More Americans believe even moderate drinking is bad: Gallup survey

(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.

Sixty-five percent of adults aged 18 to 34 said 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%.