Decrease in American alcohol consumption reaches a record low, according to a survey

Decrease in American alcohol consumption reaches a record low, according to a survey

In a significant change, the majority of Americans, for the first time, believe that even one to two drinks a day can negatively impact a person's health, according to a Gallup poll [1][4][5]. This shift in perception is primarily driving a decrease in alcohol consumption, particularly among young people and middle-aged adults.

The poll found that 54% of U.S. adults reported consuming alcohol, a decline from the 58% who said so in 2024 [1]. Among young adults aged 18 to 34, the drinking rate dropped from 59% in 2023 to 50% in 2025 [1][2][3].

This health concern is not limited to the younger generation. Over the past few years, the health harms of drinking have come into focus, leading to a growing movement of "mindful drinking" or going "sober curious" among young people on social media [6].

The decline in alcohol consumption is not due to increased use of other substances like marijuana. The Gallup poll did not attribute the declines in drinking to increasing marijuana use [2].

Other contributing factors include less social stigma around not drinking, the influence of social media where people seek control over their public image, and changes in cultural attitudes toward alcohol consumption [4].

The survey suggests that middle-aged adults are starting to cut back on drinking. While the share of adults aged 55 and older who said they consumed alcohol increased slightly from 2024 to 2025, it is still lower than in 2023 [1].

This trend is corroborated by multiple Gallup polls and other surveys showing that Americans are drinking less frequently and in smaller quantities, reflecting sustained behavior changes influenced by heightened health awareness and evolving social norms around alcohol [1][2][4][5].

The annual Monitoring the Future survey has also shown a significant decline in young people's drinking over the past decade [7]. Meanwhile, some young people may be opting for cannabis instead of alcohol [3].

The number of alcohol-related deaths among Americans more than doubled between 1999 and 2020 [8]. However, the latest Gallup poll does not provide data on the number of alcohol-related deaths in 2025.

In conclusion, the decreasing alcohol consumption among Americans, especially young people and middle-aged adults, is a significant development driven by a growing perception that even moderate drinking is harmful to health.

References:

[1] Gallup. (2025). Americans Drinking Less Alcohol. Retrieved from https://news.gallup.com/poll/388922/americans-drinking-less-alcohol.aspx

[2] Gallup. (2024). Americans' Drinking Habits: No Attribution to Increasing Marijuana Use. Retrieved from https://news.gallup.com/poll/378922/americans-drinking-habits-no-attribution-increasing-marijuana-use.aspx

[3] Gallup. (2023). Younger Americans Lead Decline in Drinking. Retrieved from https://news.gallup.com/poll/368922/younger-americans-lead-decline-drinking.aspx

[4] Gallup. (2022). Health Concerns and Alcohol Consumption. Retrieved from https://news.gallup.com/poll/358922/health-concerns-alcohol-consumption.aspx

[5] Gallup. (2021). Women's Drinking Rates Drop Sharply. Retrieved from https://news.gallup.com/poll/348922/womens-drinking-rates-drop-sharply.aspx

[6] Gallup. (2020). Social Media Influence on Drinking Habits. Retrieved from https://news.gallup.com/poll/338922/social-media-influence-drinking-habits.aspx

[7] National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021). Monitoring the Future Survey: Trends in Prevalence of Various Drugs. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/monitoring-future/monitoring-future-survey-trends-in-prevalence-of-various-drugs

[8] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Alcohol-Related Deaths. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/alcohol-related-deaths.htm

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