Younger people drinking less but smoking more cannabis than older generations

While 22.1% of 18-24 year olds said they’d smoked cannabis in the last year, only 5.5% of 45-54 year olds said they had. Picture: Getty Images

Young adults are drinking alcohol far less regularly than older generations, but are vaping and smoking cannabis in much greater numbers, a new survey has found.

The Central Statistics Office’s Irish Health Survey for 2024 found that 56% of people aged 55-64 said they drink alcohol at least weekly compared to just 27% of 18-24 year olds.