Alcohol consumption in an empty nest

Bibliographic Data

ID22936918
AuthorsFrancesco Scervini (0000-0001-6403-5876, University of Pavia, corresponding author), Serena Trucchi (0000-0002-1932-7201, Cardiff University)
Year2026
Volume39
Issue3
Publication date2026-09-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Population Economics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0933-1433 • E-ISSN: 1432-1475
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s00148-026-01182-y
OpenAlexW7165615160
LanguageEN
References cited37

This paper contributes to the understanding of alcohol consumption in adulthood by investigating the impact of a specific life event: the transition to an empty nest, when adult children move out of the parental home. Our findings using English data show a significant increase in alcohol consumption in an empty nest, characterised by more regular drinking patterns and a moderate increase in daily intake. The most affected groups include couples, high-income individuals, those actively employed, and respondents aged 45–60. We also provide evidence on the mechanisms underlying this relationship, supporting a key role of relaxation and changes in time use.

Alcohol · Alcohol consumption · Consumption (sociology) · Nest (protein structural motif) · Social policy · Young adult · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Gambling Behavior and Treatments · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

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