🍷 Americans' drinking remains at the lowest level since 1939

• 54 percent of Americans say they drink alcohol, matching last year's low and the lowest figure since measurements began in 1939.
• The share who say they sometimes drink too much has fallen to 13 percent, compared with 35 percent in 1989.
• 17 percent of Americans have chosen nonalcoholic beer, wine or spirits instead of an alcoholic drink in the past year.

The share of Americans who drink alcohol remains at 54 percent for the second year in a row. That is the lowest level in Gallup's trend, which dates back to 1939.

The decline has been rapid. In 2023, 62 percent said they drank alcohol. In 2024 the figure was 58 percent, and by 2025 it had dropped to 54 percent. This year it held steady at the same level.

The results are based on interviews with U.S. adults aged 18 and older. The interviews were conducted between July 1 and 19.

Fewer drink too much

The share who say they sometimes drink too much has also decreased. It now stands at 13 percent, the lowest level on record. Before 2000, more than 20 percent routinely said they sometimes drank too much. The record was 35 percent in 1989.

Those who drink had an average of 3.2 drinks in the past week. That compares with an average of 3.9 drinks per week across the five readings before last year.

More see alcohol as a health risk

51 percent of Americans now believe that one or two alcoholic drinks a day is bad for one's health. In 2001, 27 percent held that view. At the time, 22 percent considered moderate drinking good for one's health.

Awareness of the research has also grown. 86 percent say they have heard at least something about recent studies on the long-term health effects of drinking. In 2024 the figure was 79 percent. The share who have heard a great deal or a fair amount about the studies has risen from 49 to 54 percent.

The decline is seen in almost all groups

Since 2023, drinking has decreased among both men and women and across all age groups. It has also decreased among both White and non-white adults.

Nonalcoholic drinks are growing

This year, Gallup asked about nonalcoholic alternatives for the first time. 17 percent have drunk nonalcoholic beer, wine or spirits instead of an alcoholic drink in the past year. Among those who drink alcohol, the share is 20 percent.

Among drinkers who consume nonalcoholic drinks, 38 percent say they drink more of them than before. That is about double the 17 percent who say they drink less.

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