US alcohol consumption levels: Alcohol consumption in the United States has fallen to its lowest recorded level since Gallup began tracking the habit in 1939, with more Americans than ever now viewing even moderate drinking as detrimental to their health, news agency Reuters reported.
According to Gallup’s latest annual Consumption Habits survey, only 54% of US adults report drinking alcohol, down from 58% in 2024 and 62% in 2023. This marks the lowest percentage since 1958 when the figure dipped to 55%.
The decline comes amid a broader shift in public perceptions and behaviours. For the first time, a majority of Americans (53%) believe moderate alcohol consumption is harmful, a notable increase from 45% just a year ago.
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In addition to perception, drinking frequency is also waning. Just 24% of adults said they had consumed alcohol in the past day, the lowest on record, while 40% said they hadn’t had a drink in over a week, the highest figure since 2000, the survey further added.
The average number of drinks consumed over a week has also dipped significantly, dropping to 2.8, the lowest since 1996, with a sharp decline from 3.8 in 2024 and the 2003 peak of 5.1 drinks per week.
Gallup’s research director, Lydia Saad, noted that the drop is not due to a substitution effect, such as increased marijuana use, despite recreational cannabis being legal in about half of US states.
Alcohol makers, already impacted by economic pressures like inflation and high interest rates, are also contending with increased public health scrutiny, including warnings that even light alcohol consumption may be linked to at least seven types of cancer.
(Source: Reuters)
