US Alcohol Consumption Hits Record Low Amid Health Concerns

Alcohol consumption in the US has reached a record low, according to a Gallup poll. Approximately 54% of Americans reported drinking alcohol, compared to 58% in 2024 and 62% in 2023. This is below the previous record low of 55% in 1958.

Average consumption has fallen to 2.8 drinks per week, down from 3.8 last year, reaching the lowest level since 1996. Alcohol sales are declining after a surge during the pandemic, as inflation and high interest rates reduce consumer purchasing power.

Several studies have shown that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. A year ago, then-US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned that alcohol increases the risk of seven types of cancer. In February, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for cancer warning labels on alcoholic beverages and a 50% increase in their prices.

In the latest survey, 53% of respondents said that even moderate alcohol consumption is harmful, compared to 45% in 2024. Only 24% reported consuming alcohol the previous day, while 40% said it had been at least a week since they last drank.

Lydia Saad, director of social research at Gallup, stated that the decrease in alcohol consumption does not appear to be due to a shift towards other substances, such as cannabis.