Introduction

A major new study has painted a striking picture of young adult substance use in the UK. Binge drinking, vaping, and drug use have all climbed sharply as people move from their teenage years into early adulthood. Yet one piece of genuinely good news stands out: this generation smokes cigarettes at roughly half the rate of those born just a decade before them.

The findings come from the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), a long-running UK project following nearly 19,000 individuals born around the turn of the millennium. At age 23, 9,675 young people took part. The survey offers one of the most detailed snapshots yet of substance use among young people in Britain today.

Binge Drinking Among Young People Is Now the Norm

Perhaps the most eyebrow-raising finding is just how commonplace binge drinking has become. By age 23, 68% of respondents said they had binged on alcohol at least once in the past year. Nearly a third, 29%, did so at least once a month.

The scale of this shift is hard to ignore. Fewer than 1% of the same group reported frequent binge drinking at age 14. By 17, that figure had risen to 10%. The leap to 29% by age 23 shows how quickly risky drinking habits can take hold.

Young adult substance use in the UK around alcohol has not improved compared to the previous generation either. Frequent binge drinking stood at 25% among those born a decade earlier, surveyed at age 25. The current cohort sits at 29%.

Vaping and Smoking: What Young Adult Substance Use in the UK Tells Us

The clearest generational shift is in smoking. Just 9% of the current cohort smoked daily at age 23. That compares with 20% of those born around 1989 to 1990 at a similar age. This is a genuine public health win.

But vaping has stepped in to fill the gap. Daily vaping was reported by 19% of 23-year-olds, up from 3% at age 17 and less than 1% at age 14. More than half (57%) said they had tried vaping at some point. Researchers warn that evidence of harm from vaping is now emerging. Long-term consequences remain largely unknown.

Drug Use Rises Sharply With Age

Illicit drugs tell a similar story of steep increases through the late teens and early twenties. This is a defining feature of young adult substance use in the UK. By age 23, almost half (49%) said they had tried cannabis at least once, up from 31% at age 17. Around a third (32%) had tried harder drugs. That is more than three times the rate reported at age 17 (10%).

Regular use also increased. Twelve per cent reported using cannabis regularly at 23, compared to 9% at 17. Regular use of harder drugs rose from 3% to 8% over the same period.

Gambling: A Growing Part of Substance Use Among Young People

For the first time, the MCS tracked gambling alongside other addictive behaviours. The results give cause for reflection. Around 32% of 23-year-olds said they had gambled in the past year. A further 4% reported a gambling problem. That means feeling guilty about gambling, facing criticism from others, or running into financial trouble because of it.

Males carried a far heavier burden. Seven per cent of men reported gambling problems, compared to just 1% of women. Online platforms have made gambling easier to access than ever before. The data suggest that accessibility is having a real and measurable impact on substance use among young people.

Who Is Most at Risk?

The data reveal clear patterns. Males reported higher rates across almost every category. They were more likely to binge drink frequently (31% versus 27% for females), smoke regularly (10% versus 7%), use cannabis frequently (16% versus 9%), use harder drugs frequently (10% versus 6%), and report gambling problems (7% versus 1%). Daily vaping was the one area where rates were nearly identical: 18% for males and 19% for females.

Education shaped the picture too. University-goers were more likely to binge drink frequently (33% versus 26%). But those without a university education were more likely to smoke (13% versus 4%), vape daily (25% versus 12%), and report gambling problems (5% versus 3%).

Geography also played a role. Scotland and Northern Ireland had notably higher rates of frequent binge drinking, at 37% and 35% respectively. England came in at 28% and Wales at 26%.

Ethnicity mattered as well. White and Mixed heritage groups reported higher rates of substance use among young people than Asian and Black groups. Researchers note that smaller sample sizes for ethnic minority groups make firm conclusions harder to draw.

Why This Age Group Matters

The early twenties are a critical window. Patterns formed during this period often stick. Many of the habits tracked in this study carry real implications for physical health, mental wellbeing, and financial stability.

Researchers from UCL’s Centre for Longitudinal Studies note that participants have been followed since birth. This means future analysis can explore the early risk factors that shape young adult substance use in the UK. That kind of long-term insight is vital for building effective prevention strategies.

What the Findings Mean for Policy

The overall picture points to a continued need for targeted action. The decline in smoking proves that sustained public health campaigns can shift behaviour. But the surge in vaping, the persistence of heavy drinking, and the spread of online gambling all need fresh attention.

Tailored approaches matter here. A blanket national policy will not speak equally to every group. Where patterns of substance use among young people differ by sex, education, and region, so too should the response.

References

1. Villadsen, A. and Fitzsimons, E. (2026) Substance use and addictive behaviours: Initial findings from the Millennium Cohort Study at Age 23. London: UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies.
2. Bauld, L., et al. (2010) Problem drug users’ experiences of employment and the benefit system. London: Department for Work and Pensions.
3. Newbury-Birch, D., et al. (2009) Impact of alcohol consumption on young people: a systematic review of published reviews. London: Department for Children, Schools, and Families.
4. Public Health England (2018) Alcohol and drug prevention, treatment and recovery: why invest? Available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/alcohol-and-drug-prevention-treatment-and-recovery-why-invest
5. Office for National Statistics (2024) Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2023. Available at: www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/bulletins/adultsmokinghabitsingreatbritain/2023
6. Hamann, S.L., et al. (2023) ‘Electronic cigarette harms: aggregate evidence shows damage to biological systems’, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(19), p. 6808.

Source: dbrecoveryresources