08/19/2025

U.S. Drinking Rate at New Low as Alcohol Concerns Surge

Americans’ self-reported drinking down to 54 percent after consecutive declines

The percentage of U.S. adults who say they consume alcohol has fallen to 54 percent, the lowest by one percentage point in Gallup’s nearly 90-year trend. This coincides with a growing belief among Americans that moderate alcohol consumption is bad for one’s health, now the majority view for the first time.

Gallup has tracked Americans’ drinking behavior since 1939 and their views of the health implications of moderate drinking since 2001. The latest results are from Gallup’s annual Consumption Habits survey, conducted July 7-21.

From 1997 to 2023, at least 60 percent of Americans reported drinking alcohol. The figure fell to 62 percent in 2023 and to 58 percent in 2024, before reaching 54 percent today. Prior to the most recent poll, the rate has been under 60 percent fewer than 10 times, including 58 percent in the initial 1939 poll and a one-time low of 55 percent recorded in 1958. The highs of 68 percent to 71 percent were all recorded between 1974 and 1981.

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