Americans’ self-reported drinking is at the lowest level since 1939
Rates of alcohol consumption in the US are slumping as health concerns mount, a new Gallup poll finds.
As the state of US healthcare morphs at a rapid clip, more Americans are wrestling with the physical risks of one of the nation’s most storied pastimes: drinking.
The share of adults in the US that report consuming alcohol has fallen to 54% in 2025, according to a new Gallup survey released Wednesday. That marks the lowest share the survey has ever recorded, with at least 60% of respondents from 1997 to 2023 reporting drinking.
One factor driving the trend of alcohol abstinence is that attitudes toward the health effects of drinking have shifted dramatically. For the first time in the survey’s history, a majority of Americans (53%) now view drinking in moderation as unhealthy, while the share of those who considered it good for one’s health is at a record low of 6%.
Though alcohol may be a notable gap in the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, new research outlining the risks associated with both excessive and moderate alcohol use — including a landmark report from the US surgeon general in January — has helped turn the tide on casual drinking for many in recent times.
Gen Zero
The same survey also found that young adults were more likely to consider moderate drinking as harmful, with two-thirds of 18- to 34-year-olds now agreeing that it’s bad for health.
While this is consistent with a broad decline in alcohol use among young people, there’s still evidence to suggest that Gen Z might indulge in a drink or two despite the detrimental effects.
