Is alcohol unhealthy? Yes, say more Americans than ever before

The high percentage of people who believe drinking is bad for their health marks a six-point increase from last year and a 17-point increase from 2018, when Gallup last asked the question.

That young people are at the forefront of this mindset follows recent findings from both Gallup and others about the drinking habits of millennials and Gen Zers, whose drinking has declined significantly in recent years.

A study published in May, for example, found that binge drinking is declining among teenagers and young adults. And between 2002 and 2021, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the prevalence of past 30-day drinking among 16- and 17-year-olds dropped 58%; among 14- and 15-year-olds, it dropped by 69%.

More findings on alcohol-related behaviors and beliefs

About six in 10 U.S. adults, or 58 percent, say they drink occasionally, slightly below the historical trend of 63 percent in Gallup polls since 1939. Drinkers report an average of four drinks in the past week, an average that kept since 1996.

But only 16% of drinkers say they sometimes overindulge – the fifth time in a row this percentage has been below 20%.

Gallup also found that nearly nine in 10 U.S. adults say alcohol is “very” (33%) or “somewhat” (53%) harmful to those who drink it — both up by three points in a year . Just 8% say alcohol is “not too harmful” and 2% think it is “not at all harmful”, while drinkers (21%) are less likely than non-drinkers (51%) to say that alcohol is very harmful. (However, overall, according to separate new findings from Gallup, Americans view cigarettes, chewing tobacco and e-cigarettes as significantly more harmful than alcohol.)

Attitudes towards drinking vary by generation, with 65% of young adults aged 18 to 34 saying it is unhealthy and only 37% of adults aged 35 to 54 and 39% of adults aged 55 and over being agree.

Gallup notes that “while it’s not a new phenomenon that young people are more likely than older age groups to view alcohol as unhealthy, the latest gaps in perception are the largest ever recorded” by the polling company.

Why are young people turning against alcohol?

Theories about the shift abound, with Nielsen IQ noting earlier this year that legal-age Gen Zers are “embracing better-for-you products like low-alcohol, no-alcohol and strong kombucha” and that the most favorite (by 34% of those surveyed) is hard seltzer, which typically has a lower alcohol content and fewer sugars and calories than many other alcoholic beverages.

That’s likely because, the report says, Gen Z tends to be more “health conscious and focused, likely contributing to an increase in demand for non-alcoholic products. Soft drinks are a good solution to avoid social pressure or feeling left out.”

Other theories as to why young adults are drinking less include awareness of mental health and its link to alcohol use and abuse.

“Now there’s more data and more awareness about the harmful effects of alcohol on health, and the Gen Z population seems to be more health-focused, which is great,” addiction psychiatrist Dr. Akhil Anand said recently , at the Cleveland Clinic. Essential elements for health podcast.

He also surmised that Gen Z doesn’t like the weight gain and hangover that comes with sipping — not to mention that they might prefer other substances, especially cannabis.

“Another theory, it’s a very simple one, is that the American demographic is changing, the racial population is changing. So there are more mixed ethnicities and an increase in the black and Hispanic population, who tend to drink less than the white population,” Anand added. “So that’s another reason why the numbers are down in the Gen Z population. There are a lot of theories. It’s probably a combination of everything.”

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