The Thursday Take — The Fall of Alcohol

Gallup just reported the lowest drinking rates in 90 years — and the data suggests this isn’t a blip, but a tipping point.

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Alcohol is losing its grip on America.

Gallup just dropped a stat that literally shocked me:

Only 54% of U.S. adults drink alcohol today — the lowest number in 90 years of polling.

Yes, a historic low.

Let’s dig into it.

• 53% now believe alcohol is bad for health, period. (Up from just 28% in 2015.)

• Women’s drinking dropped 11 points in a single year, to just 51%.

• 40% of drinkers are drinking less, saying it’s been more than a week since their last drink — the highest since 2000.

• Younger generations are leading the shift, and 66% of 18–34-year-olds now say even “moderation” is harmful.

• Consumption is down across every demographic—age, gender, income, even politics. Republicans dropped 19 points in just two years.

The old narrative that “a glass of wine is good for you” has officially collapsed.

So, what’s driving this cultural reset?

• Science. People are catching on: there is no “safe” level of drinking, with even moderate intake linked to seven different types of cancers.

• Weight-loss drugs. GLP-1s like Ozempic are dampening cravings.

• Wellness culture. Biohacking, longevity, “sober-curious” lifestyles are trending hard. (I personally haven’t had a sip of alcohol in almost 4 years — and it’s single-handedly the best thing I’ve ever done for my physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and energetic health.)

• Personal economics. And, let’s be real — alcohol is expensive. People are questioning whether or not it’s worth it.

Meanwhile, marijuana use is climbing and nicotine stocks are outperforming alcohol

But, alcohol is definitely on the decline. Gallup even suggests this could be a tobacco-style tipping point.

This feels less like a temporary blip, and more like a permanent cultural reset—where society permanently shifts its relationship with a substance that once felt untouchable.

The end of America’s obsession with alcohol might actually be here.

Where do you stand? And, have you been questioning your relationship with alcohol lately? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

And, if you have any other questions or comments, don’t hesitate to ask me any time in my weekly Q&A in my paid subscriber channel. If you’re not a paid subscriber, sign up below.

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