The percentage of American adults who say they drink alcohol has dropped to the lowest level in the 90 years that Gallup has been surveying this question.
The only time it has been lower is during the Prohibition period in the United States from 1920 until 1933 and the years immediately after. 58% were using alcohol in 1939 according to Gallup's initial survey on the subject.
Only 54% of adults say they are using alcoholic beverages in 2025.
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| Source: https://news.gallup.com/poll/693362/drinking-rate-new-low-alcohol-concerns-surge.aspx |
The number has plummeted in the last three years.
67% said they drank in 2022.
Drinking is down across all demographic groups but the biggest drops have been among women, whites, younger people, and those at the bottom and top of the income scale and Republicans.
The percentage of Republicans who say they drink has dropped 19 points in the last two years!
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| Source: https://news.gallup.com/poll/693362/drinking-rate-new-low-alcohol-concerns-surge.aspx |
Not only are fewer people drinking but those who drink are consuming less.
The average drinker only has 2.8 drinks per week.
That is down from over 5 per week in 2003.
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| Source: https://news.gallup.com/poll/693362/drinking-rate-new-low-alcohol-concerns-surge.aspx |
The decrease in the use of alcohol seems to be driven by the perception that drinking (even in moderation) is bad for your health.
This view is particularly held by younger Americans.
However, this perception is seen across all ages and it seems to have gained momentum over the last ten years.
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| Source: https://news.gallup.com/poll/693362/drinking-rate-new-low-alcohol-concerns-surge.aspx |
Prohibition failed as government policy but it apparently is gaining favor as a personal choice.
(For some interesting historical information on how Prohibition came about you might want to read my blog post "People, Power and Prohibition" that I wrote a decade ago.)
In looking at the survey data on alcohol use I cannot help but also consider the survey data on sexual activity and wonder whether there is a connection?
Most surveys are finding that sexual activity is down as well.
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| Source: https://ifstudies.org/blog/the-sex-recession-the-share-of-americans-having-regular-sex-keeps-dropping |
The trend is particularly apparent with younger adults.
Is this a coincidence or is there a connection?
Most explain the decrease due to the fact that young adults are marrying later and the declining socialization among younger age groups.
However, I would not discount the intoxicating effects of alcohol on love and sex in the overall equation.
An absolute truth through the ages is that potential partners jump one place on a ten-point scale with every drink you have.
Brewers Droop... no Bueno. Whiskey D**k.... not as no Bueno as B.D.
ReplyDeleteBeer Goggles.... they work well but then you wake up the next morning and, we'll most know the rest of that story.
As for me, I agree with Ben Franklin or at least Ben Franklin may have coined this particular phrase.. " Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy".
On a serious note , I am hearing more and more than alcohol is a class oneOn a serious note, I am hearing more and more that alcohol is a class one carcinogen. Not sure I really believeNot sure, I really believe that.
Cannabis usage is on the rise. Possibly an inverse correlation. Would need to survey the alcohol consumption decline population sample to see if there is a correlation. Also, some studies have shown Cannabis can contribute to erectile dysfunction, though other studies say it heightens performance.
ReplyDelete