2LT International News

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Alcohol consumption in the United States has dropped to its lowest level since Gallup began tracking the trend in 1939, with more Americans now viewing even moderate drinking as harmful to their health.

Gallup’s annual Consumption Habits survey found that just 54 percent of adults say they drink alcohol, down from 58 percent in 2024 and 62 percent in 2023. The share is lower than the previous record low of 55 percent set in 1958.

The decline comes amid a years-long slide in alcohol sales following a pandemic-era spike, as inflation and high interest rates squeeze budgets. At the same time, public health officials are issuing stronger warnings that even small amounts of alcohol can be linked to at least seven types of cancer.

For the first time, a majority of Americans, 53 percent, now believe moderate drinking is harmful for health, up from 45 percent last year.

Gallup also found fewer Americans drinking regularly. Only 24 percent said they had consumed alcohol in the previous day, a record low, while 40 percent said it had been more than a week since their last drink — the highest share since 2000.

Average weekly consumption has also fallen sharply. Over the past seven days, drinkers reported an average of 2.8 drinks, down from 3.8 last year and well below the 2003 peak of 5.1 drinks per week. The current figure is the lowest since 1996.

Lydia Saad, Gallup’s director of social research, said the trend does not appear to be driven by people switching to other substances, such as recreational marijuana, which is now legal in about half of U.S. states.

Gallup has measured Americans’ drinking patterns for 85 years and tracked attitudes toward the health effects of moderate drinking since 2001.