Alcohol use in the United States falls to historic low as health concerns rise

Alcohol consumption among adults in the United States has reached its lowest point since Gallup began tracking the behavior nearly nine decades ago. According to Gallup’s latest annual Consumption Habits survey, released Wednesday, only 54% of Americans reported drinking alcohol. This marks a significant drop from 58% in 2024 and 62% in 2023. The previous record low was 55% in 1958.

The survey results come at a time when public health authorities are issuing stronger warnings about the risks associated with alcohol, even at moderate levels. For the first time, a majority of Americans—53%—now say that moderate drinking is bad for health. This is up from 45% just one year ago. Health experts have linked even small amounts of alcohol to an increased risk of at least seven types of cancer.

The decline in alcohol consumption is also reflected in drinking habits. Only 24% of respondents said they had consumed alcohol in the previous day, which is a record low. Meanwhile, 40% reported that more than a week had passed since their last drink, the highest share since Gallup began asking this question in 2000. The average number of drinks consumed over the past week fell to 2.8, down from 3.8 last year and well below the peak of 5.1 drinks per week recorded in 2003.

Economic factors may also be contributing to this trend. Alcohol sales have been declining since the surge seen during the pandemic, as inflation and higher interest rates put pressure on household budgets. Spirit makers are now facing not only economic challenges but also increased scrutiny from health officials and changing consumer attitudes.

Lydia Saad, Gallup’s director of social research, noted that the decrease in alcohol use does not appear to be driven by a shift toward other substances such as recreational marijuana, which is now legal in about half of U.S. states.

Gallup has tracked Americans’ drinking behavior since 1939 and their views on the health effects of moderate drinking since 2001. The latest findings suggest a significant change in how Americans view alcohol and its place in their lives, with health concerns playing a growing role in personal choices about drinking.