Alcohol Consumption in America Plummets: Discover the Surprising Reasons Why

Recent studies highlighting the long-term health risks associated with alcohol consumption are influencing Americans to reduce their alcohol intake. This shift in behavior is reflected in the latest findings from Gallup’s annual survey.

KEY INSIGHTS

• Gallup’s yearly poll indicates a historical low in the percentage of Americans who consume alcohol.
• Only 54% of Americans currently report drinking alcohol, influenced by the growing body of research on its negative health effects.
• The survey shows a generational difference in drinking habits, with 50% of 18 to 34-year-olds drinking, compared to 56% of those aged 35-55 and 55 and older.

The Gallup poll, which has been tracking American drinking habits since 1939, recorded that 54% of Americans claimed they drank alcohol in the latest survey—the lowest figure to date. This number has seen a steady decrease from 67% in 2022 to 62% in the following year, and down to 58% last year.

For the first time since the poll’s inception, over half of the respondents (53%) view drinking alcohol in moderation as detrimental to health.

The increasing concern about alcohol’s health risks was underscored by a report released on January 3 by Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, which advocated for alcohol to carry cancer warning labels. According to the report, alcohol is responsible for nearly 100,000 cancer cases and about 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the United States.

A recent study published in the scientific journal Neurology links consuming as few as eight alcoholic drinks a week to an increased risk of dementia. The study’s author, Alberto Fernando Oliveira Justo from the University of Sao Paulo Medical School in Brazil, highlighted that heavy alcohol use could damage the brain, potentially leading to memory and cognition issues.

Another 2022 study from The Lancet medical journal found no health benefits to drinking alcohol for individuals aged 15 to 39, only health risks.

Related Studies

Emerging research continues to shed light on the risks associated with drinking. One study noted that women are now drinking as much as men and may face health complications sooner. Another study found that Ozempic significantly reduced alcohol cravings in its first clinical trial, with participants drinking 40% less.

Younger generations are at the forefront of reducing alcohol consumption, likely due to their exposure to new health data from a young age. Lydia Saad, Gallup Director of U.S. Social Research, explained to Time that older generations might find it harder to adapt to the new guidelines as they grew up when drinking was sometimes promoted for its health benefits.

Tim Naimi, Director of the University of Victoria’s Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, told The Washington Post that the shift in public opinion reflects new scientific understanding. “The risks associated with what some may consider low levels of drinking are now known to be higher than what was previously thought,” Naimi stated.