[category]
[title]
Dry January isn't the only time people are thinking about drinking less or avoiding it entirely. For some, it's cutting out midweek drinks; for others, it's reaching for a non-alcoholic option at the pub.
A new study by health insurance comparison service iSelect has looked at Google searches between December 2024 and November 2025 to find out where interest in healthier drinking is gaining momentum. It's part of the sober-curious movement, which has brought low- and no-alcohol options further into the mainstream. But which Aussie states are leading the charge?
Australian Capital Territory
The ACT takes the top spot, with a Healthy Drinking Score of 73.5, putting it almost 15 points ahead of South Australia in second place. The ACT recorded 1,040 alcohol-health-awareness searches per 100,000 people, the highest figure among the Australian jurisdictions listed in the report.
South Australia
South Australia has one of the clearest downward trends in alcohol-consumption searches among the top-ranked states. Those searches fell by an average of 2.27 per cent a month between December 2024 and November 2025. That's a steeper decline than in the ACT, NSW or Queensland.
New South Wales
NSW lands in third place with a score of 56.7. Searches about alcohol's health effects are rising slightly, while searches related to alcohol consumption are heading in the other direction, falling by 1.77 per cent a month. We're not necessarily ditching the pub or the wine rack, but the numbers point to a little more interest in the health side of drinking.
Queensland
The Sunshine State had the lowest rate of alcohol-health-awareness searches among the top four, at 797 per 100,000 people. Searches related to alcohol consumption declined by 1.75 per cent a month, a similar rate to NSW.
Western Australia
Western Australia comes fifth, scoring 50.6. That puts it around five points behind Queensland and more than 22 points behind the ACT. Searches related to alcohol consumption declined by 2.36 per cent a month, the sharpest drop among the five highest-ranked states.
Victoria
Last but not least, Victoria lands in sixth place with a score of 46.7. Unsurprisingly for a state with a serious food-and-drink scene, it recorded the highest rate of alcohol-consumption searches per capita.