Times Union, May 2026
Fewer adults choose to consume alcohol now –– and even for people who drink, they drink less. The nationwide share of adults, aged 18 and older, who drink alcohol has dropped to the lowest level in the past 20 years, from 2004 to 2024, according to an analysis by Trace One, a software company serving the food and beverage industry, using the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s data.
In 2014, nearly 57% of U.S. adults consumed alcohol in the month prior to being surveyed. Since then, the figure has steadily declined to 51% in 2024. The peak may have been driven by the rise of craft beer and the opening of breweries across the country. But, according to Malcolm Purinton, a Northeastern University history professor who specializes in beer history, a combination of factors later drove the shift downward, including changing social norms, growing awareness of health concerns, expanded marijuana legalization and the rising cost of going out for drinks.
