US alcohol use falls but heavy drinking rises in ages 50 to 64

Alcohol use among U.S. adults fell for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to a Keck Medicine of USC study published Sept. 21 in Annals of Internal Medicine, but heavy drinking among adults ages 50 to 64 rose sharply over the same period. From 2022 to 2024, the share of adults who reported any alcohol use in the past year declined by nearly 2%, while heavy drinking fell by more than 8%. Even so, drinking rates remain above pre-pandemic levels. Researchers analyzed National Health Interview Survey data from 114,352 U.S. adults between 2018 and 2024. Younger adults drove the national decline. Any alcohol use among Gen Z adults dropped more than 5%, and heavy drinking among millennials fell 17% between 2022 and 2024. Men saw a larger decline in overall drinking than women, 2.4% versus 1.1%, while women experienced a slightly larger drop in heavy drinking, 9% versus 7.7%. Adults ages 50 to 64 were the exception. Their any alcohol use rose nearly 4% from 2018 to 2024, and heavy drinking climbed by more than 36%. Heavy drinking was defined as five or more drinks a day or 15 or more a week for men, and four or more a day or eight or more a week for women. Dr.