It revealed that the share of US consumers who say they drink alcohol remains at a record-low of 54% for the second consecutive year - the lowest reading in Gallup’s data dating back to 1939.
The survey found that 51% of US adults believe that drinking one or two alcoholic beverages a day is bad for one’s health – this is up from 27% in 2001.
Public awareness of research about drinking and health has also increased. Eighty-six percent of Americans said they have heard at least something about recent studies concerning the long-term health effects of drinking, up from 79% in 2024.
As awareness of health has impacted on views of alcohol, the percentage of Americans who said they sometimes drink too much has fallen, reaching a new low of 13%. Before 2000, more than 20% of Americans routinely reported overdrinking, including a record-high 35% in 1989, Gallup said.
Beer continues to hold a narrow lead as the beverage US drinkers said they drink most often. Thirty-six percent name beer, 32% choose liquor and 30% choose wine.
Alcoholic beverage choices were different among men and women with 56% of men versus 16% of women favouring beer, whereas 45% of women versus 15% of men prefer wine. Preferences differed less by age, although wine is preferred most often by adults aged 55 and older.
Gallup asked Americans about their use of non-alcoholic alternatives.
Seventeen percent, including 20% of drinkers and 14% of non-drinkers, reported that they have consumed non-alcoholic beer, wine or spirits instead of an alcoholic drink at some point in the past year.
Among drinkers who consumes non-alcoholic drinks, 38% said they are drinking more of these than they used to.
Gallup based the latest results on interviews with U. adults aged 18 and older in its July 1-19 Consumption Habits survey.