• Only 54% of Americans report drinking alcohol, the lowest percentage recorded in nearly 90 years.
• 53% of U.S. adults view moderate drinking as harmful to health, up from 45% last year.
• Drinking rates are especially declining among women and young adults.
• The average number of drinks consumed weekly has dropped to 2.8, the lowest since 1996.
• Public health authorities link alcohol consumption with increased cancer risks.

Alcohol consumption among U.S. adults has plummeted to a historic low, with only 54% reporting they drink, down from 58% in 2024 and 62% in 2023, as shown by a Gallup poll conducted in July. This marks the lowest percentage since Gallup began tracking drinking habits almost 90 years ago, falling beneath the previous low of 55% recorded in 1958, according to Reuters and CBS News.

A significant shift in public perception has emerged, with 53% of Americans now believing that moderate drinking is detrimental to health, an increase from 45% last year. This growing skepticism is notably attributed to increased awareness of alcohol's health risks, including its association with serious conditions like cancer, as highlighted by Newsweek and NPR.

The survey results show that consumption rates are declining most sharply among women, with their drinking down 11 percentage points since 2023, while men have seen a decline of only five points. Moreover, the majority of younger adults, especially those aged 18 to 34, are increasingly likely to see alcohol consumption as harmful, with 66% holding this belief, according to CBS News and Newsweek.

In terms of drinking frequency, the survey found that only 24% of Americans had consumed alcohol in the last 24 hours, marking a record low, with 40% admitting more than a week had passed since their last drink. Average weekly alcohol intake also dropped to 2.8 drinks, the lowest since 1996, signaling a significant transformation in consumption patterns, as indicated by NPR and Reuters.

This decline in alcohol consumption is not attributed to a shift towards other recreational substances such as marijuana, which remains stable despite legalization in many states. The focus on health risks has prompted consumers to rethink their alcohol consumption strategies, with alternatives like mocktails gaining popularity, as noted by CBS News and Newsweek.