US Alcohol Consumption Hits Record Low Amid Wellness Shift

August 14, 2025

U.S. alcohol consumption falls to a record low, with 53% of Americans now viewing moderate drinking (defined as one or two drinks a day) as bad for health, according to new Gallup findings.

Gallup’s annual Consumption Habits survey, conducted July 7–21, found American drinking habits are shifting at a pace the polling firm says is unmatched in nearly 90 years of tracking, with the share of adults who drink dropping to 54%, the third consecutive annual decline.

According to the survey, women’s drinking rates have dropped sharply, down 11 points in a year to 51%, while men’s fell 5 points to 57%. Additionally, among drinkers, both frequency and volume are declining: just 24% said they had a drink in the past 24 hours, the lowest on record, and average weekly consumption has fallen to 2.8 drinks, the lowest since 1996. Beer remains the most popular alcoholic beverage, but preferences differ by gender, with men far more likely to choose beer and women more likely to opt for wine. Athletech News