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U.S. alcohol consumption and retail sales decline

Updated 8 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-30 16:42 UTC → 2026-10-04 19:18 UTC · added removed

Alcohol consumption among U.S. adults has stabilized at 54%, the lowest level recorded since Gallup began tracking the metric in 1939. This follows a multi-year decline from 62% in 2023 and 67% in 2022. Research published in the ‘Annals of Internal Medicine’ and led by Keck Medicine of USC indicates that alcohol use has declined for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Between 2022 and 2024, overall use decreased by nearly 2%, while heavy drinking fell by more than 8%. This decline is most pronounced among younger demographics, with Gen Z (ages 18–29) seeing a reduction in use of over 5% and Millennials seeing a 17% drop in heavy drinking. Researchers suggest that changing social attitudes and a growing interest in moderation may be contributing factors. Conversely, alcohol use among adults aged 50 to 64 has increased by nearly 4% since 2018, with heavy drinking in this group rising by more than 36%. Dr. Brian P. Lee warned that this increase is particularly dangerous due to higher risks of cirrhosis, cancers, and cardiovascular diseases. Despite the recent downward trend, overall alcohol use levels New analysis of CDC data from over 114,000 adults confirms this midlife cohort has pulled significantly ahead of all other age groups in heavy drinking rates. Furthermore, heavy drinking among women rose more than among men during the U.S. remain pandemic and remains approximately 13% higher than they were in 2018. pre-pandemic levels; Dr. Lee noted that the share of women who drink heavily is now slightly higher than the share of men. Regional safety concerns have emerged persist in New Jersey, where despite an 8.4% decrease in adult alcohol consumption, alcohol-impaired road fatalities have surged by 29.06% over the last decade, marking the 10th highest increase in the United States. decade. Retail data continues to reflect this contraction. For the four weeks ending September 5, 2026, total sector revenue fell 3.7% and volume decreased by 5.6% compared to the previous year. Beer sales dropped 4.7% in value and 5.9% in volume, while wine retail sales fell 3.7% in value and 5.1% in volume. Non-alcoholic beer continues to see growth, driven by wellness trends.

Versions

  1. 2026-10-04 19:18 UTC U.S. alcohol consumption and retail sales decline
  2. 2026-09-30 16:42 UTC U.S. alcohol consumption and retail sales decline
  3. 2026-09-22 21:08 UTC U.S. alcohol consumption and retail sales decline
  4. 2026-09-21 21:56 UTC U.S. alcohol consumption and retail sales decline
  5. 2026-09-18 01:43 UTC U.S. alcohol consumption and retail sales decline
  6. 2026-08-27 20:01 UTC U.S. alcohol consumption and retail sales decline
  7. 2026-08-27 04:18 UTC U.S. alcohol consumption stabilizes at historic low
  8. 2026-08-24 21:51 UTC U.S. alcohol consumption hits record low
  9. 2026-08-21 10:05 UTC U.S. alcohol consumption decline

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