Mason Delacroix
Alcohol consumption is a topic that has attracted a lot of interest in the United States. According to a July 2023 Gallup survey, 62% of US adults say they drink alcohol, while 38% abstain. This varies depending on age, gender, and religiosity. In 2022, US drinkers consumed an average of four drinks per week, rising to six drinks per week for regular drinkers. Heavy drinking is defined as consuming more than 14 drinks per week for men and more than seven drinks per week for women. In 2018, 5.1% of adults engaged in heavy drinking, while 33.7% did not consume alcohol. Alcohol consumption among young adults has decreased over the past two decades, with 46% of 12th graders, 31% of 10th graders, and 15% of 8th graders reporting alcohol consumption in the previous year in 2023.
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What You'll Learn
Alcohol consumption by gender
Alcohol consumption in the US has historically been higher among men than women. However, this gender gap is narrowing, with women increasingly consuming more alcohol and engaging in binge drinking.
Historically, males in the US have had higher rates of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems than females. This trend has been observed across different age groups, with young males reporting higher levels of alcohol use and binge drinking than females, and these differences continuing into adulthood. However, in recent years, the gender gap in alcohol consumption is narrowing, with the drinking habits of males and females converging.
According to a 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an estimated 79.1% of people aged 12 and older in the US reported drinking alcohol at some point in their lifetime. This included 80.1% of males and 78.1% of females. While the percentage of male drinkers has shown a slight decrease, there has been an increase in female drinkers over time. This shift is also reflected in a 2025 Gallup poll, which found that 66% of men and 61% of women reported drinking alcohol, indicating a narrowing gender gap.
The increase in alcohol consumption among older women is particularly notable. Between 2005 and 2014, past-month binge drinking among adults aged 50 and older increased more for women (6% to 9%) than for men (20% to 22%). Similarly, the prevalence of past-year Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) increased more for older women (1.3% to 2.4%) compared to men in the same age group (5.0% to 5.1%). This trend is consistent with the overall narrowing of gender differences in alcohol use among older adults.
While the gender gap in alcohol consumption is narrowing, males still have higher prevalence rates of AUD and maladaptive drinking patterns. However, the rates of AUD and unhealthy alcohol consumption behaviors among females are rising. Some studies have reported a significant increase in AUD prevalence among females, with an 84% increase relative to a 35% increase in males over a 12-month period. Additionally, females have been found to have a faster progression to AUD, with a shorter interval between the onset of drinking and seeking treatment.
The societal norms and traditional masculine norms associated with alcohol consumption among men have been attributed to excessive consumption and alcohol-related issues. On the other hand, women may experience greater physiological sensitivity to the effects of alcohol, which can lead to a higher prevalence of drink problems at lower consumption levels.
In summary, while alcohol consumption in the US has historically been higher among men, the gender gap is narrowing. The increase in alcohol consumption and AUD prevalence among females is a critical issue that warrants further study and attention.
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Alcohol consumption by age
Alcohol consumption in the US varies across age groups. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 224.3 million people aged 12 and older (79.1% of this age group) reported consuming alcohol at some point in their lives. This includes 111.1 million males (80.1%) and 113.2 million females (78.1%).
Drilling down into the data, 5.6 million youths aged 12 to 17 (21.6% in this age group) reported drinking alcohol at some point. This is broken down into 2.5 million boys (19.1%) and 3.1 million girls (24.1%).
For adults, the 2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) found that 5.1% engaged in heavy drinking, defined as consuming more than 14 drinks per week for men and more than 7 drinks per week for women. Heavy drinking was lowest among adults aged 65 and over.
In 2022, US drinkers reported consuming an average of four drinks per week. This rises to six drinks per week for regular drinkers, defined as those who had at least one drink in the past week.
Alcohol consumption is more common among younger adults than older adults, but this is only evident when the analysis is limited to those of legal drinking age.
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Alcohol consumption by ethnicity
Alcohol consumption in the US varies among different ethnicities. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the following percentages of people ages 12 and older reported drinking alcohol at some point in their lifetime:
- 80.1% of males (111.1 million)
- 78.1% of females (113.2 million)
- 66.5% of American Indian or Alaska Native people (890,000)
- 62.2% of Asians (10.9 million)
- 70.5% of Black or African Americans (24.5 million)
- 84.7% of Whites (144.3 million)
- 79.8% of people of two or more races (4.9 million)
- 72.6% of Hispanics or Latinos (37.9 million)
In 2023, 5.8% of people ages 12 and older (16.4 million) reported heavy alcohol use in the past month. The percentages of people in this age group who reported heavy alcohol use in the past month by ethnicity are as follows:
- 7.1% of males (9.8 million)
- 4.5% of females (6.6 million)
- 5.6% of American Indian or Alaska Native people (75,000)
- 2.0% of Asians (348,000)
- 4.7% of Black or African Americans (1.6 million)
- 6.7% of Whites (11.4 million)
- 7.6% of people of two or more races (468,000)
- 4.5% of Hispanics or Latinos (2.3 million)
In 2018, 5.1% of adults engaged in heavy drinking, defined as consuming more than seven drinks per week for women and more than 14 drinks per week for men in the past year. Heavy drinking was lowest among non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic Asian, and Hispanic adults compared to non-Hispanic white adults.
