(The Hill) – Only 54 percent of American adults say they consume alcohol, according to Gallup, the lowest in the survey’s 90-year history by 1 percentage point.
The low metric was repeated across several demographic angles, including gender, race and age. Fifty-seven percent of men reported drinking alcohol, compared to 51 percent of women. White adults, at 56 percent, were more likely to drink than people of color, at 52 percent.
Adults aged 35 and older (about 56 percent) were also more likely to drink than their younger counterparts (50 percent).
Gallup’s findings, however, varied widely by income level, consistent with previous years. Less than 40 percent of people with an annual household income of less than $40,000 reported drinking, compared to 53 percent just two years ago.
About two-thirds of Americans making more than $100,000 a year reported drinking — also a substantial dip from 79 percent just two years ago.
Gallup’s poll also found that a majority of Americans, 53 percent, said drinking in moderation (“one or two drinks a day”) is bad for one’s health. In 2018, only 28 percent of respondents made that claim.
That perception is dominated by young people aged 18 to 34, 66 percent of whom thought drinking in moderation was detrimental to their health.
The poll’s findings come amid a growing shift in beliefs about whether moderate drinking, or even drinking altogether, has beneficial health effects. A series of new studies in recent years have pointed to increasing evidence that alcohol consumption is linked to cancer and other adverse health effects.
In a statement, the Distilled Spirits Council pushed back on whether scientific consensus on alcohol consumption has changed, citing a 2024 National Academy of Sciences report that moderate alcohol consumption was linked to lower all-cause mortality, a conclusion the body made with moderate certainty.
“For millions of American adults, responsible alcohol consumption is an enjoyable way of enhancing meals and bringing people together – and, for most adults, moderate drinking can be a part of a balanced lifestyle,” the council said. “As with many choices in life, consuming alcohol comes with risk, and no one should drink to achieve health benefits.”
The Gallup poll was conducted July 7–21. The sample size and margin of error were unclear.
This story was updated at 3:07 p.m.
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