A new Gallup poll finds that Americans say they are drinking less. NPR takes look at what’s driving this trend and which groups are consuming less alcohol.
LEILA FADEL, HOST:
Americans say they’re drinking less, according to a new Gallup poll. Fifty-four percent of those surveyed in July said they consumed alcohol.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
So that means that nearly half of Americans are abstaining?
FADEL: Yep. That appears to be right, and it is a record low.
MARTIN: So what’s driving all this?
FADEL: Lydia Saad is director of U.S. social research at Gallup, and she said this.
LYDIA SAAD: We’ve been watching these trends and seeing more people each year saying that drinking is bad for your health, and, the last two years, a decline in those who say that they do drink.
MARTIN: And it’s not just one group. Young adults are drinking less. Gallup saw the sharpest decline among those who identify as Republicans, with rates falling 19 points.
SAAD: It’s seen across all subgroups of Republicans – men, women, younger, older, high and low income. All those things.
FADEL: The same trend shows up among those making under $40,000 a year and those making more than $100,000.
MARTIN: And it’s clear that the messaging around the harms of alcohol is influencing people’s behavior. But Saad says it could also be influencing how people answer survey questions.
SAAD: People feel there’s a stigma around a behavior. They may not be as truthful about it.
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