MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — More young adults are reducing alcohol consumption or giving it up completely. The percentage of Americans under 35 who say they drink has decreased from 72% to 62% in the last 20 years, according to data from Gallup.

A family physician in the Tampa Bay area, Dr. Cha Lee with AdventHealth, says he’s noticed this trend among younger adults.

“I’ve been a doctor for over 26 years, and definitely the younger generations have attached themselves to a healthier life. With the internet nowadays, they get a lot more information than we did growing up, so a lot of younger people have decreased or stopped drinking alcohol,” he said.

Finding balance in life is no easy feat, but for John Cutuli, it all began with a simple step.

“Walking is very therapeutic for me. I totally use it every day to relax and really just decompress from the day,” said Cutuli.

“About eight months ago, I really started focusing on having a routine in my life. I start my days with probably a three-and-a-half-mile walk on the Legacy Trail,” he said.

He says he started this new lifestyle with a goal to be more consistent with his routine.

“Well, I am recently single again, so I’m kind of getting back out into the dating world at an older age than I was used to. So I really just wanted to find a healthy alternative from going out to the bars and that nightlife lifestyle,” he said.

One of the big changes he made was limiting his alcohol consumption. Cutuli says part of why he was drinking so much was for the social interaction with friends.

“I was drinking for social reasons. You know, drinking to have a conversation with someone new at the bar, maybe to go talk to a girl over there,” he said.

It took the 34 year old some time to realize he had formed a habit with alcohol.

“I was probably going out to the bars three to four nights a week, drinking up to ten or more drinks when I was doing that. It was quite excessive, and now I’m going out maybe once a week,” he said.

But it’s not just Cutuli. Studies show alcohol consumption by 18- to 34-year-olds has declined in the last 20 years. Those who drink consumed 1.6 fewer drinks each week in 2023 compared to 2003.

“I was just talking to the night bartender, and she said, ‘Yeah, I’ve noticed at night that they’re not doing the shots like they used to. They have a beer, play pool, and they’re done,’” he said.

Cutuli says his new workout regimen and limiting alcohol have helped him lose 50 pounds in the past six months.

“I feel fantastic since I’ve really slowed down my drinking because I have more hours, more days in my life,” he said.

With new changes come new ideas.

“So I started the Suncoast Nature Society as a way to maintain my social life while I was really trying to give up drinking,” he said.

The Suncoast Nature Society brings together people who enjoy the outdoors.

“It’s been very successful. We have over 200 members now, offering everything from nature walks to horseback riding, kayaking trips, and fishing trips,” he said.

He says it’s helped make his life healthier.

“This has definitely helped me in my journey to quit drinking because I don’t feel that pressure to go out anymore on the weekends,” he said.

Cutuli is meeting new people who align with his new lifestyle, changing his life for the better.