Gallup: Fewer Americans drink as more see moderate alcohol unhealthy

A new Gallup poll shows fewer Americans are drinking alcohol than at any time in decades, even as a record share of adults says that moderate drinking is bad for their health. The survey, conducted in July, finds that 54% of adults report consuming alcohol, the lowest share in roughly 90 years of Gallup tracking. At the same time, 53% say that having one or two drinks a day is bad for health, the highest level on record and the first time a majority has voiced that view.

The shift appears to be driven largely by changes in opinion among younger adults, with a growing minority of respondents across age groups embracing the view that even moderate consumption carries health risks. About two-thirds of adults aged 18 to 34 now consider moderate drinking unhealthy, a marked rise from 2015. Older Americans are also increasingly likely to see risks in modest alcohol use, though the pace of change is slower in that group. Among those aged 55 and older, roughly half now view moderate drinking as harmful, compared with far smaller shares in past years.

Beyond attitudes, the poll shows a broad decline in actual drinking. Only 54% of adults report drinking alcoholic beverages, a figure...