US alcohol consumption at record low as health concerns rise, survey finds
moderate drinking
as harmful.
Gallup's latest Consumption Habits survey, conducted annually, showed that about 54 per cent Americans reported drinking alcohol, compared with 58 per cent in 2024 and 62 per cent in 2023.
The figure falls below the previous record low of 55 per cent in 1958 in the nearly nine decades of tracking by Gallup.
Alcohol sales have been falling since the pandemic drinking binge, as inflation and interest rates stretch consumer wallets. Spirit makers now also face growing warnings from public health authorities who say drinking even small amounts of alcohol is associated with at least seven types of cancer.
A majority of Americans - 53 per cent - say moderate drinking is bad for health, Gallup found, up from 45 per cent last year.
Fewer U.S. drinkers are consuming alcohol regularly, with a record-low 24 per cent saying they had a drink in the previous day and 40 per cent reporting more than a week since their last - the highest share since 2000, the survey found.
Average intake over the past seven days fell to 2.8 drinks, the lowest since 1996 and down from 3.8 a year ago, far below the 2003 peak of 5.1 drinks per week, the reports showed.
"The declines in alcohol consumption does not appear to be caused by people shifting to other mood-altering substances - in particular, recreational marijuana, which is now legal in about half of U.S. states," Lydia Saad, Gallup's director of social research, said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
42 minutes ago
- Economic Times
UnitedHealth jumps 9% after vote of confidence from Warren Buffett
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel Shares of UnitedHealth Group surged more than 9% on Friday after a fresh investment from billionaire Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway boosted investor confidence in the troubled health company is dealing with multiple challenges that have emerged in the last two years, including rising costs, a federal investigation into its government-backed health plans, a cyberattack at its technology unit that affected the personal information of over 192 million Americans, and the murder of its insurance unit chief in hailed as a reliable earnings performer, UnitedHealth missed Wall Street's profit expectations for the last two quarters, and its shares have dropped nearly 46% in 2025, making it the worst-performing stock on the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average this shares were last up 9.3% at $296.64 in early has swooped in with big investments in companies, in which he sees a long-term strategic value, during their periods of invested heavily in Occidental Petroleum in 2019 as it tried to finance a merger with Anadarko Petroleum and has kept adding to his stake despite the company's weak stock performance. He famously took a stake in investment bank Goldman Sachs at the height of the global financial crisis in 2008."Buffett's purchase is a psychological reassurance to many investors that saw UnitedHealth as 'untouchable,' given the massive turbulence in the stock over the past few months," said Kevin Gade, chief operating officer at UnitedHealth investor Bahl & owned 5.04 million UnitedHealth shares worth about $1.57 billion as of June 30, it said in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Thursday. Buffett owned about 1.18 million shares in UnitedHealth between 2006 and 2009, before selling his entire stake in other prominent hedge funds, including David Tepper's Appaloosa Management, Lone Pine Capital and Two Sigma Investments, also bought UnitedHealth's shares, regulatory filings showed on the "vote of confidence" from Buffett's investment validates the long-term value of UnitedHealth shares, the "management needs to regain trust and credibility with investors, and get back to its beat and raise reputation of the past," said James Harlow, senior vice president at Novare Capital May, CEO Andrew Witty abruptly stepped down amid rising operational and financial pressures, and Stephen Hemsley, who had run the company from 2006 to 2017, took month, the company projected full-year adjusted earnings per share of at least $16, well short of analysts' already lowered estimate of $ shares are currently trading at about 15.8 times forward earnings estimates, below their five-year average of 19."While UnitedHealth still faces elevated uncertainty, it is good to see that this renowned investment firm also believes the market is discounting assumptions that are too pessimistic for the long term, which is similar to our view," said Morningstar analyst Julie of rivals Centene, Humana and Molina Healthcare gained between 2% and 4%.Berkshire on Thursday also disclosed new stakes in steel maker Nucor, security products provider Allegion and outdoor advertiser Lamar Advertising.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Women Are At A Higher Risk Of Dementia: Here's Why
