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A recent Gallup poll reveals that only 54% of U.S. adults report consuming alcohol, marking the lowest rate in nearly 90 years. This decline coincides with a growing belief that moderate alcohol consumption is harmful to health. For the first time, a majority of Americans, 53%, now view moderate drinking as detrimental, according to Gallup's survey conducted in July.
The trend reflects a shift in public perception, with recent research challenging earlier beliefs that moderate drinking could offer health benefits. The decline in alcohol consumption has been more pronounced among women and young adults, with women's drinking rates dropping by 11 percentage points since 2023. Young adults' consumption has fallen from 59% in 2023 to 50% today.
Interestingly, the decline in alcohol use is not linked to an increase in other substances, such as marijuana, which has remained steady in usage over the past four years. Republicans have shown a significant decrease in drinking habits, dropping 19 points to 46%, while Democrats' drinking rates have remained stable at 61%.
The survey also found that beer remains the most preferred alcoholic beverage among Americans, although overall consumption patterns are changing. A record-low 24% of drinkers reported having a drink in the past 24 hours, and the average number of drinks consumed weekly has dropped to 2.8, the lowest since 1996.
As health concerns about alcohol consumption grow, the future of U.S. drinking habits may depend on continued research and public health messaging. The trajectory could mirror the long-term decline in smoking following the U.S. surgeon general's warnings about tobacco in the 1960s.