As widespread industry concerns about waning alcohol consumption reach a fever pitch, a new Gallup poll isn’t doing much to soothe the ache. According to new data from the American analytics and advisory firm released Wednesday, the U.S. drinking rate has reached a record low.
The survey, conducted between July 7 to 21, revealed that only 54 percent of legal drinking age adults in the U.S. currently consume alcohol. Fluctuating alcohol consumption isn’t anything new. Gallup has surveyed Americans about their drinking habits since 1939 and has tracked the public’s outlook on alcohol’s overall health implications since 2001. Over the years, Gallup has demonstrated periodic gains and losses, but the past few years have seen a marked decline in reported consumption nationwide. Since 2023, reported alcohol consumption has dipped 8 percent.