Dementia is a term used to describe several diseases that affect memory, thinking and social abilities. It is characterised by a decline in cognitive function which interferes with a person's daily life. Memory loss is the earliest symptom of dementia. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type, but there are other causes. Dementia risk in women Dementia can affect people differently. Research consistently shows that women are at a higher risk of developing dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease. According to the Alzheimer's Association, nearly two-thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer's are women. Here are some reasons why: Longevity: Women generally live longer than men, and age is the biggest risk factor for dementia. Biological differences: Hormonal changes, especially the drop in estrogen after menopause, may increase vulnerability. Genetic factors: Certain genes, such as APOE-e4, may affect women more than men in terms of dementia risk. The World Health Organisation has reported that women are disproportionately affected globally, comprising 65% of Alzheimer's cases. What are the other risk factors for dementia? Age: Risk increases significantly after age 65. Genetics: Family history and gene variants, such as APOE-e4. Cardiovascular issues: Hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity may increase the risk. Poor lifestyle: Smoking, excessive alcohol use, poor diet, and lack of exercise. Mental health: Depression and chronic stress are also common risk factors for dementia. Brain injuries: Traumatic brain injuries or repeated head trauma. Hearing loss: Having hearing loss is associated with a higher risk of dementia. Sleep disorders: Poor sleep quality or sleep apnea is also a risk factor for dementia. How to lower dementia risk Studies indicate that exercising regularly, eating right, quitting smoking and ensuring quality sleep help reduce the risk of dementia. Additionally, staying mentally fit and preventing head injuries also helps lower the risk. While women are at a higher risk of dementia, many risk factors can be managed through lifestyle and health interventions. Early action through exercise, diet, mental stimulation, and managing chronic conditions can help lower the risk and support brain health throughout life. Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
UnitedHealth jumps 9% after vote of confidence from Warren Buffett
Shares of UnitedHealth Group surged more than 9% on Friday after a fresh investment from billionaire Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway boosted investor confidence in the troubled health conglomerate. The company is dealing with multiple challenges that have emerged in the last two years, including rising costs, a federal investigation into its government-backed health plans, a cyberattack at its technology unit that affected the personal information of over 192 million Americans, and the murder of its insurance unit chief in December. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These Famous Faces Once Walked Campus Halls—Guess What They Majored In Learn More Long hailed as a reliable earnings performer, UnitedHealth missed Wall Street's profit expectations for the last two quarters, and its shares have dropped nearly 46% in 2025, making it the worst-performing stock on the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average this year. The shares were last up 9.3% at $296.64 in early trading. Buffett has swooped in with big investments in companies, in which he sees a long-term strategic value, during their periods of struggle. Live Events He invested heavily in Occidental Petroleum in 2019 as it tried to finance a merger with Anadarko Petroleum and has kept adding to his stake despite the company's weak stock performance. He famously took a stake in investment bank Goldman Sachs at the height of the global financial crisis in 2008. "Buffett's purchase is a psychological reassurance to many investors that saw UnitedHealth as 'untouchable,' given the massive turbulence in the stock over the past few months," said Kevin Gade, chief operating officer at UnitedHealth investor Bahl & Gaynor. Berkshire owned 5.04 million UnitedHealth shares worth about $1.57 billion as of June 30, it said in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Thursday. Buffett owned about 1.18 million shares in UnitedHealth between 2006 and 2009, before selling his entire stake in 2010. Several other prominent hedge funds, including David Tepper's Appaloosa Management, Lone Pine Capital and Two Sigma Investments, also bought UnitedHealth's shares, regulatory filings showed on Thursday. While the "vote of confidence" from Buffett's investment validates the long-term value of UnitedHealth shares, the "management needs to regain trust and credibility with investors, and get back to its beat and raise reputation of the past," said James Harlow, senior vice president at Novare Capital Management. In May, CEO Andrew Witty abruptly stepped down amid rising operational and financial pressures, and Stephen Hemsley, who had run the company from 2006 to 2017, took over. Last month, the company projected full-year adjusted earnings per share of at least $16, well short of analysts' already lowered estimate of $20.91. UnitedHealth's shares are currently trading at about 15.8 times forward earnings estimates, below their five-year average of 19. "While UnitedHealth still faces elevated uncertainty, it is good to see that this renowned investment firm also believes the market is discounting assumptions that are too pessimistic for the long term, which is similar to our view," said Morningstar analyst Julie Utterback. Shares of rivals Centene, Humana and Molina Healthcare gained between 2% and 4%. Berkshire on Thursday also disclosed new stakes in steel maker Nucor, security products provider Allegion and outdoor advertiser Lamar Advertising.
