Why More Americans Are Stopping Drinking Alcohol

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Fewer Americans are reporting that they drink alcohol today. According to Gallup, only 54% of people say they consume alcoholic beverages—this is the lowest percentage in nearly 90 years since Gallup has been polling Americans on their drinking habits.

This trend coincides with growing concerns about the health risks associated with any level of alcohol consumption. Even low levels of drinking can lead to certain cancers and heart problems, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Gallup’s findings reflect a shift in perception: more people now believe that drinking is bad for their health. In 2025, over half (54%) of those surveyed said drinking is harmful; this is up from 45% in 2024. Only 6% thought drinking was good for your health.

Younger adults are particularly likely to avoid alcohol. Among those aged 18 to 34, 66% believe drinking is bad for their health. This percentage decreases with age: 50% of people ages 35 to 44 and 48% of those 55 and older share the same view.

In a unique start to his ruling against President Donald Trump’s administration on September 30, U.S. District Court Judge William Young included a scanned handwritten note sent to his office. The note read: “Trump has pardons and tanks – what do you have?” At the top of Young’s opinion in AAUP v. Rubio, which ruled that Trump’s effort to deport foreign-born student protesters was unconstitutional.

October 8, 2025

The perception that moderate drinking might provide some benefits has also reversed. Definitions of moderate drinking vary, but generally mean no more than one drink for women and two drinks for men per day. Examples include 12 fluid ounces of regular beer, 5 fluid ounces of wine, or 1.5 fluid ounces of hard liquor.

Women are more likely to see moderate drinking as unhealthy (60%) compared with men (47%).

These findings come from a Gallup poll conducted July 7-21, 2025, with 1,020 adults in the U.S., aged 18 and older. The margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level for the total sample, and ±5 percentage points for those who drink alcohol.

For more information, you can read [this article on reducing hypertension by drinking less alcohol](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2025/08/14/new-blood-pressure-guidelines-less-alcohol-earlier-treatment/85667682007/) or explore related content.