Alcohol consumption in the U.S. has dropped to a record low as people are increasingly expressing concerns about the associated health risks with moderate alcohol consumption, a new Gallup poll finds.
On Wednesday, the national survey released data that showed that only 54% of adults in the U.S. said they consume alcohol, which is the lowest percentage ever reported by Gallup since the organization began tracking American drinking behavior nearly 90 years ago. And young adults aged 18 to 34 are leading the way with only a 50% drinking rate — less than middle-aged and older adults.
What’s more, Gallup found that people, especially younger adults, are increasingly sharing concerns that moderate alcohol consumption — meaning “one or two drinks a day” — is bad for one’s health. For the first time, a majority of people (53%) reported feeling this way. For comparison, only 39% shared that view just two years ago in 2023.
And while young adults were found more likely to think alcohol is bad for health than older adults (aged 55+), the survey found that older adults are increasingly adopting this view. Furthermore, the decline in alcohol consumption was not associated with an increase in use with other mood-altering substances, like recreational marijuana, the survey found.
