Americans Are Drinking Less Alcohol Than Ever Before. Here's What To Know

Forbes

2 days ago

The percentage of U.S. adults that report consuming alcohol has fallen to a record low of 54%, according to a recent Gallup poll.
Gallup has been tracking trends in drinking behavior among Americans since 1939. The lowest percentage of alcohol consumption prior to this year was in 1958 when alcohol intake was reported at 55%.
For young Americans, the results are even more telling. Nearly 50% of Americans aged 18 to 34 reported drinking alcohol, compared to 56% of people 35 and up.
For the first time ever, the majority (53%) of Americans believe that moderate drinking (having one or two drinks a day) is unhealthy, demonstrating a major shift in the public perception of alcohol. These trends come as there has been increasing social awareness of the deleterious effects of alcohol on health.
As an example, major medical societies like the American Public Health Association have spoken out against the harmful effects of alcohol. The APHA has stated that alcohol has no health benefits. The World Health Organization has similarly stated that no amount of alcohol consumption is safe for health.
Alcohol can cause a series of health problems for individuals. The drug is associated with a number of cancers- including the breast, colon, liver, mouth and esophagus; to name a few. Long-term effects of alcohol can also lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, liver disease and a weakened immune system that can make individuals susceptible to getting infections.
The growing health concerns over alcohol could also be shifting cultural norms surrounding alcohol. For decades, alcohol has been celebrated in American culture and has been synonymous with parties, weddings and major sporting events. As the majority of Americans now believe moderate drinking is unhealthy, Americans may start to choose non-alcoholic alternatives in an effort to augment health.
Given these shifts, there may be strong support for public health messaging and warning labels on alcohol, such as those suggested by prior U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Dr. Murthy has called for cancer warning labels on alcohol products, and this could serve as a tipping point towards wider reforms for alcohol, similar to how warning labels have been placed on tobacco cigarettes.
Despite the general trend of decreased alcohol consumption in the United States, many Americans still drink alcohol with a percentage rate of 54% still representing a majority. Over 140,000 Americans die from the effect of alcohol in an average year and one in ten Americans over the age of 12 suffer from Alcohol Use Disorder, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics. Much more work still needs to be done to ensure Americans remain healthy from the detrimental effects of alcohol.
The data from the July 2025 Gallup poll is clear- Americans are now drinking at historic lows and there is a growing awareness of the harms of even moderate alcohol consumption. If these trends are sustained, the public health benefits could be immense. Less alcohol intake would mean lower rates of cancer, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and harm related to interpersonal violence and traffic accidents.