The report also found that alcohol increases the risk of at least seven types of cancer.
“Culturally, there's a shift where people are recognizing that this … default of everyone getting together for drinks or assuming that people are going to drink alcohol in social gatherings is on the decline,” said Walsh. He also noted that non-alcoholic beverages have become increasingly common in social settings and that alcohol is no longer assumed to be present at every gathering.
While the report emphasizes that no level of alcohol consumption is entirely risk-free and emphasizes a “less is best” approach, Walsh said reductions in alcohol use can have benefits that go beyond physical health. "It’s definitely a public health win.”
Walsh added that changing patterns of substance use may also play a role in declining alcohol consumption. Since cannabis was legalized in Canada in 2018, researchers have increasingly examined whether greater access to cannabis may influence the use of other substances. In 2024, 27 per cent of Canadian youth aged 16-19 reported using cannabis in the past 30 days. As cannabis has become more accessible in Canada, some young adults may be more prone to use cannabis instead of alcohol in certain social settings.
“I think we can’t ignore the potential role of cannabis as a substitute,” Walsh said.
While he emphasized that both substances carry risks, Walsh argued that cannabis generally poses fewer acute risks than alcohol — namely lower likelihood of violence, accidents and organ damage.
Walsh said cannabis legalization provides an opportunity to study how a more evidence-based approach to drug regulation affects substance use patterns. However, he emphasized that substance use trends should not be viewed in isolation, since changes in one may influence the other. “If we don’t also look at how it’s potentially impacting the use of alcohol, we miss out on some of the potential health benefits,” he said.
The provincial report notes that any reduction in alcohol consumption lowers the risk of alcohol-related harms. For campus businesses that have historically relied on alcohol sales, however, changing student habits may present new challenges.
The AMS has observed alcohol revenue decreasing over the past three years, with the Pit experiencing annual declines ranging from 7 to 24 per cent.
In response, AMS businesses have adjusted their offerings rather than focusing solely on increasing alcohol consumption. At the Gallery, management has introduced new cocktail options, added cider on tap and regularly rotates its beer selection. The AMS has also expanded its non-alcoholic offerings and promoted mocktails in response to growing demand.
“We are adapting to the broader trend of lower alcohol consumption while continuing to offer students and guests a diverse and engaging range of options," wrote AMS President Dylan Evans in a statement to The Ubyssey.
He also discussed the long-standing idea of starting an AMS Microbrewery. “At this stage, we would have to do some deeper analysis to see what a possible business model would be, to determine if it makes sense to pursue or not,” wrote Evans. He added the decline in consumption would be a factor in pursuing the project.
Evans also said the AMS’s focus is on increasing participation in events and activities rather than encouraging greater individual alcohol consumption. To support this approach, the AMS recently applied for a permit that would allow activities such as karaoke and dance events at the Gallery on a permanent basis, which it hopes will attract more visitors and increase overall food and beverage sales.
As campus businesses continue adapting to shifting consumer preferences, the trend suggests that alcohol may no longer play the same role in student life that it once did.
