U.S. Alcohol Consumption Hits 90-Year Low, With Majority Saying It’s Unhealthy
The share of U.S. adults who say they consume alcohol has dropped to 54% — the lowest Gallup has ever recorded since it's gathered data on drinking habits over 90 years. The previous low was 55% in 1958.
Drinking is down across demographics, but the biggest drop has been among Republicans — falling 19 points in two years to 46%.
The new poll, released Wednesday, found that for the first time, a majority (53%) of Americans now say alcohol is bad for health regardless of the amount, up from 28% in 2015. At the same time, use of marijuana is up.
WHAT’S CHANGING?
Falling U.S. drinking rates appear to be driven by a mix of factors — shifting health views that no amount of alcohol is safe, the popularity of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic (which can reduce appetite and alcohol cravings), economic pressures like tariffs raising drink prices, and broader lifestyle trends toward wellness and “sober-curious” socializing.
The shift comes amid growing medical consensus that no amount of alcohol consumption is risk-free.
Two-term U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, who served under former Presidents Obama and Biden, warned before leaving the office about links between alcohol and cancer, calling for cigarette-style warning labels.
The three-year slide in drinking rates coincides with research disproving earlier reports that moderate drinking could be heart-healthy.
Younger Americans are driving the uptick in viewing drinking as harmful, with Gallup noting they weren’t steeped in earlier advice promoting moderate wine consumption.
FINDING OTHER VICES
Meanwhile, marijuana use among Americans has risen from 7% in 2011 to 15% between 2023 and 2024, as nearly half of U.S. states have legalized it for recreational use. President Trump said Monday his administration is looking at reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I drug (with Heroin and LSD) to Schedule III (with steroids, ketamine, and Tylenol w/ Codeine).
