Drinking Trends

According to a 2011 Gallup study, the number of people who say they drink alcohol is higher than it’s been over the past 25 years. 67% of U.S. adults drink alcohol, close to the all-time highest rate of 71% that occurred in 1976 – 1978. The record low of 55% was recorded in 1958.
 
A majority of Americans in most demographic subgroups of the population drink, though in some groups drinking alcohol is more prevalent than in others. One of the most significant predictors of alcohol consumption is church attendance. Those who seldom or never attend church are substantially more likely to drink that those who frequently attend church.
 
Beer remains the preferred beverage among Americans who drink alcohol, as it has every year since 1992 (with the exception of 2005, when wine edged into the top spot).