BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

More Americans believe even moderate drinking is bad: Gallup survey

  • More young people now believe alcohol use is unhealthy
  • 16% of all Americans say they occasionally overindulge
  • Beer edges out wine as most popular alcohol

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

(NewsNation) — Nearly half of Americans now believe that moderate drinking, one or two alcoholic beverages a day, is bad for one’s health. But far more than half of younger adults believe it.

“Americans’ attitudes about alcohol vary significantly by age, as young adults have become progressively more likely to say drinking is bad for one’s health,” said the news release from the research firm Gallup.

65% of adults aged 18 to 34 say that any alcohol consumption negatively affects their health, compared to 37% of those aged 35 to 54, and 39% of those 55 and older.

Among all adults surveyed, 45% believe that a couple of drinks a day is unhealthy. That’s a six-percentage-point increase since last year, and 17 points higher than a similar Gallup survey in 2018. In the new survey, 43% said that moderate drinking makes no difference to their health.

Beyond the question of their own health, Gallup also asked people to what extent they believe that alcohol is harmful. Nearly nine in 10 said that drinking is “very” (33%) or “somewhat (53%) harmful. Both those numbers are three percent higher than Gallup’s 2023 survey.

The average American’s alcohol consumption, according to the survey, is four drinks a week – about the same as it’s been since 1996. Just 16% of those who said they drink also said they sometimes overindulge. The “overindulge” percentage reached a high of 35% in 1978 but has now been below 20% for five straight years.

While beer has historically been the most popular alcoholic beverage in the U.S. this new Gallup survey has beer (34%) and wine (33%) essentially tied. 29% said their first choices are whiskey and spirits.

The Gallup survey of Americans’ alcohol use was conducted by phone between July 1 and July 21. It contacted 1,010 adults in every state and the District of Columbia. Gallup pegs the margin of error at 4%.

Health

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Sunny

la

65°F Sunny Feels like 65°
Wind
8 mph SW
Humidity
55%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 52F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
52°F Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 52F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Wind
9 mph WSW
Precip
15%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waxing Gibbous