Drinking Rate Edges Up

08.23.2010
HR & Safety

A recent Gallup poll finds that 67% of U.S. adults drink alcohol, a slight increase over last year and the highest reading recorded since 1985 by 1 percentage point.

Despite some yearly fluctuations, the percentage of Americans who say they drink alcohol has been remarkably stable over Gallup’s 71 years of tracking it. The high point for drinking came in 1976-1978, when 71% said they drank alcohol. The low of 55% was recorded in 1958.

A majority of Americans in most demographic subgroups of the population drink, though in some groups drinking is more prevalent than in others. Older Americans (59%) are less likely to drink than those who are younger (72%); those with the lowest education levels and lowest incomes are less likely to drink than others.

The poll also found that beer is the beverage of choice among Americans who drink alcohol, as it has been every year since 1992: with the exception of 2005, when wine edged into the top spot.

For complete poll results: www.gallup.com/poll/141656/Drinking-Rate-Edges-Slightly-Year-High.aspx

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