Dolcy D’Cruz
Is alcohol consumption among Goa’s youth declining or quietly intensifying? While social media platforms glorify a clean, health-conscious lifestyle, the ground reality suggests that Gen Z, both men and women, continue to be very much the life of the party.
YOUTH AND FEMALE DRINKING ON THE RISE IN GOA Dr Rajesh Dhume, senior psychiatrist, heads the de-addication centre in North Goa at the North Goa District Hospital. “There is nothing to substantiate that alcohol companies have reportedly lost `74. 92 lakh crore in just four years. That is an absurd sort of figure. And the ground reality is that the number still remains high among youngsters.” “No youngsters have been coming to us for alcohol related problems. They will only come when they reach middle age. These are ad hoc type of remarks that are coming. We cannot authenticate this thing and we cannot definitely apply. Get into a restaurant and find out how many youngsters are there. It is filled with youngsters. How many people are 18 plus in the bars and in the discotheques? It is just a hype. At least in Goa we should not talk about these things because we are not so sure. I have not seen the number coming down at all. In fact, it is going up. Female drinking is going up by leaps and bounds. This is an observation. Traditionally, when we were young, girls were not seen drinking. Now, girls are drinking, saying that drinking vodka and gin are ladies’ drinks. There is no hiding and drinking nowadays,” says Dr Rajesh.
NO DIP IN YOUTH DRINKING AS COCKTAILS REMAIN POPULAR AT EVENTS After studying catering and mixology, Isaac Furtado from Curtorim went on to found his own hospitality start-up. He now leads a team of ten bartenders and barbacks, travelling across Goa to cater events. During the busy wedding and party season, Isaac is constantly on the move, serving revellers at receptions, celebrations, and private gatherings. Speaking about alcohol consumption among youngsters, he says, “Consumption has not decreased. Many boys and girls experiment with drinks, especially cocktails. They like trying different cocktails available at events, and there has been no noticeable change or dip in consumption.”
FROM 40S TO 20S, GOA’S ALCOHOLISM CRISIS GETS YOUNGER
With meetings held almost every day in Goa, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global, fellowship dedicated to abstinence-based recovery from alcoholism through Twelve Steps. Unfortunately, according to its members, there has been no decrease in alcoholism in Goa. A member, speaking on condition of anonymity, shared, “We receive many men and women in the age group of 22 to 35 years. Earlier, the age group was 40–50 years, but it has now dropped to 20–30-year-olds. Those who are motivated and genuinely desire to change their lives stick to the programme, while those who have not fully decided or committed often relapse into alcoholism. Another interesting trend is that gradually more women are attending AA meetings. These women are breaking away from taboos and no longer care about what people say. They were once addicted to alcohol and have now realised the importance of caring for their health. However, Gen Z continues to drink. Walk into any club or party and youngsters are either drinking alcohol or are prone to drug use. Willpower alone doesn’t work; one needs to borrow it from groups like AA and structured programmes, along with the support of family and friends.”
BINGE DRINKING AMONG GOA’S YOUTH IS A PUBLIC HEALTH AND CHILD PROTECTION CRISIS Peter Floriano Borges is the assistant professor of Social Work at Goa University and former Chairperson of the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. “What we are seeing instead is a shift in patterns, from regular drinking to binge drinking, which is far more dangerous and unpredictable. Youngsters may not drink daily, but when they do, they consume large quantities in short periods, often in unsafe settings and without supervision. Binge drinking among adolescents and young adults is a serious social concern because it is closely linked to accidents, violence, sexual risk taking, mental health crises, and long-term dependency. Goa’s tourism-driven alcohol culture normalises excess, and this directly shapes young people’s behaviour,” says Peter. He further adds, “The bigger problem is that Goa does not have a strong ecosystem to address alcoholism among youth. There is limited early intervention, inadequate counselling services, poor community-based support, and almost no youth-specific de-addiction or harm-reduction programmes. We often respond only after something goes disastrously wrong — an accident, an assault, or a death — rather than preventing harm early. Alcohol misuse among youth is not a lifestyle issue; it is a public health and child protection concern that requires urgent, structured intervention.”
A HEALTH-CONSCIOUS GENERATION RETHINKS ALCOHOL AND ITS CONSEQUENCE Dr Wiseman Pinto is a Professor and Head of the Department of Pathology at Goa Medical College, Bambolim, and a former Dean of Goa University. He informs, “There is a nearly 40 percent decline in socialising as youngsters don’t go out and are mostly glued on their phones and TVs. There is a decline in high profile bars especially in Noida and Delhi where youngsters opt for mocktails more than cocktails. Among habitual drinkers in the age of 30-40 years, it is difficult to stop drinking. There is also lot of awareness and health education. The younger generation are learning about lifestyle diseases like cancer and dementia and the side effects of alcohol. They are more focused on gym and exercises, maintaining proper diets with protein and salads. Alcoholism also leads to breakdown, social, physical, psychological and economical which youngsters are well aware of,” says Dr Wiseman
GEN Z’S SHIFT TOWARD MINDFUL AND SOBER-CURIOUS DRINKING Dr Zoya João, Head of the Department of Pathology at Shri Kamaxidevi Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Shiroda, did her PhD Research work on ‘The Effect of Homoeopathic Constitutional Medicines on persons with Alcoholic Use Disorder.’ She says, “There is a noticeable drop in heavy alcohol consumption as a move toward ‘mindful drinking’ or the ‘sober-curious’ lifestyles among the Gen Z. Trends that we visibly notice are that they choose ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’. Alcoholism is increasingly seen by Gen Z as a liability to fitness and mental wellness. They do not engage in regular form of drinking but prioritise their health and finances increasingly exploring spaces that do not revolve solely around heavy drinking.” Many are adopting ‘Zebra Striping’, alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks thereby reducing their overall consumption. Increased time is spent on virtual socialising rather than spending more time at pubs. “They maintain a clean image when on Instagram or other social media handles. A mindset to adopt clean living by doing away with toxic substances to concentrate on a healthy lifestyle and to obtain mental clarity. Greater awareness about mental health preservation to be a gold mine so as to minimise depression and anxiety therapy is the key to a wealthy mindset. There has been a lot of public health awareness created about smoking and vaping especially at public foras involving youth as well. My message for Gen Z is one ought to know that life is all about balance, do not be deceived with substance abuse. Be content with what you have and never stop improvising yourself as longevity is the key.
