Gallup: 54% of Americans drink, lowest since 1939

A new nationwide survey shows Americans are drinking less than at any time in the Gallup polling era, with 54% of adults reporting they consume alcohol—the lowest figure since Gallup began tracking the behavior in 1939. At the same time, a majority now views moderate drinking as unhealthy, a shift driven largely by younger adults and reflected in changing patterns of when and how often people drink. The findings come amid a broad public health push detailing the risks of alcohol consumption and potential policy responses that would place new warnings on alcoholic products.

Among the age groups, drinking is markedly lower for younger adults. Roughly half of those aged 18 to 34 report drinking, compared with more of those aged 35 and up, and the gap has widened as the younger cohort reduces both frequency and quantity. Among those who do drink, the amount consumed has declined substantially in the past decade. The typical weekly pattern now shows about 2.8 drinks per week, down from roughly 4.5 a decade ago, with a record portion of drinkers reporting they have not had a drink in the past 24 hours and a growing share saying they have gone more than a week since their last drink....