In a 2012-2014 study, Asians were found to have the lowest odds of drinking within normal limits or excessively when compared to non-Hispanic whites, followed by other Latinos and Mexicans.
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Alcohol consumption by religion
Alcohol consumption in the US varies across different religious groups. While some religions strictly prohibit alcohol consumption, others incorporate it into their rituals and ceremonies.
Christianity
The Bible explores the dual role of alcohol, highlighting its positive uses and warnings against excess. Grapes and wine are often linked to both celebration and cautionary tales of sin and temptation. Some Christian churches, such as the Seventh-day Adventist Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and The Church of the Nazarene, prohibit alcohol consumption. However, among US Christians, Catholics are more likely than Protestants to report consuming alcohol in the past 30 days. Within Protestantism, subgroups also vary, with two-thirds of white mainline Protestants reporting alcohol consumption in the past month, compared to half of black Protestants and white evangelical Protestants.
Islam
In Islam, the consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited according to Islamic teachings. This prohibition is often a foundational aspect of Muslim identity, reflecting a commitment to faith and adherence to religious principles. However, the relationship between Islam and alcohol is multifaceted and influenced by factors such as cultural context, personal beliefs, and degrees of religiosity.
Hinduism
Hinduism does not have a central authority followed by all Hindus, but religious texts generally discourage the use or consumption of alcohol. Brahmins, a specific caste within Hinduism, are forbidden from drinking alcohol. However, some Hindu texts refer to alcohol with a more positive opinion, and the consumption of alcohol or intoxication is considered a recipe for weakness in certain scriptures.
Other Religions and Spiritual Beliefs
The relationship between religion and alcohol consumption is complex and varies across different religious traditions. For example, in the Norse religion, the drinking of ales and meads was important in several seasonal festivals and common festivities. Additionally, some ascetic sects, like the Aghori, use alcohol as part of their rituals.
Alcohol Consumption Patterns in the US
In the US, two-thirds of adults (68%) report consuming alcohol. On average, drinkers consume four drinks per week, with regular drinkers averaging six drinks per week. Binge drinking, defined as more than seven drinks per week for women and more than 14 drinks per week for men, was reported by 5.1% of adults in 2018. In 2023, 16.4 million people aged 12 and older reported heavy alcohol use in the past month, with a higher prevalence among males.
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Alcohol consumption by state
Alcohol consumption is a common activity in the United States, with two-thirds of US adults reporting that they drink. In 2022, drinkers reported consuming an average of four drinks per week, with regular drinkers consuming six drinks per week on average. Beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage in the US, with wine and liquor also being favoured.
While alcohol consumption is prevalent across the US, there are variations in consumption levels by state. In 2021, New Hampshire consumed the highest amount of alcohol per capita, with an average annual consumption of 59.5 gallons per person. Vermont, Montana, North Dakota, and Nevada followed closely behind, with per capita consumption ranging from 49.4 to 43.9 gallons per year. West Virginia and Utah reported the lowest rates of alcohol consumption.
Binge drinking, defined as consuming five or more drinks within two hours for men and four or more drinks for women, is also prevalent in the US. The District of Columbia, North Dakota, and Montana have the highest binge drinking rates. Binge drinking is associated with various health risks, including cancer, liver disease, alcohol dependence, and unintentional injuries.
Alcohol consumption patterns also vary by demographic characteristics. In 2023, 5.8% of individuals aged 12 and older reported heavy alcohol use in the past month, with higher rates among males (7.1%) than females (4.5%). When considering lifetime alcohol use, 79.1% of individuals aged 12 and older reported drinking alcohol at some point, with similar rates between males (80.1%) and females (78.1%).
Additionally, alcohol consumption is influenced by religiosity. Adults who attend religious services weekly are less likely to drink than those who attend less frequently or not at all. Protestants are the least likely religious group to drink, followed by Catholics and those with no religious affiliation.
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Frequently asked questions
According to a July 2023 Gallup survey, 62% of US adults say they drink alcohol, while 38% abstain completely. A 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reports that 79.1% of people aged 12 and older have consumed alcohol at some point in their lifetime.
Heavy drinking is defined as consuming more than 14 drinks per week for men and more than 7 drinks per week for women. In 2018, 5.1% of adults engaged in heavy drinking in the past year. In 2023, 5.8% of people aged 12 and older reported heavy alcohol use in the past month.
Alcohol consumption varies across age, gender, religion, and geography. Younger adults are more likely to drink than older adults, and men are slightly more likely to drink than women. Protestants are the least likely religious group to drink alcohol, and per-capita alcohol consumption is highest in the West and lowest in the South.
Underage drinking among US teens has declined over the past 20 years. In 2023, 46% of 12th graders reported consuming alcohol in the past year, compared to 73% in 2001.
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