A recent study found a smaller percentage of people in the United States consume alcohol than at any time since Gallup began collecting data on drinking in 1939.
In their first survey, taken six years after the end of prohibition in the U.S., 58% said they occasionally consume liquor, wine or beer. The late 70s and early 80s saw an increase in alcohol consumption, with 71% in 1976 and 1977 saying they drank, and 70% in 1980.
With a few exceptions, every survey since has shown an alcohol consumption rate of between 63% and 64%. In Gallup’s most recent survey, that rate has fallen to 54%, down from 62% in 2023.
Several demographic trends have contributed to this decrease in alcohol consumption, many of which are along gender and partisan lines.
Between the 2023 and 2025 surveys, the rate of women who reported drinking alcohol dropped from 62% to 51%, a decrease of 11 percentage points. Alcohol consumption among men dropped five percent, from 62% to 57%.
The most significant drop in alcohol use by far, however, is among Republicans. In 2023, almost two-thirds (65%) of Republicans reported consuming alcohol.
This year, that rate has dropped almost 20 percentage points to less than half (46%). In the same amount of time, Democrats have seen a 3% drop in alcohol consumption, from 64% to 61%.
These trends follow a change in belief among respondents regarding how healthy moderate drinking is. In 2001, 27% of respondents believed that drinking in moderation is bad for your health. In this year’s survey, that rate has almost doubled to 53%.
More information on Gallup’s study, including methodology and topline results, can be found here.
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