Breaking up with booze: 400,000 Aussies plan to quit drinking in 2023
Thousands of Australians say they are giving up the grog this year, according to new research from Finder.
The Finder survey of 1,085 respondents revealed 2% of Australians – equivalent to over 400,000 people – plan to give alcohol the flick in 2023.
More than half of those are millennials (237,662 people) – with those aged 25–40 most inclined to ditch the booze.
The average Aussie could save over $1,971 a year by abstaining from alcohol – roughly $38 a week.
That's equivalent to $790 million that could be saved this year alone.
Rebecca Pike, money expert at Finder, said there was a growing number of "sober curious" Aussies.
"Drinking excessively can lead to health problems as well as increasing the risk of alcohol-related injury.
"Dry January – or the practice of abstaining from alcohol during the first month of the year – has gained popularity as a potential way to overhaul one's relationship with alcohol.
"Even if you missed out on the start of Dry January, it's never too late to kickstart your journey into not drinking.
"Many plan to keep it going all year long, which would be a win for health and hip pockets."
Consumption of 0% alcohol beverages is also on the rise – with bottle shops and venues stocking a growing range – and many mainstream brands releasing no-alcohol versions of their popular beer, wines and spirits.
Market research from Mordor Intelligence estimates that the global non-alcoholic beer market is estimated to be worth around $25 billion by 2025.
Pike said drinking was a huge part of Australian culture.
"Alcohol often plays a central role in social gatherings and events, making it difficult for those who choose not to drink to feel included.
"It's great that people don't have to feel like they are being excluded by choosing not to drink," Pike said.
Millions of Aussies have a toxic relationship with alcohol – especially those born here.
In the past financial year, 1 in 4 Australians older than 18 exceeded the Australian Adult Alcohol Guideline in 2020–21 (25.8%), according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Those born in Australia were almost twice as likely as those born overseas to exceed the guideline (30% compared to 17.3%).
Finder's research found more men (3%) plan to quit drinking than women this year (1%).
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