Alcohol consumption in the US falls to a historic low!
Alcohol consumption in the U.S. falls to a record low due to health fears; more than half believe drinking is harmful.
Photo of Adam Wilson in Unsplash
Alcohol consumption in the United States has fallen to a historic low: only 54% of adults say they drink, according to a Gallup poll released Wednesday. This is the lowest figure since the firm began measuring alcohol consumption in 1939.
Growing concern for health
The survey reveals a significant shift in perceptions of the risks of even moderate consumption. Fifty-three percent of adults now believe that drinking "one or two drinks a day" is harmful to health, compared to 28 percent in 2015. This increase is attributed primarily to young people, although older adults also show an increase in this concern.
For years, studies suggested that moderate drinking could have benefits, especially for heart health. However, new analyses have shown that alcohol is linked to multiple diseases, including cancer. In January, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy proposed including clear warnings on alcoholic beverage labels about their link to 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 deaths annually in the U.S.
Declining consumption patterns
The survey indicates that, even among those who drink, consumption frequency is decreasing. Only a quarter of drinkers reported having consumed alcohol in the past 24 hours, a historical low. Furthermore, four out of ten said it had been more than a week since their last drink.
More marked trend in young people and women
Historically, young people led the way in consumption, but today their rate is lower than that of middle-aged adults. Between 18 and 34 years of age, two-thirds believe that moderate consumption is harmful, compared to only four in 10 a decade ago.
The federal government is preparing an update to its dietary recommendations, including those regarding alcohol. Currently, it advises men not to exceed two drinks per day and women, one. Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promised significant changes to these guidelines, although he has not yet announced their content.
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